New research shows that even a modest 10% reduction in the proportion of emergency surgical procedures for three common conditions could save nearly $1 billion over 10 years. The study also showed significantly lower rates of mortality and better outcomes among patients who had these procedures on an elective basis.…

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Over the past decade, the number of quality measurement programs has grown exponentially as hospitals respond to public and government demands for greater accountability and improved patient care. During this time, quality programs have been focused largely on how to do quality, how to measure it, how to improve it,…

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A high-performing anesthesiology group is critical to the success of a hospital OR. Most OR leaders, however, do not know how to work effectively with anesthesia providers to define high performance and establish performance metrics. Traditionally, anesthesia group contracts have not included detailed service standards. Language about anesthesia coverage is…

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Delivering quality healthcare doesn’t end when a patient leaves the postanesthesia care unit. It continues until the final installment of the bill is paid. It continues even when the payment is overdue, missing, or refused. To stay in business, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) must collect the fees it has…

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Union membership has declined steeply in recent decades. Increasingly, organized labor is targeting the healthcare industry as a growth opportunity. This is creating a leadership challenge for OR directors and managers. In 2012, approximately 21% of hospitals in the US had a union nursing staff. That percentage could soon increase…

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One way to shave the OR operating budget is to trim the supply spend, and for orthopedic service lines in particular, reining in costs related to implants can make a big impact. Some orthopedic service providers have achieved dramatic savings by adopting a “rep-less” model for certain procedures. At Loma…

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Physician alignment is a key element of current hospital strategy. Last month, we looked at how hospital ORs can use co-management agreements to build strong collaboration with surgeons. Payment reform has created an even more sophisticated option—participation in a bundled payment program. Bundled payment initiatives are more complex than most…

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The percentage of healthcare facilities with a business manager has remained roughly the same over the past several years, and most tend to work in teaching hospitals, according to the 24th annual OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. However, business managers’ education and experience seem to vary widely, as do their areas…

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Most hospitals are experimenting with ways to collaborate better with physicians. An alignment model that is particularly relevant for hospital ORs is the surgical services co-management agreement (CMA). Under a CMA, surgeons receive compensation for helping to manage a service line. Several leading ORs have used CMAs to engage surgeons…

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) once again has extended the deadline to begin using International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) billing codes. Implementation has been set for October 1, 2015, and a growing number of billing, technology, and clinical specialists agree it is time to move ahead with…

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