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Are you ready for the biggest change for ambulatory surgery centers in 20 years? The impact of other changes, such as preparing for Y2K, are dwarfed in comparison to the new payment system coming for ambulatory surgery centers, says Judith L. English, vice president of business operations at Surgery Consultants of America and Surgery Center Billing in Fort Myers, FL.
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Save $100,000 in one year? It takes time and effort, but the key to achieving this cost-saving milestone for Calumet Surgery Center in Munster, IN, was careful attention to contracts that automatically renewed themselves.
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No one likes to undergo surgery, and children are especially vulnerable to anxiety prior to surgery. A recent study demonstrates that pre-surgical intervention designed to reduce the fears of children and parents does have a positive impact on the child's surgical experience and recovery.
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In the aftermath of reports that some surgical hospitals called 911 when patients developed complications, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Survey & Certification letter clarifying that all hospitals are required to appraise medical emergencies, provide initial treatment, and provide referral when appropriate, regardless of whether the hospital has an emergency department.
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On May 2, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal request that Shelhigh in Union, NJ, recall all of its medical devices, including hospital inventories, because of sterility concerns. Shelhigh has responded that it will not initiate a recall.
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Outpatient surgery providers are seeing increasing numbers of children who are overweight and obese, and these children have a greater likelihood of experiencing problems associated with surgery, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan Health System.
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A recent report on medication errors by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has pinpointed perioperative services as an editor highly at risk for medication errors when compared with the rest of the hospital, and outpatient surgery programs are particularly at risk, say sources interviewed by Same-Day Surgery.
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Physician recruitment, cost containment, staffing, and managed care contracting are all key parts of any outpatient surgery manager's job, but if your program is struggling, how do you decide which area is most important?
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Informed consent can be a challenge with any patient, but it is particularly difficult with pediatric cases. One option is a multimedia presentation that can help get the necessary information across to the patient and family members in a more engaging way than the standard discussion.
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Question: Is cross-training of staff really that cost-effective? I have several of my staff threaten to quit if I force them to work in PACU. I am forcing the cross-training based upon an article you wrote in Same-Day-Surgery some time ago.
