Undergoing anesthesia used to involve spending hours in the recovery room, along with grogginess, nausea and other side effects that could linger for days post-procedure. Today, one anesthetic is changing all that: propofol.
Since it entered the market 40 years ago, propofol has revolutionized anesthesia care delivery. The drug takes effect and wears off within minutes[1], trimming procedure and recovery times and helping patients feel better after surgery than traditional sedation methods. For GI-focused ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) looking to optimize efficiency, propofol-based sedation presents a unique opportunity to perform more cases daily while delivering a better patient experience.
Higher throughput, happier patients
With an increased focus on preventive measures like colonoscopies to curb healthcare costs, GI procedures now make up one in every four cases performed at Medicare-certified ASCs[2]. While techniques like conscious sedation, where a physician or nurse administers medication, are still the norm for some centers, many ASCs are introducing propofol to shave time off procedures and meet growing patient demand. According to a 2012 study, the percentage of people receiving anesthesia for GI endoscopies more than doubled between 2003 and 2009[3].
Propofol-based sedation can help your facility achieve:
- Higher patient throughput and revenue. Not only does propofol work faster than other sedation methods, but it also improves workflow efficiency. Since an anesthesia provider administers the drug, physicians and nurses can focus on the procedure instead of monitoring sedation. Clinical research has shown propofol reduces procedure and recovery times: One study found GI procedures were 30 percent faster with propofol[4], while another found propofol cut recovery room time by 21 minutes[5]. With ASCs averaging $963 in revenue per GI case[6], adding just one more procedure daily without increasing labor or other costs can boost your annual earnings by more than $200,000.
- Greater patient comfort and satisfaction. Pain during the procedure is a top concern for patients undergoing colonoscopies[7]—an issue that propofol can resolve easily. The anesthetic has received widespread praise from patients: In a 2012 survey of 646,000 patients, 97 percent rated their propofol experience as excellent or good[8]. As healthcare becomes increasingly consumer-driven, offering propofol-based sedation can encourage more patients to choose your facility over the competition.
Propofol demands the right partner
A successful propofol-based sedation program starts with a skilled provider. An experienced anesthesia management partner can help your facility maximize efficiency and throughput, deliver patient comfort, and minimize compliance risk.
Not sure where to begin? Consider the following:
- Experience: Outpatient GI procedures require a specialized set of expertise. Your anesthesia provider should be skilled in this clinical setting, including appropriate propofol dosing throughout the procedure to ensure patient comfort and safety. CarePlus manages more than 50,000 cases per year.
- Guaranteed coverage: How will you handle cases if your anesthesia provider is unexpectedly sick or absent? CarePlus has never missed a day of service.
- Commitment to the team: It’s the little things that often have a big impact on efficiency. From participating in pre-op calls and record requests to pushing gurneys and starting IVs, an anesthesia provider who goes above and beyond can improve throughput, patient satisfaction and staff morale. CarePlus finds the best anesthesia provider for your center and makes sure they contribute to your success.
CarePlus helps ASCs optimize operations through propofol-based sedation and other anesthesia best practices. As a trusted ambulatory anesthesia solution with expertise in GI-focused centers, we partner with our clients to develop anesthesia staffing programs customized around their goals. Our carefully vetted providers work alongside your staff to deliver patient comfort and physician peace of mind.
Isn’t it time to maximize efficiency at your center? Take the first step: Click here to contact us today!
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[1] “Use of Sedative Medications in the Intensive Care Unit,” Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
[2] “Multi-Specialty ASC Intellimarker 2016,” VMG Health
[3] “Utilization of anesthesia services during outpatient endoscopies and colonoscopies and associated spending in 2003-2009,” The Journal of the American Medical Assocation, 2012
[4] “Decreasing Cost in the GI Sedation Suite by Utilizing Best Sedation Practices,” University of Southern Mississippi, 2017
[5] “Propofol for Screening Colonoscopy in Low-Risk Patients,” The JAMA Network, 2013
[6] “Multi-Specialty ASC Intellimarker 2016,” VMG Health
[7] “Long-term patient satisfaction of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures,” Annals of Gastroenterology, 2016
[8] “Safety and effectiveness of propofol sedation during and after outpatient colonoscopy,” World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2012