In this day and age, creating a seamless patient journey is not an easy job. While by and large the patient experience depends on staff, they cannot be expected to do everything on their own. When staff are overworked without enough personnel to provide assistance, patient experience — and hence patient satisfaction — suffers.

Healthcare providers across the board, including surgical facilities, struggle to streamline their revenue because getting patients to pay is not always easy. In fact, medical debt in the United States has become so commonplace that Forbes reported no less than half of Americans struggling with some kind of medical debt.

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.

The patients at your ASC are your most valuable asset. Without individuals turning to your Ambulatory Surgery Center for procedures, you'd be out of business. When patients use your facility, it's vital to foster loyalty and thank them for using your ASC. At this time of year, when everyone is more rushed, it’s particularly important to show your patients how thankful you are for them. 

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.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers are growing in popularity. More individuals every year realize they can get top-quality health care at a reasonable price without having to check into a hospital. Surgeons are also increasingly opting for ASCs over hospitals for various procedures. How do you get these patients and new surgeons to choose your ASC over others in your area? 

Total joint replacement or reconstruction is an invasive procedure with potentially lengthy recovery times. When patients are facing the prospect of joint procedures followed by weeks of physical therapy and restrictions, a positive experience at your ASC can dramatically improve their recovery and satisfaction.

Any surgical procedure is a daunting prospect for patients. If it’s the first time a patient is having surgery, it can be frightening as well. Anxious patients often have questions or concerns that need to be adequately addressed. Putting these patients at ease is essential to their recovery and ensuring their ASC experience is positive.