Editor's Note Running effective emergency drills in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) requires strategic resource use, role clarity, and consistent adaptation, Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society July 8 reports. Drawing on insights from Laura Schneider, senior clinical director at AMSURG, the piece outlines practical steps to ensure ASCs can respond effectively…
For an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), earning accreditation can be more than a mark of excellence. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) offers Medicare Deemed Status Accreditation, eliminating the need for separate surveys to certify compliance with the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) required by the Centers for Medicare…
Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, How ASCs ace the AAAHC accreditation survey. The posts below cover the latest version of the handbook from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and advice on delineation of privileges. Navigating the new handbook The latest…
Editor's Note Two workers at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) are facing federal charges after allegedly interfering with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest, The Independent July 27 reports. The federal agents reportedly arrested one of the workers and are pursuing the other after both were accused of assaulting…
In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. Among the most impactful updates is the launch of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—a mandatory value-based payment program focused on heart failure and low back pain.…
Editor's Note Healthcare employment in the US rose by 55,000 from July to August, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released on August 1. Higher than the average over the prior 12 months of 42,000, the rise in healthcare employment compares to an overall…
Editor's Note As we begin National Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Month, we’ve been reflecting on all OR Manager has to offer this critical subset of our audience—and all that is yet to come. First, why celebrate ASCs, and how to get involved? According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association…
Editor's Note A “quiet transformation” in how Medicare pays doctors could reduce payments for specialty care, including rates for billing codes associated with surgery, diagnostic imaging, outpatient care, pain management, and orthopedics, Modern Healthcare reported July 22. According to the article, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’ 2026…
Editor’s Note: This page is a companion piece to the main article, Proper planning prevents OR construction, renovation cost creep. It brings together four focused updates on OR and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) construction and renovation: Regulatory shifts: The Joint Commission's updated safety and sustainability requirements for hospitals and ASCs, including new…
Editor's Note Gen Z nurses are leaving the workforce in droves, and CNOs must adapt their leadership strategies to keep them. That’s according to a July 21 HealthLeaders report on the Nurse Experience 2025 analysis from Press Ganey, which found that 24% of Gen Z registered nurses left the workforce…