Mandatory implementation of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Survey (OAS CAHPS) originally scheduled for 2018 has been delayed, but that does not mean it should be ignored, say ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders. The earliest projected date when the survey could become mandatory…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced October 10 that accredited, deemed-status ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) will no longer be required to collect data on medical necessity and appropriateness of procedures (PI.01.01.01, EP 21), effective July 1, 2019. The Joint Commission developed the performance improvement (PI) standard to align with the…

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Leaders of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are less satisfied than they were a year ago, according to the OR Manager 2018 Salary/Career Survey. In 2017, 83% were satisfied with their current job or position, compared with 77% this year. Other areas where satisfaction dipped by five percentage points or more…

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We asked some top ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders, including members of OR Manager’s Editorial Advisory Board, to identify the top challenges ASC leaders are facing. Here are their responses. We believe you will see some of your own challenges reflected in their comments.   Mary Stewart, MSN, BSN, RN…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 11 released new infection prevention resources for podiatry and orthopedic and pain management settings. Free resources include: Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Podiatry Settings (available now). Guide to Infection Prevention in Orthopedic and Pain Management…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 25 released its 2019 outpatient prospective payment rule, which includes cutting payments for hospital outpatient clinic visits as part of a site neutral payment policy. CMS estimated this would save patients about $150 in lower copayments for clinic…

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Editor's Note The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) recently announced its Joint Replacement Certification program with options for outpatient and inpatient settings that demonstrate excellence in specialty orthopedic care, the July 23 Becker’s ASC Review reports. Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers seeking Joint Replacement Certification must meet the following requirements:…

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Hungarian obstetrician Ingvar Semmelweis recognized the link between hand washing and childbirth fever in the mid-1800s. During his lifetime, this theory was often ignored or mocked, but ultimately hand washing was scientifically proven to prevent infections. Almost two centuries later, hand washing still reigns as the queen of infection prevention,…

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Janet Haas, PhD, RN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC, hopes technology will one day achieve what no other strategy has thus far: Increase the rate of hand hygiene compliance. Haas, president of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, says it will need to be a small device that does…

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Editor's Note In this survey of six ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Johns Hopkins researchers led by Martin Makary, MD, MPH, found that the majority increased patient satisfaction, volume, and revenue after publicly listing the prices of common surgical procedures. Five centers reported an increase in patient volume by a median…

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