ASC challenges – including lower reimbursement and higher costs to deliver care – are offset by an incredible opportunity in the form of new cases being approved for outpatient treatment. These cases range from high acuity such as total joint replacement, to minimally invasive procedures from specialties not normally associated with surgery centers such as cardiology, vascular, and nephrology.
Anesthesia needs to provide proactive guidance on details such as the specialization, protocols, and training that will be required for specific cases. For example, the staffing and costs related to an anesthesia team that can safely and efficiently cover higher acuity cases, could be dramatically different than what is currently in place. Once the needs are identified, anesthesia should be able to provide a path to get up to speed with coverage at the highest levels of efficiency, safety, and coordination.
Important questions to ask include:
- Does my current team have experience with these cases?
- Do they have the expertise to set the protocols and procedures that will protect patients and ensure center efficiency?
- Can they provide all the necessary regional blocks?
- Is more training required, can my team provide it?
- Can my current anesthesia team recruit providers with the necessary specialization?
To learn more about how anesthesia can drive operational flexibility and efficiency download our white paper here.