Same-Day Surgery
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ASCs Can Benchmark With Nursing Indicators
Groundbreaking work to build a benchmarking database of ambulatory nursing outcomes is beginning to benefit ASCs across the United States. People are beginning to understand that it’s important for every member of the team to contribute to overall outcomes and reflect their contribution in outcomes data.
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ASCs That Don’t Negotiate for More Out-of-network Dollars Will Lose
Years ago, ASCs didn’t have to negotiate to receive full reimbursement for out-of-network services. But those days are gone. Now, providers have to negotiate with vendors used by payers to reduce the out-of-network charges. If ASCs are not actively involved in negotiating these rates, then they might end up with as little as 20% of their bill charges.
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Disposing of Hazardous Waste and Drugs: A Confusing Challenge for ASCs
Soon, new guidelines from the United States Pharmacopeia regarding proper disposal of hazardous materials will be made official. ASC administrators and staff should know the main definitions, regulations, and standards regarding hazardous waste, drugs, and controlled substances.
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Tips for Improving an ASC’s Public Image
ASC directors and physicians can act proactively in building a positive public image for their center. There’s no need to wait until bad news occurs or a disaster strikes to think about public relations.
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Leaders Seek Balanced View of Surgery Center Safety Records
Ambulatory surgery center officials are clamoring for a more balanced view after a recent USA Today article highlighted tales of patient deaths following outpatient surgery. Reeling over the potential loss of goodwill, executives point to quality and safety statistics that paint a more complete picture of overall surgery success rates.
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Planning Your Success
Following last month's strong response to useful tips on saving money, our columnist decided to offer some more information about putting everyone on the same page and ensuring financial success.
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Misunderstood Overtime Rules Could Cost ASCs Thousands of Dollars
Within the past seven years, federal lawsuit filings regarding wage overtime rules have increased by 30%, a trend that should jar surgery centers into taking preventive actions.
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The Challenge of Improving the Nursing Hiring Pipeline
Any program designed to increase the number of new nurses who go into ambulatory nursing must address early exposure to ambulatory care in nursing schools. Developing an ambulatory nursing residency program is one possible solution. It might not be feasible for every ASC, but there are some smaller steps administrators could take to improve orientation and training of new nurses or training of experienced nurses who are new to ambulatory care.
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Helping New Nurses Thrive in ASC Setting
New nurse graduates could be a great solution to filling staff needs at ASCs if they are supported through training programs and their preceptors.
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Where to Find Reprocessing Guidelines
When an ASC begins revamping its reprocessing program, a good place to start is with guidelines that can be found easily. Here are some suggestions based on recommendations from federal agencies and other professional organizations.