Modern facilities have a number of challenges to tackle on any given day. The ultimate challenge is to figure out how to keep improving your services, increasing patient satisfaction, as well as running an efficient and profitable ASC without bankrupting your most valuable resource — time.

Our parents and grandparents experienced healthcare in a straightforward way. They went to a doctor they respected, were treated for what was wrong, and didn't question the advice of their physician. They usually went to the doctor only when absolutely necessary and never dreamed of the fantastic array of options now available. Today, patients have access to a wide range of healthcare options. They can research their symptoms and choose when and where they want treatment. Things have changed in many ways, and your ASC has to keep up with these changes.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers are increasingly handling complex procedures, partly because patients are shopping around for the best options for elective procedures. With the rise in the complexity of specific procedures like total joint replacements, ASCs must ensure they provide exceptional care in line with the often lengthy and challenging procedures they perform. If your ASC has recently added more complex procedures to the surgeries it offers, now is the time to upgrade your ASC technology to meet your patients' needs and provide the best possible care.

It's the time of year when everyone is thinking about New Year's Resolutions and having goals for the coming year. Setting goals for the New Year promotes a positive atmosphere and encourages a team outlook at your ASC. Naturally, you want your goals for 2022 to also create positive surgical outcomes. But how do you determine a tangible goal or set of goals for your Ambulatory Surgery Center?

In December, having a surgical procedure is particularly stressful because most people are trying to get ready for the holidays. The added stress of preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa can make going to an ASC even more difficult. Be sure your Ambulatory Surgery Center puts some fun holiday traditions in place to alleviate some of this. Creating a cheerful, holiday environment will help alleviate some of your patients' stress and contribute to a pleasanter working atmosphere for your staff.

Even the best Ambulatory Surgery Centers face moments of adversity. Some of these may be adverse patient events, negative publicity, or a serious illness or loss by a staff member that impacts the team. While some adverse events aren’t under anyone’s control, others may need to be handled appropriately by management to minimize the ripple effect of negative outcomes. When adverse events occur, your ASC's recovery will hinge on several factors, including the resiliency of your employees and how your facility handles these events internally.

The end of the year is approaching, when many patients have fully paid their insurance deductibles. They often use this time to fit in any covered medical treatments and surgeries before the end of the year. It's natural to want to have a surgical procedure done in the last few months of the year when it is entirely covered by insurance, but it can overwhelm your ASC with patients trying to schedule at the last minute. Your staff will be fielding many phone calls, trying to maximize scheduling without impacting patient care, and coping with additional billing and insurance issues. Make sure your Ambulatory Surgery Center is prepared for the onslaught.

Since the 1900s, growth in healthcare has been driven by women, who make up 80% of the overall growth in health services. Since 2000, the number of people in full-time healthcare positions has increased from five million to nine million (U.S. Census Bureau). Three-quarters of those workers are women. To put it frankly, your health is in women’s hands.

Covid-19 keeps coming in waves, causing confusion and concern for patients and ASCs alike. Patients try to keep up with shifting, sometimes conflicting, information from the CDC, state and local officials, and their physicians. As a result, many ASC  patients are incredibly stressed now that the Delta variant is spiking. Keeping patients satisfied while maintaining a healthy ASC environment is complicated. Still, there are ways to make sure you uphold the highest safety standards and reduce your patients' confusion and worry.