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Billing data, supply costs, staff costs, and patient satisfaction are top issues for all outpatient surgery managers, but benchmark studies that address these areas don't always focus on similar procedures so that comparisons can be made easily.
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Results of the recent Ambulatory Surgery Non-Clinical Study for Cataract Extraction with Lens Insertion and Colonoscopy include the following statistics:
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Reaction to the results of the "staff costs" category of the Ambulatory Surgery Non-Clinical Study for Cataract Extraction with Lens Insertion was mixed, with the organization that reported the lowest cost expressing surprise and the organization posting the highest cost not planning any changes. The study was conducted by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's Institute for Quality Improvement.
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An increased incidence of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) following outpatient cataract surgery has been reported recently, according to an alert issued by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Several of your staff are in the first trimester of pregnancy. Youre thrilled for them, but you want to make sure they arent exposed to chemicals or radiation that might impair the fetus. One staff member brings in a note from her OB/GYN saying to follow guidelines for pregnant staff in the OR, but you cant find any state or federal guidelines.
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As surgery centers begin to analyze how a new reimbursement system, if passed, would affect their income and bottom line, they are finding that future changes will be a mixed bag.
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Same-day surgery managers and staff members will have more direction and some flexibility if they face a disaster that requires the use of health care volunteers or if they choose to stay open during a pandemic situation with new standards in the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations hospital, ambulatory care, and office-based surgery standards that are effective July 1, 2006.
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As administrator of Kissimmee (FL) Surgery Center, Lou Warmijak knows that weather-related disaster plans must be in place and must be comprehensive. But, as he learned during the 2004 hurricane season, there are always situations for which you cannot plan.
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Preoperative and postoperative safety checklists, as well as forms that collect information about the patients medications and dietary or herbal supplements, are important tools for outpatient surgery programs focusing on patient safety.
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A new, for-profit subsidiary created by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities will help office-based surgery programs improve their efficiency and comply with requirements of different regulatory bodies and accreditation organizations.
