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A 4% annual increase for the life of the facility is not a typical offer from a payer negotiating a contract with an outpatient surgery facility, but that is exactly what was offered to, and quickly accepted by, one facility.
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When trying to find ways to cut costs with your supplies and equipment, consider working with one specific vendor within a group purchasing organization (GPO) and reduce your purchasing orders (POs), advises Terry Hawes, RN, vice president of Dallas-based National Surgical Care.
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When cutting costs in your facility, other programs, your physicians, and even your staff can be partners. Consider these suggestions from Terry Hawes, RN, vice president of Dallas-based National Surgical Care:
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Surgeons at University of California San Diego Medical Center recently removed a diseased appendix through the mouth. This is another first in a series of firsts for natural orifice surgery.
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Under the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals, ambulatory surgery programs will be required to implement best practices on prevention of surgical-site infection.
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Handoff Communications: Toolkit for Implementing the National Patient Safety Goal will help providers use handoff practices to reduce the risk of medical errors and comply with the National Patient Safety Goal, according to Joint Commission Resources (JCR), which developed the toolkit.
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Within a group purchasing organization, work with specific vendors, suggests Terry Hawes, RN, vice president of Dallas-based National Surgical Care.
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Two cases from the Canadian Medical Protective Association, a mutual defense organization for 95% of Canadian physicians, illustrate the danger of patients driving home after ambulatory surgery
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Under new leadership standards from The Joint Commission (TJC) that take affect in 2009, only hospitals will be required to focus on conflict that may affect safety and quality.
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An outpatient surgery patient shows up without an escort to drive him home. Despite the nurse's insistence, the patient indicates he doesn't have anyone who can escort him.
