Ambulatory Surgery

Latest Issue of OR Manager
May 2025
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Survey finds staffing gap has widened at ASCs since 2018

Staffing remains a significant challenge for many leaders of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), according to the 2019 annual OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. Nearly a third (32%) of respondents reported more open RN positions, significantly higher than the 26% in 2018; over the past 5 years, only 2016 had a higher…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
August 23, 2019
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Proactive policies help protect staff from bloodborne pathogen exposure

Healthcare workers are at risk for bloodborne pathogen exposures in areas ranging from the clinic to the OR—both inpatient and outpatient settings. Such exposures not only cause anxiety, they cost an estimated $3,000 to $5,000 per exposure for things such as baseline and follow-up laboratory testing, treatment of exposed personnel,…

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By: Amy L. Bethel, MPA, RN, NE-BC
August 23, 2019
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Effect of state legislation in Florida on opioid prescriptions after outpatient surgery

Editor's Note Opioid prescriptions for patients having common outpatient surgical procedures at a large university hospital in Florida were substantially reduced within 6 months after implementation of state legislation limiting the duration of opioid prescriptions, this study finds. Of 1,467 surgical patients included in the study: The proportion receiving opioid…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 22, 2019
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Joint Commission clarifies survey process for telehealth organizations

Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced August 7 that the applicability of its Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation standards for telehealth organizations, which provide remote services, deploy in-person staff, and/or have equipment used between patients, is being evaluated. In the meantime, areas of noncompliance related to infection control, equipment and utility…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 8, 2019
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CMS maintains site-neutral cuts in 2020 proposed rule

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 29 issued the 2020 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), which would increase Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system rates by 2.7%. CMS is also proposing to add eight codes to…

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By: Judy Mathias
July 31, 2019
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Tackling the opioid crisis through community teamwork

The opioid epidemic has risen to alarming proportions in the United States, claiming 46,000 lives in 2018. Studies and federal reports documenting evidence of narcotics overuse and addiction in patients have built momentum to curb prescribing habits. Responding to these trends, a Midwestern orthopedic practice launched a multiphase project to…

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By: Jennifer Lubell
July 24, 2019
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Outpatient surgery occupies big stage at OR Manager Conference

Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) administrators and managers trying to keep pace with the rapid growth in their facilities will not want to miss the robust outpatient surgery education offered at the 2019 OR Manager Conference. On Tuesday, September 17, Beverly Kirchner, BSN, RN, CNOR, CASC, chief compliance officer…

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By: Elizabeth Wood
June 27, 2019
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Hats on! How ASC administrators manage multiple roles

It is not unusual for OR leaders to perform many different roles: Boss, mentor, coach, facilitator, or participant, to name some. Administrators in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) likewise are tasked with many different responsibilities, often shifting among multiple roles within the same day. With the rapid growth in volume and…

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By: Amy L. Bethel, MPA, RN, NE-BC
June 18, 2019
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Welcome to the first issue of ASC Manager

Welcome to the first issue of OR Manager’s Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)-focused supplement: ASC Manager. This supplement will be inserted quarterly and is a new benefit for subscribers. The ASC market is projected to in­crease from $36 billion in 2018 to $40 billion by 2020 according to a recent market…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 10, 2019
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AHRQ: ASCs can submit patient safety culture survey data until July 22

Editor's Note The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced on June 4 that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that have administered AHRQ’s Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey on Patient Safety Culture can submit their data to the database until July 22. ASCs that submit data will receive free individual feedback…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 6, 2019
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