This Week in Surgery Centers: Recent Episodes

This Week In Surgery Centers

If you’re in the ASC industry, then you’re in the right place. Every week our hosts will recap the latest news impacting ASCs, and share an interesting conversation we had with our featured guest. New episodes released every Tuesday!

Here's what to expect on this week's episode. 🎙️

Matthew Obenhaus is SVP of Design & Engineering at NueHealth, where his work spans product development, artificial intelligence, and direct surgery center operations.

Matt joins us for the next installment of our Trust the Data series to explain how ASCs can move beyond high-level dashboards and use artificial intelligence to turn their data into practical action.

We discuss how AI can help surgery centers analyze physician utilization, block time, projected revenue, case profitability, payer performance, and supply costs. Matt also explains how ASC teams can create repeatable workflows without traditional coding skills, identify potential data-quality issues, and reach useful insights faster.

Just as importantly, Matt shares why accurate data and human validation remain essential before presenting findings to physicians or board members. We also cover protecting PHI, establishing clear standards for AI use, and creating appropriate governance around these tools.

In our news segment, we cover a new forecast projecting significant ASC volume growth over the next decade, preview the return of HST Connect, and share a heartwarming story about a pediatric surgeon helping children feel like superheroes before surgery.

Resources Mentioned:

Matthew Obenhaus and NueHealth
https://www.nuehealth.com/insights/leadership/matt-obenhaus/

Vizient Forecasts Continued Growth in ASC Volume
https://www.ascfocus.org/ascfocus/news/digital-debut/202607-vizient-forcasts-continued-growth-in-asc-volume

HST Connect
https://www.hstpathways.com/connect/

Helping Children Feel Like Superheroes Before Surgery
https://www.businessinsider.com/superhero-costumes-help-kids-before-surgery-2026-8

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Here's what to expect on this week's episode. 🎙️

We’re kicking off a short series called Trust the Data by sharing an excerpt from a recent webinar we hosted for our referral partners.

During the presentation, Ryan walks through findings from HST’s most recent State of the ASC Industry Report. The report brings together three years of benchmarking data from 682 surgery centers across 45 states and nearly 4.8 million cases.

The presentation explores six emerging trends shaping ASC performance, including uneven revenue cycle improvement, underused operating room capacity, patient collection leakage, gaps in accounts receivable follow-up, the efficiency of smaller centers, and the impact of specialty mix on growth and profitability.

After the presentation, Ryan covers CMS’s proposed 2.4% average ASC payment update for 2027 and explains why high-volume procedures could still receive lower reimbursement. He also looks at congressional proposals that could bring new price transparency requirements directly to surgery centers.

The episode closes with the uplifting story of three young heart transplant patients whose friendship helped carry them through nearly yearlong hospital stays.

Resources Mentioned:

2026 State of the ASC Industry Report:
https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

ASCA Analysis of the 2027 Proposed Payment Rule:
https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/news-and-publications/news/2026/2027-proposed-payment-rule

ASC Price Transparency Coverage:
https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/senate-committee-advances-price-transparency-bill/

Patients Deserve Price Tags Act:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2355/text

House Energy and Commerce Committee Announcement:
https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/the-house-committee-on-energy-and-commerce-advances-17-bills-to-the-full-house-of-representatives

The Power of Friendship Helps Three Young Patients Through Heart Transplants:
https://www.aha.org/tellingthehospitalstory/stories/power-friendship-helps-three-young-texas-childrens-hospital-patients-through-heart-transplants

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Here's what to expect on this week's episode. 🎙️

Dr. Brian Cohen, practicing anesthesiologist and founding member and administrative chief of Miami Anesthesia Services, and Lee Kortmansky, Site Administrator at Physician Outpatient Surgery Center, join Grant Duncan to discuss one of the biggest issues facing ASCs right now: anesthesia subsidies and coverage. They break down how anesthesia costs often reveal deeper operational issues around scheduling, OR utilization, staffing models, room flipping, surgeon relationships, patient collections, and case profitability. Lee also shares how his center worked with Dr. Cohen’s team to reduce anesthesia subsidy exposure by nearly $300,000.

In our data segment, we connect the conversation to our 2026 SOTI report and highlight what ASC leaders can learn from block utilization, cancellation rates, patient collections, and case profitability benchmarks.

Resources Mentioned:
2026 State of the ASC Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Eric Gonzales and Alexandra DeHart are healthcare banking leaders at Columbia Bank, where they work with healthcare organizations on financing, growth, and capital planning. Eric and Alexandra join us this week to break down how ASC leaders should think about funding growth. They walk through the key differences between debt and equity, what ownership and control trade-offs come with each path, and which financial metrics lenders care about most — including EBITDA, revenue growth, leverage, fixed charge coverage, payor mix, stabilization, and quality of financial reporting.

In our data segment, we’re connecting the conversation back to HST’s 2026 State of the ASC Industry Report. We’ll look at how operational and financial metrics like net collection rate, OR utilization, cancellation rates, specialty mix, and case profitability can help ASC leaders build a stronger, more bankable growth story before pursuing expansion, adding physicians, or taking on new capital.

Resources Mentioned: HST’s 2026 State of the ASC Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Quality data can be one of the most powerful tools an ASC has to improve both safety and operations. In this episode, Nina Goins, Executive Director of the ASC Quality Collaboration, explains how centers can use benchmarking data to uncover deeper operational issues, strengthen payer and board conversations, and build a stronger culture of quality. She also shares why measures like wrong-site events and unplanned hospital transfers matter so much, how ASCQC’s Safety and Quality Assessment can help centers benchmark best practices, and why a simple daily safety huddle can make a meaningful difference.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the latest wave of ASC development, Leapfrog’s expansion of public ASC quality reporting, new research showing how outpatient surgery growth is creating uneven access across communities, and why anesthesia remains one of the biggest operational risks to ASC growth.

Brought to you by HST Pathways

Sean Hartzell is a Managing Director at VMG Health, where he advises healthcare organizations on strategy and capital planning. Sean joins us this week to break down how ASC leaders should think about funding growth. He walks through the key differences between debt and equity, how to calculate the “true” cost of major investments beyond the upfront price, and what factors can make or break a new initiative.

In our data segment, we’re talking all about spine. Spine is being called one of the fastest-growing ASC service lines, driven by a combination of CMS policy changes, payer pressure, and continued advancements in minimally invasive techniques. We’re going to spend the episode focusing specifically on spine ASCs and the potential opportunity for growth based on data-driven insights.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s Specialty Data Report: Spine

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Jon Vick is the Founder and Principal of ASC Realty Advisors, where he has spent decades advising physicians and ASC operators on healthcare real estate strategy. Jon joins us this week to explain how ASC sale-leasebacks work and why they are becoming an increasingly relevant strategy for physician owners. He walks through how centers can use sale-leasebacks to fund de novo projects, expansions, and renovations without taking on additional debt, while also addressing common concerns around control and long-term value.

In our data segment, we’re discussing OR block utilization and showing how increased usage can generate millions in revenue. We’ll use real podiatry stats as an example, but the same concept and tips apply to any specialty.

Resources Mentioned: https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/podiatry

Contact Jon + his team: https://www.ascrealtyadvisors.com/about/leadership/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Stephanie Tarry brings more than three decades of experience in the ASC industry. Now with Physician Transaction Advisors, she works closely with physician groups to evaluate partnership opportunities and guide them through the transaction process from start to finish. In this episode, she breaks down how ASC transactions actually unfold, from early readiness and confidential information memorandums to letters of intent, quality of earnings, and closing.

In our data segment, we’re breaking down Case Share by Age Group from HST’s demographic benchmarking report. If you’re not tracking your age mix, you may be missing a key component of what is truly driving demand and financial performance at your ASC. There is a direct correlation between age and specialty, which means there is a secondary correlation between your patient’s age and potential revenue.

Resources Mentioned: https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/asc-demographic-data

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Dr. Leo Spector, MD, MBA, is the CEO of OrthoCarolina, where he leads strategy across a growing network of ASCs while continuing to practice as a spine surgeon. With decades of experience navigating joint ventures and certificate-of-need restrictions, Dr. Spector brings a physician-leader perspective on what it takes to successfully own and operate ASCs today. In this episode, he shares OrthoCarolina’s journey from hospital joint ventures to wholly owned surgery centers, how CON reform is reshaping growth opportunities, and what independent groups should consider as they evaluate their ownership options.

In our news recap, we’ll cover five ways CMS is continuing to impact the ASC industry, two HCA medical centers that sold, cybersecurity concerns around generative AI, and how Amazon's same-day delivery can help your ASC with patient outcomes.

One other note: our other host, Alex Larralde, unfortunately, needed to step away from HST so she could help with personal family needs full-time. That means this will be the last episode she’s included in. I’m sure she’d appreciate a kind message from you if you’re up to it.

Resources Mentioned:

5 CMS moves shaping the ASC industry
Montecito Buys Two HCA Medical Centers
How the generative AI boom changes healthcare cybersecurity
Amazon Pharmacy to expand same-day delivery to 4,500 cities

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Jim Freund is the Managing Partner at Physician Transaction Advisors, where he and his team have spent more than 20 years advising physician-owned surgery centers through transactions, partnerships, and long-term strategic planning. Having worked on hundreds of ASC deals across the country, Jim brings a unique perspective on what drives centers to explore a transaction and how leaders can prepare before beginning the process. In this episode, he walks through when to start the conversation and what to consider as you evaluate your next move.

In our data segment, we will discuss a custom metric from HST’s demographic benchmarking report: Payment Share by Specialty. The data consistently proves that your case mix and your revenue mix are not the same. And if you’re only looking at case volume, you’re probably missing what’s really driving your financial performance. I'll share what we uncovered after analyzing 5.3 million cases.

Resources Mentioned: https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/asc-demographic-data

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Anesthesia costs and staffing pressures are reshaping ASC operations. In this episode, Garrison Gordon and Cory Hollmann break down shifting reimbursement, rising subsidies, and evolving partnership models between surgery centers and anesthesia groups. Learn practical strategies to align incentives, improve collections, manage risk, and build sustainable anesthesia relationships that support long-term growth.

In our news recap, we’ll cover Oath Surgical’s new partnership with NVIDIA, how Optum’s acquisition of physician practices and ASCs is playing out, Medtronic and Mindray’s investment in the ASC space, and how the University of Michigan Health is using AI-driven diagnostic tools to scan brain MRIs in seconds with 97.5% accuracy.

Resources Mentioned:

Oath Surgical Strikes NVIDIA Partnership to Push AI Deeper Into Outpatient Surgery

Optum ASC Acquisitions Raised Prices Without Shifting Referrals

Medtronic and Mindray North America broaden strategic partnership beyond hospitals

Michigan Health AI model scans brain MRIs in seconds

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Patient payments are getting messier — not always because patients won’t pay, but because the workflow is full of friction, surprises, and missed follow-through. In this episode, HST experts talk about what really works for top-performing ASCs: clearer upfront estimates, fewer handoffs, easier ways to pay, and the operational fixes that keep small balances from quietly aging into “never gets paid.”

You’ll also hear why many centers are seeing more partial payments even as total patient collections decline, and what that means for staffing, patient experience, and revenue cycle priorities heading into the year. In our data segment, we highlight insights from HST’s demographic benchmarking report: case volume and payment share don’t always line up by specialty — and that matters for more precise planning and forecasting.

Subscribe for weekly ASC news and ops insights.

Resources mentioned:

HST Pathways Demographic Trends & Benchmarks for ASCs

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Patient payments don’t have to be complicated. In this week's episode, we kick off our Patient Payments series with a practical guest conversation on what “good” looks like in 2026: integrated processing, fewer manual steps, faster reconciliation, and an easier way for patients to pay.

We cover where workflows commonly break down, why manual reconciliation and disconnected tools create errors and wasted time, and what to look for in modern payments and reporting.

We also close with quick headlines: CMS’s rural health transformation push, new research linking pre-surgery stress to worse recovery in older adults, a CEO transition at Compass Surgical Partners, and why the South is becoming a hotspot for ASC growth.

Subscribe for weekly ASC news and ops insights.

Resources mentioned:

CMS Establishes Office of Rural Health Transformation, Unveils $50B in State Awards: What ASCs Need to Know (Ambulatory Surgery Center News)

Stress among older adults linked to worse surgery recovery (Duke University School of Medicine)

Compass Surgical Partners Names Mark Langston Chief Executive Officer (Compass Surgical Partners)

Why ASCs are surging in the South (Becker’s ASC Review)

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

If you’ve been looking for a clear, ASC-focused breakdown of the 2026 CMS final payment rule, this episode is for you. This week, ASCA’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Kara Newbury, joins us to break down the most important things ASC leaders should note coming out of the 1600+ page document (all in under half an hour). Kara takes us through the reimbursement rate, the weight scalar update and ASCA’s advocacy for its elimination, a major rate oversight on the most common ASC procedure, massive covered procedure list expansion, and more.

In our data segment, we look at patient payment behavior at ASCs and discuss some of the reasons why partial payments are rising and paid-in-full cases are declining, and how financial stress and insurance complexity are showing up in case cancellation rates.

Resources mentioned:

Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

Calendar Year 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule

HST Pathways 2024 State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

If you only had time to do one thing this week to improve your surgery center, what should it be?

To kick off the countdown to year-end, This Week in Surgery Centers pulls together a year’s worth of conversations into one rapid-fire episode, featuring input from 30 past guests on the closing question of every interview: what is one thing ASC leaders can do this week to improve their surgery centers? You’ll hear practical, do-it-this-week ideas from ASC administrators, nursing leaders, business office experts, consultants, and physicians on:

Supporting and recognizing your staff in meaningful ways
Cleaning up payer profiles, item masters, and days to bill to strengthen margins
Tightening credentialing, monitoring, disaster plans, and IT/infosec policies
Improving communication with patients, caregivers, schedulers, and surgeons
Getting your financials and partnerships ready for the next phase of growth

This episode gives you simple, concrete starting points to make 2026 a stronger year for your center — one small improvement, week by week.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In the third installment of our case costing series, HST Pathways’ Chief Innovation Officer, Gavin Fabian, breaks down what “mature” case costing actually looks like in a real ASC (and why, done right, it’s pretty boring). The conversation covers why so many initiatives fall apart at the cost-data level, how to clean up your item master and documentation workflows, and practical steps to move from retrospective spreadsheets to automated case profitability forecasting. Gavin also shares where AI can help plug data gaps, where forecasting should live in your scheduling workflow, and how to use these insights to drive surgeon alignment without sacrificing culture.

In the data segment, we discuss a custom metric from HST’s demographic benchmarking report: OR Minute–Case Gap (by Sex). You’ll hear how this metric is calculated from a 5.3 million–case dataset, what national patterns look like in specialties such as Cardiovascular and Spine, and how ASC leaders can use these insights to challenge assumptions about block times, staffing, and scheduling — so days run closer to plan..

Resources mentioned:

Who’s on Your Schedule? Demographic Trends and Benchmarks for ASCs

Who’s on Your Schedule? Exploring Demographic Data for ASCs (Podcast)

HST Pathways 2025 Client Award Nominations

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this week’s episode, the second installment in our case costing series, Grant Duncan sits down with VMG Health’s Vanessa Sindell and Nancy Stephens to unpack the unsung hero of accurate case costing: a clean inventory master. They cover practical, do-it-today tactics like using naming conventions that work at the point of care, leveraging GPO data to understand all of your pricing options, and keeping preference cards current, so cost-per-case is surgeon ready. They also make the case for dedicating an FTE to the process to maximize cost savings.

In the news: the still-pending OPPS/ASC final rule, the implications of CMS site-neutrality efforts, a new analysis drawing scrutiny to UnitedHealthcare’s payments to Optum-employed physicians compared with market peers, and encouraging results for a multi-cancer blood test showing high detection accuracy alongside standard screening.

Resources Mentioned:

VMG Health

CMS’ delayed ASC rule release, explained (Becker’s ASC Review)

CMS’ site-neutral reform poised to upend hospital-ASC dynamics (Becker’s ASC Review)

Study suggests UnitedHealthcare pays Optum docs more than other providers (Fierce Healthcare)

A simple blood test can detect 50 types of cancer: We explain (USA Today)

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week’s guest, Melissa Rice, is the administrator at Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Terrace (part of Trinity Health), and the newly elected Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association President. In the first episode of our Case Costing series, Melissa lays out a practical playbook that changes behavior — how to pull the levers that drive profitability (implants, supplies, staffing), why clean data must come first, how subspecialty data can surface margin-wrecking outliers, and the right way to align your staff, surgeons, vendors, and your board using clear numbers and transparent governance.

In our data segment, we spotlight the Days to Bill benchmark — which rose to 4.4 days on average in 2024 from 3.6 in 2023 — and a few specialty-specific improvements. We talk about why this metric matters, what it can indicate, and a few simple ways to accelerate cash while mitigating denial risk.

Resources mentioned:

HST Pathways State of the Industry Report

HST Pathways Spine Specialty Data Report

HST Pathways Cardiovascular Specialty Data Report

HST Pathways Gastroenterology Specialty Data Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Recorded live at the New York State Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers conference in Albany, NY (Oct 6-8), this special edition episode brings three vantage points on where ambulatory surgery is headed next: Dr. Daniel Choi of Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island on scaling a multi-physician practice with 10,000+ annual visits and what it really takes to plan an ASC; JoAnn Vecchio of ASC of Western New York on sustaining growth and continuity through a partnership with Catholic Health; and Kara Newbury of ASCA on how a federal shutdown could affect timelines and current legislation — and what ASC leaders should prioritize now amid uncertainty.

One theme connects them all: ASCs are built for this moment — safer care, smarter costs, and real runway for growth — if you can execute.

Resources mentioned:

Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA)

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week, Will Evans, Head of Data Science & Insights at HST Pathways, joins us to unpack our new five-and-a-half-year look at how case volume, OR minutes, and dollars are distributed across patient demographics. We discuss the biggest findings, a few surprises, and the simple metrics any ASC can track to anticipate scheduling and staffing nuance by population.

In our news segment, we cover venture fundraising in the ASC industry, a recent survey report showing a growing number of health systems making ASCs a core part of their strategy, how cyberattacks have disrupted patient care at hundreds of healthcare organizations this year, and a new FDA-cleared blood test to aid in initial Alzheimer’s assessments.

Resources mentioned:

Report: Who’s on Your Schedule? Demographic Trends & Benchmarks for ASCs

Oath Surgical Raises $24M to Expand Surgeon-Led Centers, Develop AI Platform

Health systems expand ambulatory strategies: Report

In 2025, patients are in the healthcare cybersecurity crosshairs

Roche, Lilly's blood test for Alzheimer's diagnosis gets US approval

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this episode, Benita Tapia, Administrator & Director of Nursing at Beverly Hills ASC, joins Alex — along with Conor McGinn, CEO of Akara — to unpack how she’s using AI to improve everyday operations: tightening block utilization and surgeon accountability, speeding turnovers, answering scheduling questions in real time, and boosting registration accuracy to cut preventable denials. We also cover the guardrails — privacy, policy, and a human in the loop — that keep these tools safe and useful.

In our data segment, we look at Otolaryngology benchmarks from nearly 112,000 cases across 202 centers. OR block utilization sits around 46%; net revenue per case is up 26% ($2,981 to $3,765); deposits slipped, and denials ticked up while days to bill improved. We highlight trends to watch, and simple steps leaders can take now to tighten collections, curb denials, and move closer to that 70% utilization goal.

Resources mentioned:

HST Pathways State of the Industry Report

HST Pathways Otolaryngology Benchmark Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

As Q3 wraps, this episode spotlights the signals that matter for ASC leaders heading into the busiest quarter of the year. We track policy direction, the continued shift of cases to outpatient settings, and how employer data transparency is accelerating site-of-care redirection. We scan market momentum and partnerships, revisit anesthesia coverage and how centers are adapting, and share pragmatic AI wins that tighten schedules and improve RCM. Skim the quarter’s major ASC trends in under 20 minutes to guide Q4 execution and set up 2026 planning.

Resources mentioned:

CMS proposed CY-2026 OPPS/ASC rule

ICD-10-CM FY-2026 code update

National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions Pulse of the Purchaser 2025 Survey

Tenet Reports Strong Second Quarter 2025 Results; Raises 2025 Financial Outlook

Ascension nears $3.9B AmSurg acquisition: Bloomberg

Avanza Strategies 6th Hospital Leadership ASC Survey

JAMA Surgery, Effect of a Predictive Model on Planned Surgical Duration Accuracy, Patient Wait Time, and Use of Presurgical Resources

Becker’s ASC Annual Meeting, October 16–18, Chicago

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

For the final episode of our Improving the Patient Experience series, show co-host Grant Duncan and Marta Shultz, a clinical workflow expert at HST Pathways, join Alex to unpack pre-assessments — why they’re essential for patient safety and satisfaction, when to complete them, how many forms you actually need, and practical ways ASC leaders can reduce nurse phone time and cut cancellations and delays.

In our data segment, we analyze gynecology benchmarks from 33,000+ cases across 99 centers. OR block utilization fell 10% year over year to 41%, while a number of financial metrics improved. We cover trends to watch, and steps leaders can take to curb operational challenges at their own centers.

Resources mentioned:

HST Pathways State of the Industry Report

HST Pathways Gynecology Benchmark Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Jeffrey Flynn, Administrator and Chief Operating Officer at Gramercy Surgery Center and President of the New York State Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, joins the show to share how Gramercy keeps care personal at scale — training every team member as a patient advocate, keeping families informed, and even empowering nurses to call a case when something feels off. He also gives us insight into what the NYSAASC has been up to and previews what’s ahead for New York ASCs as we approach next month's state conference in Albany.

In our news recap, we’ll cover why anesthesia providers are choosing ASCs, CMS’s proposed 2.6% payment update and additions to the ASC-Covered Procedures List fueling industry growth, ASCA’s July 60-Second Survey on EHR adoption, and a nationwide study in New Zealand using AI to speed stroke imaging.

In or near New York? Join us at the NYSAASC Conference in Albany, NY, at the Desmond Hotel, October 6-8, 2025.

Resources mentioned:

Why anesthesia providers are drawn to ASCs

The policy shifts driving the ASC boom

ASCA Survey Shows Continued Growth of EHR Usage by ASCs

National rapid stroke imaging AI study underway in New Zealand

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this episode, Grant Duncan sits down with Katie Sypher, a registered dietitian and healthcare operations leader, and Michael McClain, founder of LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, to tackle one of the most overlooked challenges in the ASC space: communication. They share practical strategies for aligning messaging between clinics, surgery centers, and patients — covering everything from mapping touchpoints to creating a single source of truth to reduce duplication, avoid confusion, and build patient trust.

After that, tune into our Data & Insights segment, where we explore why ASCs saw claim denial rates drop from 8% to 4% in 2024 — a 50% improvement — and what your center can do to replicate that success.

Resources Mentioned: 2024 State of the Industry Report by HST Pathways

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Colleen Ramirez, Chief Administrative Officer at Bone & Joint Surgery Center of Novi, and Dr. Michael Bernard, Director of Anesthesia, join the show to share how they work together to drive case volume, choose which cases to accept, and stay profitable—all while maintaining a strong clinical partnership.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the first ever ASC in the Dominican Republic, a new ASC joint venture, the rising demand for dental surgeries, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about how engineers have discovered a way to turn dental floss into a vaccine.

Lastly, an exciting update: starting next week, Erica Palmer will be handing over hosting duties to Alex Larralde!

Resources Mentioned:

One World Surgery Opens First Ever ASC in DR
Solara Surgical Partners, Orlando Health Announce New ASC Joint Venture
Demand Rises for Dental Surgery in ASCs
Engineers transform dental floss into needle-free vaccine

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week, we’re joined by Wes Battiste, an experienced anesthesiologist and ASC developer, to talk about a growing trend: surgery centers building their own in-house anesthesia teams. What once seemed like a wild idea is now becoming the best path forward for centers looking to stay profitable.

Then, in our Data & Insights segment, we dive into 10 key metrics from spine centers—some promising, some concerning, but all worth paying attention to.

Plus, a personal update: After nearly three years hosting This Week in Surgery Centers, Erica Palmer will be passing the mic. You’ll meet your new host, Alex Larralde, in this episode (she interviews Wes!), and you’ll also start hearing from Grant Duncan in the coming weeks.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/spine

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Alex Taira from ASCA breaks down the key takeaways from CMS's 2026 Proposed Payment Rule for ASCs. From reimbursement rates to the ASC Covered Procedures List and quality reporting changes, Alex shares what ASC leaders need to know from the 913-page proposal.

In our news recap, we highlight an AI-JAMA partnership, payer challenges facing anesthesiologists, tips to prevent cyberattacks, and a breakthrough device preserving donor organs.

ASCA Resources:

Proposed Rule Highlights
Propsed Rule Webinar on 7/22/25
ASCA’s 60-Second Survey
National Advocacy Day

News Stories:

JAMA signs multi-year deal with OpenEvidence
The payer issues pressing anesthesiologists
Offensive Mindset: Preventing Cyberattacks
‘Life-saving’ organ-preserving device wins major award

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week, ASC expert Carol Hiatt joins us to share practical tips for improving OR utilization in orthopedic surgery centers. With over 30 years in the industry, Carol dives into common causes of underutilization and how to fix them.

Then in our Data & Insights segment, we spotlight dental ASCs. Drawing from 35 facilities and over 15,000 cases, we break down key metrics like block utilization, pre-auth rates, and patient deposit collection.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/dental

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Kevin Turner is the Sr. VP of IT & Analytics at HealthCrest Surgical Management. He has been in IT for over 30 years and has been through the software evaluation process countless times. Kevin shares with us his repeatable, proven, 8-step process that anyone can use to guide their software decisions. Whether you’re choosing your first system or replacing a legacy tool, this structured approach will help you navigate the process with confidence. With so many vendors and features to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but this step-by-step process will keep you focused on what matters most and make sure all stakeholders are happy with the decision.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the DOJ’s Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force, Ascension’s acquisition of AMSURG, the biggest opportunity for growth in ASCs, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who uses her own personal tragedy to provide once-in-a-lifetime care.

Recommend 8-Step Process:

Define Business Needs and Objectives
Assemble a Cross-Functional Selection Team
Gather Requirements and Prioritize Features
Research the Market and Identify Potential Vendors
Evaluate and Compare Options
Assess Integration, Security, and Compliance
Review Costs and Negotiate Contracts
Pilot, Test, and Finalize the Decision

Resources Mentioned:

ASC Stakeholders Voice Market-Competition Concerns, Ask DOJ Task Force to Cut Red Tape
Ascension agrees to acquire Amsurg to expand ambulatory surgery reach
The biggest opportunities for ASC growth
From Paralyzed Patient to Spinal Cord Nurse: Rachel Stewart, BSN, RN, Turns Trauma into Triumph

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

At the end of every discussion, we always ask our guests, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?” For today’s episode, we took the last 15 answers we received from our guests and turned them into a 20-minute highlight reel.

This roundup features, in order: Scott Allen, Becky Ziegler-Otis, Tina DiMarino, Kathy Wilson, Ryan Short, Colin Park, Mayte Rechani, Mark Henderson Leary, Maddie Traylor, Richard Parker, Melanie Howitt, Kristle Young, Josh Rudd, Nyleen Flores, Shannen Reyes-Aguayo, and Will Evans.

A huge thank you to everyone who has shared their advice!

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Will Evans, HST’s Senior Director of Data Science and Insights, is fresh off presenting Advanced Financial Strategies at last month’s ASCA conference. I wanted to spend a few minutes with Will recapping the second half of that presentation for those who may have missed it, including four key metrics for assessing financial health, how to identify the most important metrics for your unique ASC, and ways to incorporate benchmarking. If you’re looking to strengthen your ASC’s financial performance, this is a great place to start—and you’ll hear a success story or two along the way.

After my conversation with Will, we’ll shift to our Data & Insights segment. You’re likely familiar with our full State of the ASC Industry Report, but we recently released 12 new specialty benchmarking reports—shorter, data-focused reports that take a deeper dive into one specialty at a time. Today, I’ll spotlight average monthly revenue trends for two longstanding specialties—Gastroenterology and Ophthalmology—versus two emerging specialties—Cardiology and Total Joints. We’ll break down average monthly case volume, revenue per case, and what trends we’re seeing across these specialties.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/gastroenterology/
https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/ophthalmology/
https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/cardiovascular/
https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/totaljoint/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Nyleen Flores, CEO of MedElevate, and Shannen Reyes, President of Advanced Quality Compliance, are joining us today. With decades of experience between them, Nyleen and Shannen have helped countless surgery centers streamline their credentialing processes, reducing risk and improving patient safety along the way. In this episode, we unpack common misconceptions, share tools and systems that actually work, and chat about their brand-new podcast, Credentialing Chronicles.

Later in the episode, I’ll walk through our latest Data & Insights spotlight. You’ve probably seen our full State of the ASC Industry Report, but we’ve just released 12 new benchmarking reports focused on specific specialties. Today, we're focusing in on Cardiovascular ASCs—with insights from 108 centers and roughly 9,000 cases.

Resources Mentioned: https://www.hstpathways.com/specialty-data/cardiovascular

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Josh Rudd recently opened Knoxville Spine Surgery Center, his first time leading the launch of a brand-new facility. I sat down with Josh to hear what the process was really like, from the initial idea all the way to their very first procedure. Whether you're planning a new build or just curious about what it takes to open an ASC from scratch, this conversation is packed with first-hand insights you'll find both valuable and engaging.

After my conversation with Josh, we’ll head into our Data & Insights segment. HST released its annual State of the Industry report in September, based on data from 590 surgery centers. Today, we’re diving into expected vs. actual OR start times and sharing practical tips to help keep your schedule running on time.

Resources Mentioned: HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We’re continuing our series on Improving Profitability. Last week, Melanie Howitt shared how AI and automation can improve your ability to collect outstanding balances. This week, Kristle Young from Collective RCM joins us to discuss strategies for reducing days in AR.

In our news recap, we cover key trends from the ASCA Conference, the rise of shoulder replacements, a new joint venture between Cleveland Clinic and Regent Surgical, and end on a high note with this year’s Nap Gary Award recipient.

Resources Mentioned:

ASCA 2025 Recap: Profitability, Tech, and Leadership

Gaining Ground

Cleveland Clinic, Regent Surgical Strike ASC Joint Venture Agreement

Wilson Receives Nap Gary Award for Lifetime Achievement

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We’re kicking off a brand-new three-part series on Improving Profitability at Your ASC. First up: Melanie Howitt, Transition and Implementation Manager at in2itive, joins host Nick Latz to discuss how AI and automation can streamline collections and reduce outstanding balances. She also shares field-tested best practices for optimizing the back end of the revenue cycle.

Then, in our Data & Insights segment, we dive into findings from HST’s latest State of the Industry report. With data from 590 surgery centers, we break down the most common reasons for case cancellations—and which ones your ASC can work to prevent.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

How to Create a CustomGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u0tHytmKqw

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

HST CEO David Thawley recently joined ASCA’s podcast to discuss key ASC trends in 2024—from rising specializations and OR efficiencies to new RCM data from our State of the Industry Report. We’re excited to share that conversation here with permission from ASCA.

Quick reminder: if you’re listening on Tuesday, April 29, the ASCA conference is officially underway! Come visit us at Booth #303 to say hi, grab your copy of the report, and win a prize.

Check out ASCA’s podcast, Advancing Surgical Care: https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/news-and-publications/podcast

Download HST’s State of the Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today’s guest is Richard Parker, Associate Director of Life Safety & Physical Environment at ACHC—the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. We talk about what life safety includes, what surveyors are really looking for, how to document properly, and the most common deficiencies ACHC sees during surveys.

Reminder: the ASCA conference is just two weeks away! If you haven’t registered yet, online registration closes Friday, April 18th, so now's the time to register if you haven’t yet. HST will be there at Booth #303, right up front in the exhibit hall. Stop by to say hello, grab a copy of our State of the Industry report, take a quiz for a chance to win a prize, and check out all our latest solutions. We hope to see you there.

Resources Mentioned:

Closing the ASC Tech Gap: EHRs, AI and Beyond
How ASCs can flip the script on anesthesia challenges
Streamlining the PACU Experience for Total Joints Patients
The dog-tor will see you now
Learn more about ACHC Webinars: https://www.achc.org/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In the final episode of our Staffing Strategies series, Maddie Traylor, President of AdvancedScope, joins us to explore the differences between locum, contract, and permanent hires. We dive into the pros and cons of each staffing model and how surgery centers can determine the best fit based on their unique needs.

After the conversation with Maddie, stick around for our Data & Insights segment. We’ll take a few minutes to unpack one of the key takeaways from HST’s 2024 State of the Industry report: average recovery times by specialty, based on data from 590 surgery centers.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/
The National Library of Medicine’s report on aromatherapy's role in decreasing PONV: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34905993/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Last week, we explored how to choose the best staffing agency with Mayte Rechani. This week, we’re continuing our staffing series with Mark Henderson Leary to discuss what it takes to build a sustainable culture at your ASC.

Mark shares practical strategies to help you:

Define what your culture really is
Identify team members who may not be the right fit
Attract and retain people who align with your values

In our news recap, we cover:

The ongoing anesthesia staffing crisis
Concerns from ASC leaders about proposed HHS policy changes
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
A feel-good story from this year’s National Resident Matching Program

Resources Mentioned:

Surviving the Anesthesia Staffing Crisis
Ambulatory Surgery Center Stakeholders Sound Alarm Over HHS Proposal to Rescind Public Participation in Rulemaking
ASCs Provide Updates on CRC Screening
What 23 match day statistics say about the future of medicine
HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today is the first episode of our new three-part series on Staffing Strategies for ASCs! Over the next few episodes, we’ll discuss key staffing considerations that can help surgery centers build and maintain a strong workforce. The healthcare industry is dealing with unprecedented staffing shortages right now, so I’m hopeful that everyone will be able to walk away from this series with some new ideas to use.

Today, we’re kicking things off with Mayte Rechani to discuss Selecting the Best Agency. Many ASCs haven’t tapped into staffing agencies yet, so Mayte will break down what to look for in an agency, how to ensure reliable coverage, and other key factors to consider.

After my conversation with Mayte, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. HST released our annual State of the Industry report in September, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. Today we’ll spend a few minutes breaking down how often outstanding patient bills are worked post-date-of-service.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report – https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today, we’re diving into the latest insights from VMG Health’s newly released report, ASC Leader Expectations for 2025. This report is based on a survey of 137 ASC leaders—including administrators, CEOs, VPs, and clinical directors—from both independent and joint-venture centers. To break down the key takeaways, our host, Nick Latz, sat down with Colin Park, Managing Director at VMG Health. Together, they explore what ASC leaders are prioritizing for the year ahead and what trends Colin and his team uncovered.

After my conversation with Colin, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. HST released our annual State of the Industry report in September, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. Today we’ll spend a few minutes breaking down on-time starts. We’ll look at which specialties have the longest delays, which have the shortest, and the operational impacts of starting surgeries late.

Resources Mentioned:

ASC Leader Expectations for 2025: https://vmghealth.com/insights/industry-report/asc-leader-expectations-for-2025/
HST’s State of the Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Ryan Short, Principal and Founding Member of Cotton Architecture and Design, joins us to break down the step-by-step design process for opening a new surgery center. In this fast-paced, 20-minute conversation, we cover everything you need to know. Whether you plan to open a facility, expand an existing one, or just want insight into the process, you'll walk away with valuable takeaways.

Resources Mentioned:

Surgery Centers Affected by LA Fires Share Their Stories
Game-Changing Advances in Orthopedics
How 5 ASC companies dominated in 2024
How Beth Quatrara is Shaping the Future of Nursing

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In the final installment of our three-part QAPI studies series, I sit down with Kathy Wilson, Executive Director of the ASC Quality Collaboration, and Kathy walks us through a real-life QAPI study on reducing case cancellations at a GI center, using her 10-step, repeatable approach that simplifies the process and delivers measurable results. Whether you're new to QAPI studies or looking for a more structured method, this episode has actionable takeaways you won’t want to miss.

After my conversation with Kathy, we’ll dive into our Data & Insights segment, where we analyze key findings from HST’s State of the Industry report. Looking at orthopedics, we’ll break down profitability per case, compare 2023 to 2024 trends, and discuss why more patients and payers are choosing outpatient procedures—a shift that’s only gaining momentum.

Kathy’s 10-Step QAPI Study Process:

Define the Purpose – Why does this issue matter?
Set a Performance Goal – Internal or external benchmarks help guide success
Plan Data Collection – Identify what you need to track.
Collect the Data – Use reports, spreadsheets, or software to track key details.
Analyze the Data – Identify trends and root causes.
Compare to Goal – Did you hit the target?
Implement Corrective Actions – Revise patient instructions, engage physicians, implement tech solutions, etc.
Remeasure the Data – Track post-intervention results.
Adjust if Needed – Implement further corrective actions if goals aren’t met.
Communicate Findings – Share results with staff, leadership, and surveyors.

Resources Mentioned: HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We are continuing our three-part series about QAPI studies. Last week, we heard from Becky Ziegler-Otis, who shared some fantastic insights into how you can generate new ideas. And today, I had the chance to talk with Tina DiMarino. Tina is the CEO of Custom Surgical Consultants, a Board member of the Maryland ASC Association, and an AAAHC Surveyor. So Tina will give up the inside scoop on what specific aspects of QAPI studies surveyors typically focus on during an inspection.

After my conversation with Tina, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. In September, HST released our annual State of the Industry report, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. Today, I’ll share the cardiology trends we saw from 2023 to 2024, specifically around OR duration, revenue per case, and revenue per OR minute.

Resources Mentioned: HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We’re kicking off a new three-part series on QAPI Studies!

Becky Ziegler-Otis joins us this week to share practical tips for generating new study ideas. Becky is the Assistant Executive Director at the ASC Quality Collaboration, an ASC consultant, and a member of the ASCA Education Committee. Having run an ASC for many years, she knows QAPI inside and out and will show you how to find fresh ideas through internal and external benchmarking.

Coming up next:

February 18: Tina DiMarino gives an inside look at what surveyors are really looking for.
February 25: Kathy Wilson walks us through the 10-step process she used to run a successful study that reduced case cancellations at a GI center.

Resources Mentioned:

Take the ASC Quality & Safety Assessment
HST’s State of the Industry Report
Why ASCs Should Brace for Consolidation in 2025
The battleground states for colonoscopy laws
Shamika Ossey Champions Resilience and Compassion During LA County Fires

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Scott Allen is the SVP of Managed Care at nimble, and he’s on today’s show to help us wrap up our Payor Contract series. We have already covered 6 Tips for Effective Management and Leveraging Data for Negotiations, and we’ll finish up the series by doing a deep dive into Chargemaster Essentials. Scott walks us through common issues, making sure your chargemaster is up to date, and how to maintain it effectively.

In our news recap, we’ll cover a kickback lawsuit in New York, potential AI bias, the role of automation in RCM, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who saved a patient’s life who was having a stroke.

Also – we’re offering a $50 gift card to the first 30 listeners who complete our Podcast Survey! It only takes a few minutes of your time, and you’ll be able to share your feedback and ideas. Start the survey here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/hstpathways1/podcastsurvey

Resources Mentioned:

The View co-host Sunny Hostin's surgeon husband Emmanuel accused of insurance fraud in bombshell lawsuit
Hospital evaluation of AI predictive tools for bias is inconsistent, study finds
How to Make True RCM Automation Work for You: Three Tools Every Organization Needs in Their Toolkit
Meet Carlee Minyard: The ER Nurse Who Set a Stroke Care Record and Transformed a Life in Just 17 Minutes

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week marks our 100th episode of This Week in Surgery Centers!

We are beyond grateful to everyone who has tuned in and to our 80+ guests who have come on the show over the last two years. Our episodes have accumulated tens of thousands of listens, and it has been our privilege to share such important information and expert advice with the industry.

Now, let’s celebrate! At the end of every discussion, we always ask our guests, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?” For today’s 100th episode, we took the last 20 answers we received from our guests and turned them into a 25-minute highlight reel.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported This Week in Surgery Centers. We hope you enjoy this roundup, and here’s to the next 100 episodes!

Rita Reyes-Williamson is the Senior Director of Managed Care at Surgery Partners, and she joins us today for part 2 of our payor contract series to talk about Leveraging Data for Negotiations. Rita has great tips and ideas for what data you should bring to your payor negotiations, such as physician case volume data, case migration from inpatient to outpatient, how you’ll improve access to care for their memberships, and so many more creative ideas for how you can gain leverage and get the best rates possible.

After my conversation with Rita, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today I’ll share with you case volume trends per specialty from 2023 to 2024 and then tips for how you can increase your case volume if you’re looking to do so.

Plus - we’re offering a $50 gift card to the first 30 listeners who complete our Podcast Survey! It only takes a few minutes of your time, and you’ll be able to share your feedback and ideas. Start the survey here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/hstpathways1/podcastsurvey

Access HST’s State of the Industry Report: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We’re starting 2025 with an exciting three-part series on Payor Contracts! In this episode, Kristin Pegram, Contracts and Compliance Manager at Mann Eye Institute shares six essential tips for effective contract management. Kristin brings invaluable firsthand experience to help you navigate contract challenges.

In our news recap, we’ll cover why ASCs closed in 2024, projected headwinds and tailwinds for 2025, SCA Health’s latest acquisition, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story from Baxter, the manufacturing facility in North Carolina that was hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

Do you want $50? We’re offering a $50 gift card to the first 30 listeners who complete our Podcast Survey! It only takes a few minutes of your time, and you’ll be able to share your feedback and ideas. Start the survey here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/hstpathways1/podcastsurvey

Resources Mentioned:

Why ASCs closed in 2024
New Year, New Trends
SCA Health Acquires OrthoAlliance, Expanding Orthopedic Footprint
Baxter Expects Pre-Hurricane Levels of Production in Early 2025

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We had the chance to sit down with Kara Newbury, ASCA’s Chief Advocacy Officer, to discuss what ASCs can expect in 2025. CMS officially published its 2025 Final Payment Rule, so we covered Medicare reimbursement rates, changes to the ASC Covered Procedure List, updates to the ASC Quality Reporting Program, and some other topics that every ASC should be aware of.

After my conversation with Kara, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. In September, HST released our annual State of the Industry report, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. Today, I’ll share with you the numbers we were able to put together regarding OR efficiency and patient throughput. We’ll look at OR Start Time, OR Duration, OR Turnover, and Recovery times.

Also, this week’s episode will be our last one in 2024. There will not be any new episodes on December 24th or December 31st, but we will hit the ground running on Tuesday, January 7th, with a brand new series on payor contracts. If you need content to hold you over, please see the list of educational resources below.

So, with that, we hope you all enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones, and we will see you after the New Year.

Resources:

Connect with Maia Kunkel from ASCA for help scheduling a facility tour
HST’s State of the Industry Report
ASC Data & Benchmarking Video Playlist
Content Bundles by Topic (board meetings, OR utilization, EMRs, etc.)

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Mel Gunawardena is the Co-founder and Managing partner at SYNERGEN Health, and he is here to share with us a few things that every RCM expert needs to know. In this episode, Mel shares essential insights every RCM expert needs to know, including best practices for ASCs, how technology is revolutionizing the process, and the key considerations for keeping RCM in-house versus outsourcing.

In our news recap, we’ll cover a new surgical tech training center, what to watch out for in your payer contracts, a new controversial decision by Anthem, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new, game changing therapy for people with asthma or COPD.

Articles Mentioned:

Plaza College unveils $1 million surgical tech training center in Forest Hills

Watch Out for Payer Contract Proposal Red Flags

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures [Editor’s Note: since this episode was published, Anthem has decided to reverse this policy.]

Doctors hail an asthma ‘breakthrough’

HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This week, our host, Nick Latz, sits down with Joan Dentler, Founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, to explore the insights from their 6th Annual Hospital Leadership ASC Survey. Together, they break down the survey results, uncovering key trends in ASC ownership, the growing interest from hospitals and health systems, the equity dynamics, and the role of third-party management companies. And the best part is that all these insights are backed by the data Joan and her team have aggregated and analyzed, so the takeaways are equal part interesting and meaningful.

After Nick’s conversation with Joan, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. HST released our annual State of the Industry report in September, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. Today I’ll share with you the numbers we were able to put together regarding Pre-Authorization Rates and Insurance Verification Rates, and we’ll look at how that compared to 2023.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report
Avanza’s 6th annual Hospital Leadership ASC Survey will not be publicly available until January 2025. Please check their website for any updates: https://avanzastrategies.com.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We’ve explored many topics related to opening an ASC, but today’s episode dives into something very specific and exciting. Three experts from Align Health join us to discuss what it takes to open an ASC with a cardiovascular focus.

Cardiovascular is one of the hottest specialties right now, with reimbursement per case ranking second only to orthopedics. But with great opportunity comes unique challenges—feasibility, construction, staffing, technology, and so much more.

In our news recap, we’ll cover ASCA’s latest survey regarding access to anesthesia, how health systems are publicly ranking AI models, the critical role of ASCs during national emergencies, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who went above and beyond to help a family in need.

Resources Mentioned:

ASCA Survey Shows Improvement in Access to Anesthesia Services
Health systems band together to test and publicly rank top AI models
The Critical Role of ASCs During National Emergencies
Celebrating Compassion: Heather Braden Helps Family in Time of Need

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Matt Lau, Senior Vice President of Client Accounting & Financial Services at MedHQ, has been helping ASCs manage their financials for over 20 years. With more than 400 budgets under his belt, Matt has developed a simple, no-nonsense, 4-step process for creating budgets that actually work. In today’s episode, we’ll break down those four steps and hear some great stories and insights from Matt along the way. Whether you’re new to budgeting or just looking to streamline your approach or hear how others do it, this conversation is packed with really great advice.

If you’re looking for more advice on Annual Budget Planning:

Check out last week’s episode on Knowing Your Audience with Suzi Walton and Matt Cavanagh
Watch MedHQ’s webinar on Navigating ASC Budgeting with Matt Lau

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We're excited to kick off a brand-new series all about Annual Budget Planning. This is something that every surgery center needs to do to some degree to make sure the following year is successful, and everyone's on the same page. But here's the interesting part: in the conversations I've had while prepping for this series, it's clear that no two ASCs handle budget planning the same way. The process varies widely, and the budget's role in daily operations can look very different depending on the center.

I sat down with Suzi Walton and Matt Cavanagh to get us started. Suzi, the administrator at Ohio Surgery Center, has over a dozen budget cycles under her belt. Matt, a Principal at Clifton, Larson, Allen, has nearly 20 years of experience working directly with ASCs. Together, they shared insights on how your approach to budget planning might shift depending on your audience. Whether you're physician-owned, part of a management group, or involved in a joint venture, Suzi and Matt explain how these ownership models influence the budgeting process.

After my conversation with Suzi and Matt, we'll switch to our Data & Insights segment. In September, HST released our annual State of the Industry report, which analyzed client data from 590 surgery centers. The metric I'm excited to dive into today with you is OR Block Utilization trends. We'll cover what the 2024 numbers showed and tips for improving OR utilization overall.

Resources Mentioned:

View the online version of the State of the Industry Report
Request a free, printed copy of the report
Listen to the podcast episode on Maximizing OR Utilization Through Block Time Optimization

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Welcome to the third and final episode of our series on Improving Patient Collections! Over the past two episodes, we’ve explored mastering eligibility and shared valuable tips for post-date of service collections. Today, we’re excited to bring you insights from Marie Yarborough, the administrator at Sequoia Surgical Pavilion in Walnut Creek, California. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare administration, Marie has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to optimizing patient collections. In this episode, she’ll dive into key strategies for upfront collections, how third-party financing can help, the impact of the No Surprises Act, and how technology is transforming the process.

In our news recap, we’ll cover growing concerns from various ASC leaders, a new hospital price transparency bill that if passed will impact ASCs, Walmart’s new pharmacy delivery initiative, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about three nurses who went viral for their new CPR training technique.

Resources Mentioned:

ASCs sound alarm on mounting threats

New Hospital Price Transparency Bill in Pennsylvania Could Impact ASCs

Walmart adds pharmacy to same-day delivery

Texas Nurses Rock CPR: Using Sabrina Carpenter’s Hit to Save Lives

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Welcome back to our three-part series on Improving Patient Collections! In our last episode, we were joined by Sayword Hill from Constitution, who shared expert insights on mastering eligibility. This week, while we had originally planned to bring you another guest to dive into post-date of service (DOS) collections, plans shifted due to Hurricane Milton. So, it's just me, Erica Palmer, taking the mic solo to share actionable tips for boosting patient collections after your patients are discharged.

This episode couldn’t have come at a better time! HST recently released our State of the Industry Report, packed with valuable data, including insights on outstanding post-DOS patient bills. I’ll be weaving that data into today's episode as I break down key strategies to improve your collections process and maximize your revenue.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s 2024 State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this episode, we’re kicking off a three-part series on Improving Patient Collections with Sayword Hill, SVP of Revenue Cycle at Constitution. Sayword shares valuable insights on mastering patient eligibility, ensuring you're not performing procedures on uninsured patients, and helping prevent claim denials.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the opening of a new cardiovascular ASC, the impact of Hurricane Milton on hospitals, how AI is easing the charting burden for nurses, and end on a heartwarming note with the story of conjoined twins who just celebrated their first birthday after a successful separation surgery.

Resources Mentioned:

Bon Secours Mercy Health, Compass Surgical Partners, AlignedCardio to Open Cardiovascular ASC
Hurricane Milton disrupts infrastructure, could trigger more hospital evacuations in Florida
How AI could tame the charting madness for nurses
Twin Boys Born Conjoined Celebrate 1st Birthday After Separation Surgery
HST’s 2024 State of the Industry Report
Learn more about HST Clariti, the solution Sayword and her team use to verify eligibility

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

On September 25th, HST Pathways released the 2024 edition of our annual State of the Industry Report. If you're unfamiliar, we launched the report last year to provide best practices, key process steps, and key performance indicators for every stage of the patient journey and the most common administrative tasks in ASCs. What makes this report unique is that it’s built using real data from 590 ASCs across 47 states, giving you free benchmarking tools based on actual performance metrics.

This year’s edition features over 130 KPIs to track, 50 chapters, 36 charts—including 12 year-over-year comparisons—and 5 key emerging trends. Our Senior Director of Data Science and Insights, Will Evans, and Erica Palmer, Director of Content Marketing, created this report, and together, they hosted a webinar to dive deeper into the 5 emerging trends and 13 key benchmarks. In this week’s episode, we’re sharing the full recording of that discussion.

Resources Mentioned:

View the 2024 State of the Industry Report
Request a Printed Copy of the Report
Download the Webinar Slides
Three Metrics to Drive Your Growth Strategy
Block Time Optimization

Brought to you by HST Pathways

Mike Ferguson, President of Horizon Solutions, joins us to conclude our three-part series on Evaluating Ownership Options for ASCs. As an expert in working with ASCs and OBLs, Mike sheds light on one of the more complex ownership models—when physician owners, a third-party management group, and hospital partners are all involved. In this episode, Mike shares practical strategies for navigating the challenges of balancing different priorities, fostering collaboration, and keeping all stakeholders aligned to ensure the success of the ASC.

In our news recap, we’ll cover ASCA’s comments for CMS on the 2025 proposed payment rule, California’s new Data Exchange Framework, where providers and payers are increasing their IT spending, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about Aaron James, a man from Arkansas who received a whole eye transplant.

Articles Mentioned:

ASCA Advocates for Changes to CMS 2025 Proposed Payment Rule
California’s data exchange framework proves government can do big things
Providers and Payers Are Increasing Their Tech Spend — Where Are They Investing the Most?
Man living ‘normal life’ after world-first eye transplant

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In today's episode, we bring you part 2 of our 3-part series on Evaluating Ownership Options. Last week, we explored working with a Management Services Organization (MSO), and today, we're diving into the benefits of selling a minority share. Jeff Peo from Lifeline joins host Nick Latz to break down the typical ownership split, how it impacts physician autonomy, the financial advantages, and more.

After the conversation with Jeff, we'll shift to the fourth installment of our AI segment. So far, we've explored how generative AI can streamline tasks like staff scheduling, writing patient education materials, improving your website, analyzing data, and presenting findings to your board. Today, we'll go a step further and discuss how you can use Custom GPTs to amplify the impact of AI on your day-to-day operations. Think of it as having a super-smart assistant available 24/7 tailored to your work. We'll walk you through creating one and highlight three practical scenarios where it can make a big difference.

Resources Mentioned:

Lifeline’s Two-Phase Sale Model

Steps to Create Your Own CustomGPT:

Go to ChatGPT and log in. You must have the paid version to create a Custom GPT.
Click Explore.
Click the black Create button.
Click the Configure tab.
Enter your instructions and upload your documents.
Click Save.
Click Confirm.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

James Calligan, President of Phoenix Gynecology Consultants, will kick off our new three-part series about Evaluating Ownership Options today. James runs a Management Services Organization, better known as an MSO, which provides all types of support to its ASC clients. We’re always talking about ASCs that are either independently owned or owned by a management company, but this third option might be an excellent fit for ASCs out there looking for a middle alternative.

In our news recap, we’ll cover top healthcare trends executives are watching, the new partnership between ChristianaCare and Atlas Healthcare Partners, talk through some staffing projections, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a 15-year-old boy who was named Time’s Kid of the Year for his latest invention.

Articles Mentioned:

Top Healthcare Trends of 2024: What Executives Are Watching

ChristianaCare and Atlas Healthcare Partners to Develop ASC Network

Healthcare labor shortage predicted by 2028, with uneven state impacts: report

The teen who’s developing a treatment for skin cancer, one bar of soap at a time

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today is the third and final part of our three-part series on how you can optimize the physician experience. Dr. Justo covered the importance of encouraging your doctors to learn new procedures, Lindsay Schulte covered how to ensure you're fully aligned with your doctor's preferences, and Janet Carlson joined us on this episode to discuss improving communication and collaboration. Janet is the Executive Director of ASCs at Commonwealth Pain and Spine, and they have roughly 22 doctors, so she shared tips for removing some common barriers, technology's role, and how they do things at Commonwealth.

After my conversation with Janet, we'll wrap up the episode with the third installment of our AI segment. We've covered ways you can use generative AI to create staff schedules, write patient education materials, handle the heavy lifting when writing post-op instructions, improve your website, and manage your social media content. Today, we'll take it one step further and look at five ways you can use AI to help you analyze data, spot trends, and present your findings to your board or stakeholders.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Last week, we kicked off our “Optimizing the Physician Experience” series with Dr. Justo, who covered the importance of encouraging your docs to learn new procedures. Today, for part 2 of the series, we are joined by Lindsay Schulte, the Division Vice President of ASCs at EyeCare Partners. EyeCare Partners has over 300 doctors across their 31 ASCs, so Lindsay knows a thing or two about managing the physician experience. She shares with us today how ASCs can align with physician preferences, including scheduling, equipment, supplies, preference cards, and more.

In our news recap, we’ll cover how data can play a role in securing anesthesia services, the latest tech trends that are transforming outpatient care, unexpectedly high medical bills, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who adopted her patient’s cat and was able to reunite them ten years later.

Articles Mentioned:

Collect Data to Secure Anesthesia Services

Tech Trends That Are Transforming Outpatient Care

How to Get Relief From Unexpectedly High Medical Bills

Cat-tastic Reunion: Nurse’s 10-Year Promise Reunites Beloved Papa Bear Back to Patients

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today kicks off a new, three-part series on the podcast about Optimizing the Physician Experience. We spend most of our time talking about the patient experience and patient satisfaction, and rightly so, but keeping your docs happy is incredibly important, too. So, for our first discussion, I am joined by Dr. Emilio Justo. Dr. Justo is currently the Medical Director at the Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center and a well-known speaker and teacher. As a physician, Dr. Justo shares some great insights into what physicians are looking for. Then, we spent most of our time talking about the benefits of encouraging your doctors to learn new procedures and how you can create an environment that promotes continuous learning and skill development.

After talking with Dr. Justo, we’ll wrap up the episode with the second installment of our brand-new AI segment. Like last week, I’ll walk you through a few safe and free ways to start using AI at your surgery center today, focusing on how you can use AI to improve your website and social media presence.

Check out Dr. Justo’s latest book, The Power of Pause: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4JH7VPL

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today is the third and final part of our three-episode series on Expanding Your ASC. We’ve covered how to bring on new physicians, add new specialties, and add a new operating room. I had the opportunity to sit down with Greg DeConciliis to talk about the expansion project he’s working on. Greg’s team realized a few years ago that they had outgrown their current 3-OR facility, so they are building an 8-OR facility a few miles down the road, and they are on track to open in January 2025. So we talked about how he knew it was time, financing, finding contractors, challenges and learnings, and everything in between.

After my conversation with Greg, we will end the episode with a new segment. I usually try to rotate between sharing the latest news and sharing helpful data points, but I thought it would be good to add a new segment around Using AI at Your ASC. It can be really tricky to know you can start using AI today, especially if it’s a subject you are a bit wary of or just haven’t had a lot of exposure to. So stay tuned until the end, and I’ll walk you through three safe and free ways to start using AI today.

Previous “Expanding Your ASC” episodes:

Michael McClain – Expanding Your ASC: Bringing on New Surgeons + Specialties
Bruce Johnstone – Expanding Your ASC: Adding an OR

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today is part two of a three-part podcast series on Expanding Your ASC. As we learned in the last episode, expansion will look different for every surgery center. However, whether adding physicians, introducing a new specialty, opening another OR, or growing your team, having a growth mindset is essential for your surgery center's longevity. So today, we are sitting down with Bruce Johnstone, a Principal at Apex, and he's sharing great advice on how you can successfully add a new OR to your facility.

After my conversation with Bruce, we'll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Last September, HST released a State of the Industry Report with 45 chapters of best practices, 125+ KPIs for ASCs to track, and free benchmarking data for 15 key metrics. We are currently working on a 2024 version, so in honor of being two months out from our publish date, I want to share with you four of the key metrics we published last year and talk through how to improve them.

Dive deeper into the KPIs:

Unused OR Blocks

Average Net Revenue Per Specialty

Patient Deposit Collection Rates

Days to Bill

2023 State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We have officially wrapped up our "Capitalizing on the Cardiology Boom" series and are starting a new series on "Expanding Your ASC."

Today, I am very excited to have on returning guest, Michael McClain, to discuss how you can successfully bring on new surgeons and add new specialties to your existing facility. Michael is currently the Founder and Managing Member at LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, so he works with ASCs on their strategic development all the time. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to growing and evolving your facility in a seamless and financially beneficial way.

In our news recap, we'll cover the CMS 2025 Proposed Medicare Payment Rule, diversity in the operating room, the Coalition of Health AI, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who went above and beyond to save a runner's life.

Articles Mentioned:

CMS Releases 2025 Proposed Medicare Payment Rule

Why We Need More Women Surgeons

CHAI releases draft framework for responsible health AI

Nurse Jackie Stange’s Heroic Actions Save Penn State Runner’s Life

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

At the end of every podcast episode, we always ask our guests, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?”

We took eleven of the most recent answers and turned them into this week’s recap episode. The advice they share covers everything from sterilization to board communication, staff appreciation, patient satisfaction survey results, block time, benchmarking, and so much more.

We hope everyone enjoys this round-up, and a huge thank you to our featured guests, in order of appearance:

Monica Daniel
Benita Tapia
Kate Perlstrom
Tina Piotrowski
Alex Yampolsky
Alex Taira
Janet Carlson
Amy Ishmael
Kristen Richards
Kristin Truesdell
Dr. Joseph Puma

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today kicks off the third and final part of our “capitalizing on the cardiology boom” series. Dr. Joseph Puma is the founder of Sorin Medical and the founder and president of the New York Ambulatory Cardiovascular Society. New York does not currently allow CV procedures to take place in an ambulatory setting, so Dr. Puma is working with many organizations to change this. I had the chance to ask Dr. Puma about the most common concerns he hears from both surgery center leaders and governing bodies, and we got into the years' worth of positive outcomes he has compiled and where we go from here.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the latest from Change Healthcare, the highest-paid ASC specialty, the top citations from CMS in 2023, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new finger-prick test for Parkinson’s.

Related Episodes:

Kristen Richards – Capitalizing on the Cardiology Boom: Key Considerations Before Adding Procedures
Kristin Truesdell – Capitalizing on the Cardiology Boom: Maximizing Revenue

Articles Mentioned:

Change Healthcare starts sending data breach notifications after cyberattack
The highest-paid ASC specialty
CMS Releases Top Citations from 2023
AI brought hope in tackling Parkinson’s

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today is part 2 of our 3-part series about how you can capitalize on the cardiology boom. Last week, we talked with Kristen Richards about key considerations to think through before adding CV procedures to your ASC. Today, we’ll sit down with Kristin Truesdell, the Senior Vice President at Corazon, to cover all things money. We’ll get into what expenses you’ll encounter, how to negotiate with payors, and general strategies ASCs can leverage to maximize reimbursement.

In our news recap, we’ll cover Rapper Fat Joe on Capitol Hill, trends that are exciting ASC owners right now, the power shift in ASC ownership, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a groundbreaking device called Popsy.

Related Episodes:

Kristen Richards – Capitalizing on the Cardiology Boom: Key Considerations Before Adding Procedures

Articles Mentioned:

Fat Joe wants hospital price transparency
The trends exciting ASC leaders
Power Shift
Veronica Pellegrino Unveils Groundbreaking Invention Set to Transform Nursing Workflows

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Today kicks off our three-week series about capitalizing on the cardiology boom! Kristen Richards is the VP of Cardiovascular Operations at Atlas Healthcare Partners, and she will be our first guest in the series. We had a great discussion about what ASCs need to consider if they’re thinking about adding cardio cases. Preparing your infrastructure and staff has some ‘gotchas’ you do not want to overlook, so Kristen walks us through how to properly prepare. Kristen then covers capital expenses to plan for and shares the potential net revenue per case for some of these CV cases.

After my conversation with Kristen, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, I’ll break down the average number of accurately paid, underpaid, or overpaid claims. After sharing the stats of what 450 ASCs are experiencing, I’ll get into how you can analyze your own numbers and the steps you can take if you’re consistently getting underpaid.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Amy Ishmael is currently a senior product manager at HST Pathways, but prior to joining HST, Amy was a GI lab tech for years and a surgery scheduler at an ASC that saw 450 cases/month. She is no stranger to the topic we’re covering today, which is how you can maximize OR utilization through block time optimization. In HST’s State of the Industry report, we shared that, on average, 42% of block time ends up going unused, which is such a waste of revenue opportunity. Amy will walk us through best practices of allocating block time, release policies, and how to incentivize physicians.

In our news recap, we’ll cover Florida’s new price transparency laws, how National Nurses United is fighting back against AI, recent efforts to address the minority physician shortage, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a woman who just received her sixth nursing degree.

Articles Mentioned:

Florida Enacts New Price Transparency Requirements

National Nurses United survey finds A.I. technology degrades and undermines patient safety

Doctors of color call on Congress to help address minority physician shortage

Arizona Nurse Discovers Dual Passions in Nursing and Earns Sixth Degree

HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Enhancing OR utilization is crucial for boosting your ASC’s financial performance, but knowing where to start can be challenging. In today's episode, Janet Carlson, the Executive Director of ASCs at Commonwealth Pain & Spine, shares six actionable tips to help you book more cases at your surgery center efficiently. Janet's strategies focus on preventing staff burnout and ensuring physician satisfaction.

Following our conversation with Janet, we will transition to our Data & Insights segment. We will dive into claim denials, exploring the average denial rate for ASCs, the significance of tracking this data, and practical advice for reducing denial rates.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Our guest this week is Alex Taira. Alex is the Regulatory Affairs and Research Manager at ASCA, and he's on to give us all an update on the impact of the FTC's latest ban on noncompete agreements. Since the ruling was announced, everyone has been trying to determine how this will impact surgery centers and the healthcare landscape as a whole, so Alex sheds some light on the basics of the ruling, how it applies to non-profit entities, and suggested next steps for ASCs.

In our news recap, we'll cover how the concept of pit crews could help achieve faster and safer OR turnover times, tips for attracting and hiring students fresh out of college, Uber's new offer called Uber Caregiver, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about how AI is helping triage patients in emergency rooms.

Articles Mentioned:

How ‘Pit Crews’ Achieve Faster, Safer Turnovers

Welcome, New Graduates

Uber Health Announces Solution for Caregivers

AI could help assess patient acuity in emergency departments: study

ASCA Opposes FTC’s Ban on Noncompete Agreements

Brought to you by HST Pathways

Alex Yampolsky is the CEO of MedServe, and he will join us this week to share insights into how you can stop drug diversion at your ASC. Drug diversion is not a topic we’ve covered yet, and I think the work Alex and his team are doing is super important. I’m excited for everyone to hear our conversation and hopefully implement some of Alex’s advice. We cover the most vulnerable areas in an ASC, tools that ASCs are using to help, some red flags to look for, and how to build a culture where staff feel comfortable addressing their concerns with leadership.

After my conversation with Alex, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we’ll break down the average OR and Recovery Times per specialty. Every minute in the OR and Recovery Area counts, so while patient safety is the number one priority, it’s essential to look at the industry averages to see if you have the opportunity to increase efficiency.

Resources Mentioned:

HST’s State of the Industry Report

Aromatherapy's Role in Decreasing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Lawsuits Against Yale Mount As More Patients Claim Nurse Stole Pain Medication During ‘Torturous’ Fertility Procedures

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Tina Piotrowski is the CEO of Copper Ridge Surgery Center. A few weeks ago, at ASCA, Tina joined HST’s session as a panelist alongside Dr. David Shapiro and Nick Latz to discuss How to Prepare for and Navigate Board-Level Conversations. The session was very well received, so much so that we had a bunch of questions that we couldn’t get to because we ran out of time. Tina has been gracious enough to give us a few more minutes of her time so that we can get those questions answered today.

In our news recap, we’ll cover highlights from the ASCA conference a few weeks ago. With over 1,200 attendees, 50 sessions, and 150+ exhibitors, it’s always a great week for knowledge sharing and networking, and there were six common themes I kept hearing over the week. So I’ll shed some light on those and, of course, will still end the news segment with a positive story that came out of ASCA.

Download the slides from the ASCA session: https://www.hstpathways.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ASCA-2024-Speaker-Slides-Nick-Latz.pdf

View the news recap in more detail: https://www.hstpathways.com/blog/asca-2024-recap-hot-topics-new-specialties-and-whats-to-come/

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Kate Perlstrom is the Director of Surgical Services at Providence Mission Surgery Center, and she’s on today to share her essential guide to board meeting agendas. This will be the second episode focused on making your board meetings as effective as possible, and having a repeatable agenda is critical to doing so. Kate shares her 9-part agenda, tips for holding successful meetings, and common mistakes she’s experienced.

After my conversation with Kate, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Typically, in this segment, I highlight one piece of benchmarking data that was published in HST’s State of the Industry Report late last year. However, for this episode, I want to look at three metrics and how you can use them to drive your ASC’s growth strategy.

And lastly – the countdown to #ASCA2024 is over! This episode comes out on Tuesday, April 16th, so hopefully you’re listening as you’re traveling to Orlando, or maybe you’re hanging by the pool at the Gaylord Palms right now. But either way, HST has so many fun things planned for the show. When you swing by our booth (next to ASCA’s at Booth #709), you can take a quiz to win a prize and give all our products a test drive. We hope to see you all there.

Resources Mentioned:

Sample Board Meeting Agenda
HST’s State of the Industry Report
Three Metrics to Drive Your ASC’s Growth Strategy

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

For the month of April, we will focus our guest discussions on quarterly board meetings. Benita Tapia is the Administrator and Director of Nursing at 90210 Surgery Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA, and she joins us for our first episode of the series to talk about how you can simplify your quarterly board meetings by meeting with your financial committee a week in advance. Benita oversees four surgery centers, so this helps them to be as efficient as possible with their time.

In our news recap, we’ll cover 4 ways generative AI is transforming healthcare, two plastic syringe manufacturers the FDA recommends you stop using, where noncompetes could be banned next and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a WWII nurse who just celebrated her 105th birthday.

We are just one week away from #ASCA2024 in Orlando! HST has so many fun things planned for the show, so we hope to see you all there. When you swing by our booth (next to ASCA’s at Booth #709), you can take a quiz to win a prize and give all our products a test drive.

Articles Mentioned:

4 ways generative AI is transforming healthcare

FDA Recommends U.S. Healthcare Facilities Stop Using Plastic Syringes from two Chinese Manufacturers

Where noncompetes could be banned next

WWII Navy Nurse Alice Darrow Celebrates 105th Birthday, Honored as One of the Last Links to Pearl Harbor

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Monica Daniel is the Principal & Founder of Axiom Integrated Services and has been consulting and helping ASCs for over 25 years. Over the last few years, Monica has seen an increase in interest and the development of OBLs (office-based labs) and that’s what we’re diving into today. We’re covering the differences between an ASC, an OBL, and a hybrid facility, the key factors to consider when choosing the most suitable option for you, how reimbursement differs, and other OBL trends Monica is seeing.

After my conversation with Monica, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we’ll break down the average number of days it takes ASCs to bill, which is defined as the number of days between the date of service and the date the claim was made. And I’ll share some tips to help you close the gap and reduce your turnaround time.

We are just a few weeks from #ASCA2024 in Orlando! HST has so many fun things planned for the show, so we hope to see you all there. When you swing by our booth (next to ASCA’s at Booth #709), you can take a quiz to win a prize and give all our products a test drive. We also have two sessions for you to add to your agenda:

Thursday, April 18th: Unleash the Power of Data to Transform Your ASC
Friday, April 19th: How to Prepare for and Navigate Board-Level Conversations

Learn more & schedule time with HST! https://www.hstpathways.com/asca

Resources Mentioned:

Download HST’s State of the Industry Report to get your hands on even more data: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

At the end of every podcast episode, we always ask our guests, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?”

For this week’s episode, we compiled the most recent responses we’ve had, bringing together the best advice from seven different ASC leaders.

We hope everyone enjoys this round-up of practical, innovative ideas. A huge thank you to our featured guests, in order of appearance:

BJ DiMartini
Marsha Diamond
Kathy Wilson
David Thawley
John Brock
Maura Cash
Scott Bacon

We are just a few weeks from #ASCA2024 in Orlando! HST has so many fun things planned for the show, so we hope to see you all there. When you swing by our booth (next to ASCA’s at Booth #709), you can take a quiz to win a prize and give all our products a test drive. We also have two sessions for you to add to your agenda:

Thursday, April 18th: Unleash the Power of Data to Transform Your ASC
Friday, April 19th: How to Prepare for and Navigate Board-Level Conversations

Learn more & schedule time with HST! https://www.hstpathways.com/asca

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Scott Bacon is the Vice President of Business Development at Compass Surgical Partners, and he’s here to cover how you can successfully convert an HOPD into an ASC. The switch has many benefits, such as market growth, reimbursement differences, physician retention, and high-acuity case migration. Scott will also share how to get started, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to evaluate whether a conversion or a de novo is best.

In our news recap, our first two stories will cover anesthesia – the first is about the current state and issues that ASCs face, and the second is about how one facility avoided closing operating rooms by getting creative with their anesthesia coverage. We’ll then cover the cyberattacks on Change Healthcare and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a woman who became a nurse after being so inspired by the nurses who helped care for her son.

Hope everyone enjoys the episode and here’s what’s going on This Week in Surgery Centers.

Articles Mentioned:

Navigating Current Anesthesia Coverage Challenges

What an ASC did to avoid room shutdowns

Change Healthcare cyberattack having ‘far-reaching’ effects on providers

Mom inspired to become a nurse after son's diagnosis with heart defects

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

One of our favorite returning guests, Maura Cash, is here today to talk about OAS-CAHPS. There is a ton of OAS-CAHPS coverage right now across the industry, given the 2025 mandated deadline, but we'll cover a new angle with Maura: how you can proactively improve your scores before they become public by properly training your staff.

After my conversation with Maura, we'll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we'll break down the average Patient Deposit Collection Rates that surgery centers are experiencing, and then I'll share some tips for how you can improve those collection rates.

Resources Mentioned:

Download HST’s State of the Industry Report to get your hands on even more data: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

John Brock is the Co-Founder, President, and COO of SurgNet Health Partners, and he joins us this week to talk through The Blueprint for Building an ASC Management Group. John takes us through the whole process, starting with market analysis and securing funding, all the way through operating at peak efficiency, managing metrics, and emerging trends to consider.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the most controversial issues in orthopedics right now, the growing colonoscopy boom, Hartford Healthcare’s new Center for AI Innovation, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about hospital proposals.

Articles Mentioned:

The most controversial issues in orthopedics

The Growing Colonoscopy Boom: Secrets of Top-Performing GI Centers

Hartford HealthCare Opens Center for AI Innovation

Hospital Marriage Proposals: The Good, the Bad, the Helipad

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

David Thawley is the CEO of HST Pathways, and he is on the podcast today to talk about the idea of proactive operations, detailing how, by building a culture of proactive operations, your surgery center will be able to thrive in this new world for ASCs. Running a surgery center is different from what it was ten years ago or even five years ago, so pivoting to efficient, data-driven, proactive operations is a necessary game-changer. And the ones that have shifted are seeing great success. So, Dave shares some great insight as to how you can begin down this path toward proactive operations.

After my conversation with Dave, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we’ll break down the Average Net Revenue Per Case, specifically looking at the top 5 specialties. Then, we’ll share ten tips for improving your average net revenue per case if you’re not happy with your current numbers.

Resources Mentioned:

Download HST’s State of the Industry Report to get your hands on even more data: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this episode, we will dive into nine noteworthy news stories that have been making waves in the ever-evolving surgery center industry. We’ll bounce between industry trends, clinical trends, articles looking back at 2023, and articles looking ahead to what 2024 will bring. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Ozempic could be good for orthopedic surgeons

Medicare Introduces New ASC Procedure Request Process

10 ways ASCs can counteract rising supply costs

HIPAA Biannual Update

Why GIs aren't dropping Medicare patients

HST Pathways Ranked #1 in the 2024 Best in KLAS: Software & Services Report

Fulfillment and Frustration: Medscape Nurse Career Satisfaction Report 2023

Joint Commission, AAAHC Experts Offer Simple Hacks to Improve Accreditation Surveys

Iowa Hospice Nurse Tiffany McArdle Walks Through Blizzard to Reach Patient

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Running a surgery center is extremely challenging, and one element that adds to the challenge is collecting, aggregating, and reporting on quality measures. While there are many measures to stay on top of, Kathy Wilson, the Executive Director at the ASC Quality Collaboration, is on today to talk about the measure “Wrong Site, Wrong Side, Wrong Patient, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Implant.” A few weeks ago, we sourced questions from all of you for Kathy to answer, so we covered topics such as best practices for collecting the data, how to make sure you’re not over-reporting or under-reporting, the importance of benchmarking, and everything in between.

After our conversation with Kathy, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we’ll cover OR block time, and take a look at the amount of blocked OR time that remains unused, and how you can overcome this challenge.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit the ASCQC’s website for free benchmarking and toolkits: https://www.ascquality.org/home

Download HST’s State of the Industry Report to get your hands on even more data: https://www.hstpathways.com/resources/surgery-center-industry-report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Marsha Diamond is the Director of Coding Solutions at Aideo Technologies, and we had the opportunity to talk with her about how AI can be used to reduce payor denials. There is a ton of AI talk going on, and it can feel overwhelming trying to understand what it is and how it can be woven into our lives, but Marsha did a great job breaking it down for us. We covered how AI can be used to avoid the most common causes for denials, which of course, would ultimately help you increase speed to revenue. We also chatted about the accuracy of AI and challenges you may face.

In our news recap, we’ll cover nimble’s new CEO, Kelley Blair, the cybersecurity threats that medical devices may impose, how ASCs can benefit from physician burnout at hospitals, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about six sisters going through nursing school together.

Articles Mentioned:

nimble solutions Appoints New CEO
Medical devices could be hacked next, officials fear
Physicians are fed up — and ASCs may have an edge
The Lawrence Sisters Purse Dream of Becoming Nurses Together

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

BJ DiMartini is the CEO of Excel Health, and he has been working hard to open new surgery centers in Hawaii and Washington. But BJ and his team are doing things a little differently – they are building their facilities with a true concierge approach and leaning into the growing trend around medical tourism. BJ shared the specialties they will offer, how he’s sourcing physicians and attracting patients, the potential challenges they will face, and everything in between.

After our conversation with BJ, we’ll switch to our Data & Insights segment. Today, we’ll cover case cancellation rates, including the average cancellation rate that ASCs are experiencing, tips for preventing cancellations, and how to identify trends and improve your rates.

Studies/Reports Mentioned:

Contributing factors of elective surgical case cancellation
Global prevalence and reasons for case cancellation on the intended day of surgery
State of the Industry Report

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

At the end of every podcast episode, we always ask our guests, "What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?"

For this week’s episode, we compiled the most recent responses we’ve had, bringing together the best advice from 11 different ASC leaders.

We hope everyone enjoys this round-up of practical, innovative ideas. A huge thank you to our featured guests, in order of appearance:

Maura Cash
Gavin Fabian
Betsy Grunch
Michael McClain
Beata Canby
Gregory DeConciliis
Katie Sypher
Mike Tompkins
Joan Dentler
Hilary Sondik
Nader Samii

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Every ASC is required to hold a quarterly board meeting in order to stay in compliance and remain accredited. Nader Samii, CEO of nimble, is on today to talk through how you can make those meetings as impactful, productive, and engaging as possible. He walks through how to properly prepare, the essential financial metrics you should always include, how to get ahead of potential surprises, and a bunch of other topics so you can look forward to these meetings instead of just going through the motions.

In our news recap, we’ll cover strategies to make your operating room more sustainable, what’s going on with the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, the latest on EHR adoption, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about an emergency nurse in Arizona who went above and beyond the call of duty to save a man’s life.

Lastly, this will be our last episode in 2023! Our next episode will be published on January 9th. 2024 and will be a highlight reel of 12 of our most recent guests answering the question, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?”

Here is some content to hold you over through the two-week break:

Six quick videos highlighting benchmarking data
State of the Industry Report
Watch one of our most popular episodes of the year

Articles Mentioned:

Operation Room Strategies for Sustainability
House Passes Healthcare Transparency Bill
Trend to Watch: Is EHR Adoption Critical for ASCs?
An ED Nurse Crosses Busy Freeway to Save a Life

Thank you so much for all your support this year, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and New Year’s celebration. We will see you again in 2024.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Hilary Sondik is the Executive Vice President of Operations at Surgical Notes, and today we are doing a deep dive into the key revenue cycle management (RCM) reports that every ASC should be tracking in 2024. We’ll break it down by frequency, so we’ll lay out what reports you should be running daily, weekly, monthly, and annually, and then Hilary will spend some time sharing the positive impacts you’ll see on your revenue cycle by doing so.

Instead of our usual News Recap, we have a brand-new segment in the podcast today called Data & Insights! Moving forward, we will alternate weekly between sharing the news and sharing a new piece of data and why that data matters. In September, HST released a State of the Industry Report with so many insights & data points & KPIs, so we thought this would be a great way to break down those key pieces of data and share them in bite-sized chunks. So today, we’ll kick off this first segment by diving into the Average Pre-Authorization Rates we’re seeing so you can see how you compare to your peers.

Resources Mentioned:

Next-Generation ASC Analytics in Action
HST’s State of the Industry Report (jump to Patient Journey: Pre-Day of Service!)

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Kara Newbury is the Director of Government Affairs and Regulatory Counsel at ASCA, and we had the chance to chat with her about CMS’ recently released 2024 Final Payment Rule. We covered reimbursement rates, updates to the ASC Covered Procedures List, quality reporting changes, OAS-CAHPS, and other essential details all ASCs should know.

In our news recap, we’ll cover five moves that shook up the ASC industry in 2023, the debate over the root cause of current staffing issues, the data revolution taking place, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a college student who found a kidney donor through TikTok.

Articles Mentioned:

5 moves that shook up the ASC industry in 2023

Where are all the nurses? Hospitals, advocates disagree on crisis

Trend to Watch: Data Revolution

State of the Industry Report: Best Practices & Proven Data for Optimizing ASC Operations

Woman finds kidney donor through TikTok

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Joan Dentler is the Founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, and she joins our host, Nick Latz, this week to dive into their 5th Annual Hospital Leadership ASC Survey. Nick and Joan discuss the survey results, including key conclusions and trends around ASC ownership, hospitals and health systems’ growing interest in ASCs, what equity breakouts look like, where third-party management companies come into play, and much more.

Read & Download the Full Avanza Intelligence 2023 Hospital Leadership ASC Survey

In our news recap, we’ll cover a terrible act of violence against a surgeon in Tennessee and tips for preventing violence at your facility, a lawsuit between UCLA Health and Mattel, surgeons in New York who have performed the first-ever whole-eye transplant in a human, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a woman who created a hummingbird hospital.

Articles Mentioned:

The Tragic Murder of Dr. Ben Mauck

Implement Security Safeguards

UCLA Health sues Barbie-maker over $49M donation pledge

Surgeons in New York Announce World's First Eye Transplant

The woman who turned her apartment into a hummingbird hospital

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Mike Tompkins is a Client Services Manager at in2itive, and we had a chance to talk through the intricate world of payment posting in ASCs, mainly focusing on commercial payers. If this is still a manual process for you and you are spending time reconciling payments on the backend of your billing system, then you’ll learn a lot in this episode about how automating those processes can improve the accuracy and efficiency of the entire billing process and get you paid faster.

In our news recap, we’ll cover some preliminary findings from Avanza Healthcare Strategies’ Hospital Leadership ASC Survey, what HCA shared at their investor day, how to prepare for OAS CAHPS, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who saved a man’s life on the side of the road.

Articles Mentioned:

ASC ownership is shifting: What leaders need to know

HCA outlines plans to expand market share by 2030

Patient Experience Survey to Become Mandatory Soon

Approved OAS-CAHPS Survey Vendors

NJ ICU Nurse Joyce Park Saves Life of Car Accident Victim

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

When most people think about clinical operations, they typically focus on the few hours the patient is at your ASC for their procedure. Katie Sypher is a Senior Consultant at LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, and she’s here today to talk about how clinical operations actually begin long before the patient’s date of service, starting with patient education and ending with post-surgical follow-up. ASCs with the best clinical operations, and therefore high patient satisfaction and overall surgery center performance, take a holistic approach and focus on the whole healthcare journey. So Katie will share tips and ideas to ensure you’re zooming out and improving clinical operations from start to finish.

In our news recap, we’ll cover CMS’ 2024 Final Payment Rule, America’s best ASCs, how to track clinical metrics for total joint success, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a heart doctor who saved a man’s leg and life on the streets of New York City.

Articles Mentioned:

ASCA Advocacy Achieves Victories in 2024 Final Payment Rule

America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers 2024

Track Clinical Metrics for Total Joint Success

Heart Doctor Saves a Man's Leg -- and Life -- on NYC Street

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Last week, we held a live, online event with Will Evans. Will is the Senior Director, Data Science and Insights here at HST Pathways, and we spent an hour reviewing 10 of the most compelling clinical and financial industry benchmarks from HST’s latest State of The Industry report.

If you haven’t seen it, we released a State of the Industry report in late September, and it includes best practices, key process steps, 125+ key performance indicators, and benchmarking data for every step of the patient journey and nearly every recurring administrative duty.

We are in an era where data-driven operations are the only option, and using data to inform your work and being surgically precise in how you operate is critical to thrive. Surgery centers that embrace this shift will be the ones to remain on top. That is why we wanted to take the time to create this report and dissect the top 10 key metrics that came out of it to help you embrace this mindset and get started.

If you have ever wondered what other surgery centers are experiencing for average block time utilization, case cancellation rates, patient deposit collection rates, and average net revenue per case - now is your opportunity to get a window into how you’re tracking and performing.

View the State of the Industry Report here: https://www.hstpathways.com/surgery-center-industry-report

As a first-generation American, small business owner, healthcare expert, and army veteran with extensive criminal law experience, Austin Cheng has an impressive and extensive resume. What does Austin plan to do next with this experience? Run for New York’s 3rd Congressional District.

Austin Cheng is currently the CEO of Gramercy Surgery Center in New York. We had the opportunity to sit down with Austin to learn more about his journey to D.C. and how his life experiences have prepared him for this moment. While his platform covers critical topics such as lowering energy costs, bringing green jobs to Long Island, making the district a safer place, and inclusivity (amongst others), we focused most of the conversation on a topic he is very passionate about: healthcare.

Learn more & support by visiting https://www.austinfornewyork.com/

Today is the final episode in our 9-part De Novo series! Last but certainly not least, Greg DeConciliis joins us again to discuss Continuous Improvement. You have officially opened your doors, and you can certainly celebrate, but what you cannot do is become complacent. So, Greg walks us through keeping physician and patient satisfaction high, the role of data and benchmarking, how to cultivate an environment of growth, and how to continuously improve, expand, and thrive.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the 11 ASCs in California recognized by CASA, why it’s essential to screen for cognitive impairment in your patients, the latest on noncompetes and the FTC, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new serenity lounge at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Articles Mentioned:

CASA Awards 11 ASCs with the CASA Award for ASC Excellence

Cognitive Screening in Older Patients May Help Optimize Outcomes

Noncompetes are going extinct: 5 things to know

Cedars-Sinai Expands Nurse-Led Workplace Wellness Initiative with Serenity Lounge

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment
Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center
Beata Canby – Opening an ASC: Managing the Regulatory and Certification Process
Gregory DeConciliis – Opening an ASC: Clinical Preparation
Andy Berg – Opening an ASC: Finding Your Dream Team
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Business Preparation
James McClung – Opening an ASC: 30 Days from Your First Patient

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We are in the homestretch of our 9-part De Novo series! James McClung joins us this week for part #8 to take us through what you should do when you are 30 days from your first patient. We’ll review final regulatory and compliance checks, necessary equipment, technology, supplies, and contingency plans and cover how to prepare your clinical and administrative teams.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the results from ASCA’s price transparency survey, provide an update on the No Surprises Act, share how ASCs are adapting for success, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who reunited with a man whose life she saved.

Articles Mentioned:

ASCs Making an Effort to Be Price Transparent
Federal agencies propose increase to No Surprises Act administrative fees
How ASCs are adapting for success
Cardiac Nurse Lauren Huyvaert Reunites with Notre Dame Football Fan Whose Life She Saved

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment
Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center
Beata Canby – Opening an ASC: Managing the Regulatory and Certification Process
Gregory DeConciliis – Opening an ASC: Clinical Preparation
Andy Berg – Opening an ASC: Finding Your Dream Team
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Business Preparation

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Wil Schlaff joins us this week as we continue our series of episodes dedicated to De Novos. Wil is an ASC Development and Operations Specialist, so he has seen it all, and today, we’re focusing on preparing the business side of the house for your new surgery center. We cover capital investments, vendor contracts, finding the best scheduling and billing software, handling HR functions, and everything in between.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the latest collaboration between HCA Healthcare and Google, what’s going on with CMS and nursing homes, the Joint Commission’s new Sustainable Healthcare Certification program, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a pharmacist in Maui who saved hundreds of lives during the wildfires.

Articles Mentioned:

How HCA Is Integrating Google’s Generative AI Into Its Emergency Departments
Over 80% of nursing homes currently fall short of proposed CMS staffing thresholds
The Joint Commission announces Sustainable Healthcare Certification for U.S. hospitals
Sustainable Healthcare Resource Center
Maui wildfire survivors were left without life-saving medicine. A doctor stepped up to provide them for free.

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment
Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center
Beata Canby – Opening an ASC: Managing the Regulatory and Certification Process
Gregory DeConciliis – Opening an ASC: Clinical Preparation
Andy Berg – Opening an ASC: Finding Your Dream Team

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Andy Berg, Director of Clinical Staffing at MedHQ, joined us for the sixth installment of our De Novo series to discuss the intricacies of assembling the ideal team for a new surgery center. Regardless of whether you're opening an ASC, the episode is filled with invaluable insights on staff recruitment, flexible hiring strategies, identifying leadership qualities, and ensuring your existing team is actively engaged in the interview process.

In our news recap, we'll cover the gigification of the healthcare industry, ASCA's official comments in response to Medicare's 2024 proposed payment rule, the nurses' strike still going on at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new 'nuclear' prostate cancer treatment that is improving lives.

Articles Mentioned

The Gigification of Healthcare

ASCA Submits Comments on 2024 Payment Policies (Recap)

ASCA Submits Comments on 2024 Payment Policies (Full)

‘It is time to settle the strike’: RWJUH nurse work stoppage hits 40th day

A ‘nuclear’ treatment brought hope to people with prostate cancer

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

• Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts

• Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment

• Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center

• Beata Canby – Opening an ASC: Managing the Regulatory and Certification Process

• Gregory DeConciliis – Opening an ASC: Clinical Preparation

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Greg DeConciliis is a Physician Assistant and Administrator at Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites. He spent time with us today to share tips and insights on properly preparing the clinical side of the house while you are opening a new surgery center. In this 5th episode of our De Novo series, we’ll cover who your first hire should be and when, which clinical team members you must have in place to receive all the necessary licensing, preparing for quality reporting, and other clinical considerations to keep in mind.

In our news recap, we’ll cover what the future holds for the outpatient surgery workforce, a decapitated boy who was saved by his surgical team, tips for working with local authorities to create an emergency plan, and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a groundbreaking surgery gave a woman her voice back.

Articles Mentioned:

5 ASC leaders on meeting workforce expectations

'Decapitated' Boy Saved by Surgery Team

Work With Local Authorities to Create an Emergency Plan

Groundbreaking surgery gives woman her voice back

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment
Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center
Beata Canby – Opening an ASC: Managing the Regulatory and Certification Process

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Beata Canby is a principal and partner at LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, and she joins us today to talk about managing the regulatory and certification process while trying to open a new surgery center. Beata does a great job of breaking down the fundamental agencies to know, what order to get your certifications in, and tips for speeding up the process and staying organized.

In our news recap, we’ll cover another research study that compared ChatGPT responses to ophthalmologists, new surgical smoke evacuation requirements, UnitedHealthcare’s new prior authorization requirements (or lack thereof), and, of course, end the news segment with a positive story about how a severely paralyzed woman got her voice and likeness back with new technology that combines AI with a brain-computer interface.

Articles Mentioned:

Chatbots as Accurate as Ophthalmologists in Giving Advice

New Surgical Smoke Evacuation Requirements to Kick In

The new prior authorization rules going into effect Sept. 1

How Artificial Intelligence Gave a Paralyzed Woman Her Voice Back

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our related episodes:

Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts
Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment
Dawn Pfeiffer – Ask the Expert: Best Practices for Opening a New Surgery Center

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

This is a special LIVE edition of This Week in Surgery Centers!

Dawn Pfeiffer is the Director of Integration at Regent Surgical Health and a tenured ASC consultant. She has had a hand in opening many successful surgery centers, so we spent an hour with her covering as many best practices as we could and exploring effective strategies for a smooth process and successful opening. Together, we addressed common challenges, shared proven solutions to avoid missteps, and answered questions on the fly from those who attended live.

We covered the following and more:

• Feasibility Assessment: key components, CONs, red flags

• Facility Construction: planning, finding an architect, inspections

• Regulatory/Certification Process: state licensing, accreditation, life safety issues

• Payer Contracting: timing, negotiations, terms

• Quality/Clinical Preparation: reporting, initial clinical hires, staff recruitment

• Business Preparation: capital equipment, vendor contracts, software selection

• Opening & Marketing Ideas: community education, media coverage

• Continuous Improvement: QAPI, benchmarking, new technology

Interesting in learning more about opening a new surgery center? Check out our two previous episodes:

• Michael McClain – Opening an ASC: Navigating Payer Contracts

• Wil Schlaff – Opening an ASC: Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Last week we sat down with Wil Schlaff to talk about how to conduct a feasibility assessment for your new surgery center.

As a continuation of that conversation, we’re sitting down with Michael McClain to discuss navigating payer contracts for your new surgery center. Michael is the founder and managing member at LeftCoast Healthcare Advisors, and we are talking through how to initiate payer conversations, positioning yourself to get the best rates, effectively managing contracts, and so much more.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the government’s plan to grow the nursing workforce, how to implement more safety and security measures at your ASC, the use of machine learning to predict the suitability for having a surgical procedure performed at an ASC vs. an HOPD, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about how many steps a day you actually need to remain healthy.

Articles Mentioned:

The Biden-Harris Administration Announces $100 Million to Grow the Nursing Workforce

Implement Security Safeguards

Using machine learning to predict suitability for surgery at an ASC vs HOPD

No pressure to walk 10,000 steps, scientists said

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Wil Schlaff is no stranger to the process of opening up a new surgery center. As an ASC Development and Operations Specialist, he has worked on many new builds from their infancy stage through to the first patient walking in the door. Today, he joins us to discuss the importance and logistics of Conducting a Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment. From determining market demand to physician recruitment to securing financing, Wil and our host Nick Latz cover as much as they can on this critical topic.

In our news recap, we’ll cover how one community in Michigan is fixing their sterile processing technician shortage, some advice from an admin in Idaho on how to get creative to solve your staffing and supply chain issues, ways to celebrate National ASC Month, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about an experimental gene therapy gel that has helped one teen gain his sight back.

Articles Mentioned:

Planting the Seeds of Sterile Processing Careers

Why creativity is the key to ASC survival

Celebrating National ASC Month

Teen's vision restored after using gene therapy eyedrops

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

In this week's episode, we are deviating from our regular guest discussions and stories to exclusively dive into the CMS 2024 Proposed Payment Rule. Maura Cash, our VP of Clinical Strategies here at HST Pathways, has examined the extensive 963-page document, extracting the good, the bad, and the mixed proposed rules that directly impact the surgery center industry. Feedback from additional industry experts, such as Bill Prentice and Kara Newbury from ASCA, was also incorporated in the episode.

Helpful Articles to Learn More:

Navigating Changes in the CMS Proposed 2024 Payment Rule for ASCs by Maura Cash

Read ASCA’s Recap on the Proposed Payment Rule

Submit comments to CMS: https://www.regulations.gov/document/CMS-2023-0120-0002

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Dr. Betsy Grunch is a highly talented board-certified neurosurgeon based in Georgia, and if that isn’t impressive enough, she also happens to be a social media influencer who shares her content with millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn under the name LadySpineDoc. She joins us on this week’s episode to talk about how her use of social media has helped increase her case volume, the pros and cons of having such a large following, and how other healthcare professionals can get started.

In our news recap, we’ll cover a former nursing school president who awarded 7,600 fake diplomas, a crisis amongst rural hospitals, the impact of weekend warrior activity on heart health, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about new lollipop testers that can detect strep throat and other illnesses.

Articles Mentioned:

Former nursing school president sentenced to 21 months for awarding 7.6K fake diplomas

More Than 30% of Rural Hospitals Are at Risk of Closure, Report Warns

Does a ‘weekend warrior’ physical activity pattern prevent cardiovascular disease?

Lollipop Testers Detect Illness and 'Sweeten' Diagnosis

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Surgery centers often struggle to predict if a case will be profitable before taking it on, especially with complex and high-acuity cases. Gavin Fabian is the Chief Innovation Officer at HST Pathways, and alongside his team, he decided to tackle this problem head-on and build first-of-its-kind software that would arm ASCs with the data they need to avoid unprofitable cases and take on cases with financial confidence. Learn more about the development of HST Profit Forecast, its many use cases, and what clients are saying thus far.

In our news recap, we’ll cover a little bit of the CMS 2024 Proposed Payment Rule, Northwestern Medicine’s AI success, an Ohio physician who lost her medical license, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a woman’s dedication to receiving her nursing license even with 35 years of setbacks.

Articles Mentioned:

CMS Releases 2024 Proposed Medicare Payment Rule

Artificial intelligence helps Northwestern Medicine gastroenterologists detect, remove 13% more colorectal polyps

Ohio plastic surgeon who livestreamed patient operations on TikTok has state medical license revoked permanently

Rhonda Trotter Fulfills Dream of Becoming a Nurse – 35 Years Later

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Maura Cash is the VP of Clinical Strategies here at HST Pathways, and she is here today to talk to us about the ASC industry’s role in reducing the disparity of care. Now if you’re a frequent listener of our show, you know exactly who Maura is and her impact on the industry, so it should be no surprise that she is bringing us this incredibly important information. Together we cover what disparity of care means, what the most common social determinants of health are, how surgery centers come into play, and most importantly, how surgery centers can close the chasm of care.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the FTC’s proposed ban on non-compete laws, the surgeon suing the state of North Carolina over certificate-of-need laws, a tiny patch aiming to reduce the need for bloodwork, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new blood test that can help identify pregnant women who are at a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

Articles Mentioned:

Doctors no longer bound by noncompetes under FTC’s proposed ban

Meet the surgeon suing North Carolina over certificate-of-need policy

A Tiny Patch May Someday Do Your Patients' Lab Work

FDA approves blood test able to predict pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

🎙️Over the last three months, we have had seven amazing ASC leaders on our podcast.

At the end of every discussion, we always ask them, "What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?" We took all seven of their answers and turned them into this week's episode. Topics range from interoperability to finding a strategic partner to profitability and so much more. We hope everyone enjoys this round-up of things you can do this week to improve your surgery centers!

A huge thank you to our featured guests:

➡️ Joan Dentler

➡️ Michael Powers

➡️ Angela Mattioda

➡️ Matt Kraemer

➡️ Maura Cash

➡️ Blake Peart

➡️ Erik Sunset

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

As we reach the midpoint of 2023, it's the perfect time for us to reflect on the year so far and anticipate what lies ahead in the second half. In this episode, we will dive into ten noteworthy news stories that have been making waves in the ever-evolving surgery center industry. Here’s what to expect:

Top 25 healthcare companies: Fortune 500: UnitedHealth Group tops the Fortune 500 list with $324 billion in revenue for 2022. Other familiar faces help to round out the top 25.

New York extends Medicaid, CHIP postpartum coverage: What does this mean for the country’s healthcare spending and the growing pressure on Medicaid?

Improve Patient Safety with Clinical Technology: ASCs that are investing in clinical technology are seeing increased patient satisfaction scores and patient safety rates.

Where 5 major ASC chains are focused in 2023: What do USPI, SCA, HCA, Surgery Partners, and ValueHealth have planned?

5 highest-paying physician specialties in the last 5 years: Which physician specialties paid the most in the last five years? Hint: the specialty that paid the most in 2018 and 2023 is the same.

3 Quick Tips to Easily Strengthen Your Patient Relationship: Building the patient-provider relationship will be key to your ASC’s long-term success (and ability to collect).

Selling your ASC? 3 steps to improve valuation: ASC management groups, health systems, and private equity firms are planning aggressive ASC expansion strategies. Make sure you sell for top dollar.

AMA takes on AI, Medicare payment at annual meeting: The American Medical Association’s annual meeting took place two weeks ago in Chicago. Here are three of the highlights.

Cybersecurity Incidents: The Hidden ASC Operating Expense: By the end of 2023, it is projected that the total global cost of Cybercrime will reach $8 trillion. Here’s how to prepare.

North Carolina woman becomes a mom and doctor in the span of 24 hours: A woman from North Carolina became a mom and a doctor in the span of 24 hours. Congrats, Dr. Bailiff!

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Erik Sunset, the VP of Marketing at DocBuddy, joins the show today to discuss how technology can effectively address the financial and operational challenges faced by many surgery centers. In this insightful conversation, we explore the potential of technology to tackle three key issues: staffing, workflows, and revenue cycle management. Additionally, we delve into relevant EHR topics, including Meaningful Use, government mandates, and the delays in technology adoption.

In our news recap, we’ll cover certificate-of-need laws, Ryan Reynolds’ live colonoscopy, how culture can help to combat labor issues, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about an experimental drug that has shown to 'significantly' slow progression of brain cancer.

Articles Mentioned:

Certificate-of-need laws stunt ASC growth — but change in some states may be imminent

What GI Centers Can Learn from Ryan Reynolds’ Live Colonoscopy [Article]

What GI Centers Can Learn from Ryan Reynolds’ Live Colonoscopy

Leveraging Culture to Combat Labor Issues

Experimental drug shown to 'significantly' slow progression of brain cancer

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

The Annual ASCA Conference took place May 17-20th, 2023, bringing together 1,200+ ASC experts, professionals, and vendors from around the country. Over the course of four days, attendees explored the latest advancements and trends, heard from an impressive lineup of speakers, and networked with likeminded individuals who deeply care about the success and longevity of the ASC industry.

This week’s episode is dedicated to recapping the biggest takeaways from #ASCA2023, including a conversation with Becky Zeigler-Otis, industry veteran and one of ASCA’s Board of Directors.

Hot Topics:

· Anesthesia – As more cases migrate to an outpatient setting, the topic and debate around anesthesia have naturally followed suit.

· Technology – Innovative tech will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming every aspect of the surgery center experience.

· Culture & Inclusivity – The ASC ecosystem encompasses a wide range of stakeholders, so fostering a culture of belonging and embracing diversity is a must.

News:

· National Medical Billing Services rebranded to nimble solutions.

· Kathy Bryant former CEO of ASCA, was honored with the Nap Gary Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in the ASC community.

Articles Mentioned:

ASCA 2023 Recap: Hot Topics, Rebrands, and Awards

National Medical Billing Services rebrands as nimble solutions

Kathy Bryant Receives Nap Gary Award

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

When it comes to strategic partnerships, surgery centers have many options to choose from, but timing is everything. Blake Peart is the Managing Director of Vertess, and he's on the show this week to chat about when it is the right time to consider a strategic partner, key indicators that its time, potential benefits and advantages, and identifying the right partner.

In our news recap, we'll cover National Nurses' Month, regional anesthesia, the latest breakthrough in AI imaging, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about the first RSV vaccine.

Articles Mentioned:

Celebrating the Invaluable Impact of Nurses

Using Regional Anesthesia Could Improve ASC Performance

Google adds image analysis capabilities to generative AI model, enabling dialogues with doctors

FDA approves 1st RSV vaccine

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

When it comes to implementing an EMR, there are a lot of steps to consider. One often overlooked step is updating your Policies & Procedures. Maura Cash is the Vice President of Clinical Strategies at HST Pathways, and she is here today to walk us through which policies and procedures need to be updated, which need to be created, and why it matters.

In our news recap, we’ll cover celebrities who are joining the price transparency fight, news from the White House on COVID-19 vaccines, Walmart Health’s latest move, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a teenager from Maryland who is making a big difference in her community.

Just a reminder that we are taking next week off due to the ASCA Conference in Kentucky from May 17-20th. Our next episode will air Tuesday, May 23rd. If you will be at ASCA, make sure you stop by HST Pathways’ booth to say hello and join us for a quick interview so you can be on an upcoming podcast episode. We’ll be at Booth 519, it’s a big booth right in the middle of the floor, so please stop by, we'd love to see you all!

Articles Mentioned:

Fat Joe Fights for Health Care Price Transparency at Capitol Hill

The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Will End COVID-⁠19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Employees, Contractors, International Travelers, Head Start Educators, and CMS-Certified Facilities

Walmart Health expands into Oklahoma

How 1 teen coped with tragedy by organizing book drive for sick children

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Should your surgery center accept every case that it can? Or should you be more selective? Matt Kraemer is the Administrator of Northern Arizona Healthcare's Surgery Center, and we sat down to chat through various scenarios where it might be in your surgery center's best interest to say no. He's sharing why this is important, their decision-making approach, and the results that they've seen so far.

In our news recap, we'll cover a study that compared ChatGPT's responses against physician responses, the importance of discussing transportation with every patient, what will disrupt the ASC industry next, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a NICU nurse who adopted a teen and her triplets.

One final note - if you are attending the ASCA Conference in Louisville from May 17-20th, stop by HST Pathways' booth to say hello! During exhibit hall hours, I'll be holding short interviews with people right in the booth, and we're going to compile all the great responses we get and use them for an upcoming episode that will air in late May. So if you want to share your expertise with our listeners, it will only take a few minutes, so come find HST Pathways at Booth 519.

Articles Mentioned:

ChatGPT Outperforms Doctors In Answering Patient Messages, Study Shows

Without vehicle or viable public transit, 1 in 5 miss needed healthcare: report

What will disrupt the ASC industry next?

NICU Nurse Katrina Mullen Adopts Teen Mom Who Delivered Triplets Alone

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Angela Mattioda is the Senior Vice President of RCM Solutions at Surgical Notes, and we caught up with her to talk about the role of eligibility verification in ensuring profitability. During our discussion with Angela, we dive into common challenges, technology's role, authorizations, avoiding revenue loss, and more.

In our news recap, we'll cover Uber's same-day prescription delivery, OpenAI and EHRs, four reasons surgery centers are struggling to meet margins right now, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about Virginia's plans to tackle the nursing shortage.

Before we get into the episode, I wanted to personally invite any of our listeners going to the ASCA Conference in Louisville on May 17-20th to stop by HST Pathways' booth. During exhibit hall hours, we'll interview attendees to be on an upcoming episode that will air in late May. So if you want to share your expertise with our listeners, come find HST Pathways at Booth 519 at ASCA!

Articles Mentioned:

Uber Health launches same-day prescription delivery

Epic, Microsoft bring GPT-4 to EHRs

5 reasons ASCs are struggling to meet margins

Shenandoah University and Valley Health Partner to Tackle Nursing Shortage

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

We hear about the concept of interoperability used all the time, but what does it truly mean and look like in practice? Michael Powers is the Administrator at Children's West Surgery Center, and he is here today to talk about The Power of Interoperability & Technology. Michael and his team have recently undergone an initiative to transition from 5+ software vendors to one, so he's sharing what that process has been like and what it means for the future of his surgery center.

In our news recap, we'll cover what Gen Z is looking for in a job, the latest on cyber security attacks in the healthcare industry, sustainability tips for the OR, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a new training module built to enhance care for the homeless.

Articles Mentioned:

The young workforce: What Gen Z is looking for in a job

Moody’s report highlights need for investment in healthcare cybersecurity

Sustainability Matters

Nursing Student Yasmeen LaTore Designs Training Module to Enhance Healthcare for Homeless

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

If you are considering a hospital/physician ASC joint venture or are just curious about learning more about what a relationship could look like, then this episode is for you. Joan Dentler is the Founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, and she is sharing why hospitals are taking an increased interest in ASCs, the challenges both parties will face, and how to achieve short and long-term success.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the ASC landscape through numbers, states capping travel nursing rates, seven staff retention tips, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about an approved cancer pill in England and Wales.

Articles Mentioned:

5 numbers ASC leaders need to know

Missouri latest state to introduce legislation to curb travel nursing rates

Administrators Share Retention Strategies

A cancer pill was approved in England and Wales

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Hal Nelson is the Vice President of Anesthesia Services at MSN Healthcare Solutions and he joins us this week to share five Revenue Optimization Strategies for Anesthesia Providers. The tips and strategies that he shares are incredibly helpful so that anesthesiologists can make sure they’re collecting every dollar they’ve earned – and also really helpful for surgery center staff so they can understand the role they play as well.

In our news recap, we’ll cover black boxes for the operating room, new prior authorization rules and changes, a major revamp of the current organ transplant system, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse in Connecticut who was awarded Magnet Nurse of the Year.

Articles Mentioned:

'Black boxes' make their way into hospital ORs

Dreaded Medical Paperwork Required by Health Insurers to Be Trimmed

U.S. plans major revamp of troubled organ transplant system

Yale New Haven Nurse Michele Santoro Honored for Innovation and Passion

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Over the last three months, we have had 9 amazing ASC leaders on our podcast. At the end of every discussion, we always ask them, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?” To close out the first quarter of the year, we took all 9 of their answers and turned them into this week’s episode. Topics range from benchmarking to scheduling to rev cycle trends and so much more, so we hope everyone enjoys this round-up of things you can do this week to improve your surgery centers.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Data can be leveraged to identify savings opportunities, and Jeff Lawrence, Envi's VP of Business Development, is on the podcast this week to tell us exactly how. Clean, robust, and actionable data should be at the core of your surgery center's strategy if you want to continue to thrive.

In our news recap, we'll cover a few nursing schools that are offering free tuition in exchange for a pledge to work post-graduation, exciting news from SCA Health, how providers are attempting to tackle healthcare for the homeless, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about AI software that has been successfully trained to detect breast cancer.

Articles Mentioned:

Nursing Schools Offer Loan Forgiveness Programs to Offset Nurse Shortage

Caitlin Zulla named CEO of East Region of Optum Health, Jason Strauss Named Next CEO of SCA Health

How Providers Across the US Are Caring For the Country’s 580,000+ Homeless People

AI software shows promising results in detecting breast cancer missed by doctors

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Almost every surgery center is struggling with two issues right now – staffing shortages and rising costs. By hiring Medical Assistants, you might be able to tackle both problems at once. Jim Stilley, the CEO at Great Lakes Orthopaedic Center, currently the largest practice north of Grand Rapids, joins us today to share his perspective on hiring Medical Assistants where appropriate might just be the answer you're looking for.

In our news recap, we'll cover how Smartwatches can impact Pacemakers, the relationship between ChatGPT and the healthcare industry, four ways tablets are transforming patient care, and the Nurse of the Year in Uganda.

Articles Mentioned:

Could Your Smartwatch Interfere With Your Pacemaker?

Why ChatGPT In Healthcare Could Be a Huge Liability, Per One AI Expert

Revolutionizing healthcare: 4 ways tablets are transforming patient care

Ugandan Nurse Agnes Nambozo Makes Treacherous Climb to Patients

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

When was the last time you reviewed your chargemaster? If you're not performing an analysis on an annual basis, you are likely underbilling and leaving money on the table. Tara Gillon is the Chief Operating Officer at Serbin Medical Billing, and she's sharing what role the chargemaster plays, why it's so important to compare your current charges against your managed care contracts, and how to get started with the analysis.

In our news recap, we'll cover the fantastic work Blue Cross North Carolina is doing to give back, an increase in HIPAA complaints, one facility's success with patient engagement technology, and the history being made at the University of California San Francisco by an all-female cardiology team.

Articles Mentioned:

How Blue Cross NC Is Using Its Hybrid Work Model to Battle Food Insecurity

HIPAA complaints, breaches increased from 2017 to 2021 as HHS urges more funding

Tapping the Potential of Engagement Tech

Rare all-women team successfully performs heart transplant

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Marie Yarborough is the Admin of Skyway Surgery Center, and she is here today to talk to us about the Top Five KPIs all ASCs Should be Tracking. There’s that very popular saying you’ve probably heard a million times, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” and that’s undoubtedly true for surgery centers. We get to talk with Marie about the top KPIs, how she determines what to measure, how she collects the data, the results she’s seen, and so much more.

In our news recap, we’ll cover the new Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act, the latest on the No Surprises Act, a gastric balloon that does not require surgery, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a couple who fell in love after going through heart surgery together.

Articles Mentioned:

Lawmakers reintroduce bill to increase access to ASCs

HHS pauses surprise billing arbitration after Texas court decision

Weight Loss in a Pill Device Firm Allurion Heads to NYSE via SPAC Merger

Couple falls in love after going through heart surgery together

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Let's dive into Revenue Cycle Trends! Lisa Rock is the President of National Medical Billing Services, and she's here today to talk about what we can expect to see this year regarding payers, implants, managed contracts, the out-of-network landscape, and so much more.

In our news recap, we'll cover marketing your ASC, tips from 55 industry leaders, tips for post-op nausea and vomiting, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a boy's classmates who made him a prosthetic hand.

Articles Mentioned:

How to Market Your ASC Successfully

How to run a successful ASC: A cheat sheet by 55 industry leaders

Aromatherapy's Role in Decreasing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Tennessee high school students create a prosthetic hand for their new classmate

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Debra Stinchcomb is a Senior Consultant for Progressive Surgical Solutions, and she's joining us today to talk about common deficiencies she typically sees during the Patient Tracer Exercise. With 30+ years of experience, Debra has seen it all, and we dive into the tracer methodology, why it's essential for patient safety, and how you can pass with flying colors.

In our news recap, we'll cover social media for ASCs, incorrect anesthesia start times, the first ASC in rural Uganda, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about musicians visiting patient bedsides.

Articles Mentioned:

Social Media Dos and Don’ts

Incorrect anesthesia start times results in significant revenue loss

Mount Sinai partners with 1st ASC in rural Uganda

Musicians strike a chord at patient bedsides

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Last week, HST Pathways held our first live podcast event! We were joined by four ASC leaders who joined our panel to discuss 2023 trends and the four pillars that are top of mind for every surgery center: Patients, Physicians, People, and Payers. Our panel shared excellent first-hand advice, shared tips for succeeding in 2023, and answered audience questions live. A huge thank you to ASCA for helping us organize this event, and a huge thank you to our panelists, Eliza Alberto-Widdowson, Jeffrey Flynn, Kris Kilgore, and Kayla Schneeweiss-Keene, for joining us.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Dr. Tom Kenjarski is the Founder & Managing Partner of Noble Anesthesia Partners, and we are so excited to sit down with him as he is the first anesthesiologist we’ve had on the show! On today's episode, our host Nick Latz is chatting with Dr. Kenjarski about the current state of anesthesiology in the ASC industry and how surgery centers can optimize case scheduling for all stakeholders, which includes your anesthesia partners.

In our news recap, we’ll cover virtual nurses, the demand for anesthesia providers, ASCA’s ASC Administrator Development Program, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who is using her artistic skills to help her peers reduce job-related anxiety.

Articles Mentioned:

Trinity Health examines in-hospital virtual care model

Demand for anesthesia providers is growing as reimbursement is shrinking, says NorthStar Anesthesia CEO

ASCA's ASC Administrator Development Program

Nurse Uses Creativity to Help Peers Reduce Job-Related Anxiety

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Gwen Donithan is the Clinical Director at Roanoke Valley Center for Sight, and she’s here to share how ASCs can use Benchmarking to Improve Care & Your Bottom Line. With four locations spread out across Virginia, Gwen is primarily offsite, so she relies on benchmarking to keep her in the loop and uses data to determine tangible, effective ways to improve.

In our news recap, we’ll cover five new technologies shaping the future of surgery, an app calling themselves Uber for nurses, progressive treatments for depression, and a reminder for all healthcare workers after witnessing what happened to Damar Hamlin last week.

Articles Mentioned:

The Future of Surgery: Five of the Top New Technologies

‘Uber for Nurses’ Launches Updated App As Employee Base Grows

Ketamine clinics for mental health are popping up across the U.S. Does the treatment work?

What happened to Damar Hamlin was traumatic. Let that sink in. A note to healthcare people.

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

It's officially 2023! Kara Newbury, ASCA’s Director of Government Affairs and Regulatory Counsel, is here today to share what ASCs need to do to start Acting on CMS’ 2023 Final Medicare Rule. As the industry's expert, Kara walks us through reimbursement rates, the covered procedures list, the complexity adjustment policy, and more.

In our news recap, we’ll cover five trends ASCs need to know in 2023, how a hospital recovered $35,000 worth of lost instruments in 9 months, tips for adopting new tech, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a doctor who saved two lives during a half marathon.

Articles Mentioned:

5 trends ASCs need know in 2023

Finding a Needle (or Microsurgical Instrument) in a Haystack

7 Rules Hospitals Should Follow When Adopting New Tech

Doctor saves 2 lives during half-marathon

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Over the last three months, we have had 12 exceptional ASC leaders on our podcast. At the end of every discussion, we always ask them, “What is one thing our listeners can do this week to improve their surgery centers?” To close out the year, we took all 12 of their answers, tied them up in a pretty bow, and turned them into this week’s episode as our holiday gift to you. Thank you to all our listeners who spent time with us this year and shared our episodes. On behalf of HST Pathways, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones and enjoy this round-up of things you can do this week to improve your surgery centers.

Brought to you by HST Pathways

Adam Hornback is the Administrator at the North Texas Team Care Surgery Center. He is here to talk to us about a topic we have not covered yet – Real Ways to Reduce Waste & Increase Recycling at your surgery center. As this is a passion of Adam’s, he has tried some exciting and innovative ways to implement processes to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and hopefully, you can take some of these ideas back to your own ASC to try out.

In our news recap, we’ll cover a brand-new tech-filled hospital in New Jersey, new smart bandages with nanosensors, the nine most stressful physician specialties, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about the first patient ever to be cured of leukemia.

Articles Mentioned:

A New, State-of-the-Art Surgical and Intensive Care Tower

Preventing Surgical Site Infections, Complexities of Operative Care

9 physician specialties named the most stressful jobs in the country

A patient with ‘incurable’ leukemia was cured

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Eliza Alberto-Widdowson is the Director of Nursing at Mann Cataract Surgery Center, and she is here to talk to us about Bridging the Gap with Nursing Informatics. As technology’s role in healthcare continues to expand, so will the role of nursing informatics. This is a fascinating and timely topic and not one that many people are talking about (but it should be!).

In our news recap, we’ll cover what’s going on with Kaiser and the California Nurses Association, the latest update on the No Surprises Act, medical terms that are baffling patients, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a nurse who saved a man’s life during a flight.

Articles Mentioned:

Kaiser Nurses Ratify New Contract That Raises Wages by 22.5% And Improves Staffing

ASCA's Government Affairs Update - December 8, 2022

Jargon alert: How doctors speak could cause 'harm' for patients

Nurse of the Week: Kassondra Josey Helps Save Passenger 30,000 Feet in the Air

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Kayla Schneeweiss-Keene is the administrator at Mann Cataract Surgery Center, and she's here to talk to us about how to use technology to improve patient outcomes. Kayla and her team recently implemented groundbreaking technology at her ASC, and she'll walk us through what that was like and tips for how you can do the same.

In the news recap, we'll cover more cybersecurity attacks, patients being charged for MyChart messages, the pros and cons of pre-filled syringes, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about medical drones that are saving lives.

Articles Mentioned:

How to address healthcare’s unique cybersecurity challenges

More health systems charging for MyChart messages

Prefilled Syringes Are the Preeminent Option

Medical drones are saving lives and coming to skies near you

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

A surveyor shows up in your lobby, unannounced, with the clipboard in hand, ready to evaluate your surgery center. Are you ready? James McClung, an ASC Developer and Consultant at Reliant Medical Services, is on today's episode to ensure you can confidently answer yes!

In our news recap, we'll cover Google Cloud and Epic's latest plans, a drug shortage created by TikTok, a dire rural hospital situation in Mississippi, and of course, end the news segment with a positive story about a 9-year-old girl who saved her classmate's life by performing the Heimlich.

Articles Mentioned:

Google, Epic partnering to allow Epic hospital clients to run EHRs on Google Cloud

A drug shortage created by TikTok and 10 more supply chain updates

Mississippi at risk of losing over half of its rural hospitals

4th grader uses Heimlich to save fellow student from choking

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Staffing has stolen the show as the primary concern for ASCs right now. Dallas Freyer is the admin at Corpus Christi Outpatient Surgery and also the President of the Texas ASC Society, and she joins us this week to share four real tips you can implement ASAP to improve staff satisfaction at your ASC and stop the revolving door on its tracks.

In our news recap, we’ll cover lab-grown red blood cells, robots performing microsurgeries, a recent, successful cyberattack on an ASC, and of course end the news segment with a positive story about a 10-year-old girl who delivered her mother's baby.

Articles Mentioned:

First Humans Transfused with Lab-Grown Blood

First Robot-Supported Microsurgical Operations Performed on Humans

Gateway Ambulatory Surgery Center patient data leaked in phishing attack

Cybersecurity Tips and Best Practices

Girl, 10, helps her mom deliver a baby at home

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Tim Burney is the Founder & CEO of Advantien, and he's here to talk to us about how ASCs can better understand and negotiate fair implant costs. Implants are typically one of the top three drivers of cost for an ASC, so Tim has some great tips for how you can reduce overall costs and how you can get the best price.

In our news recap, we'll do a deep dive into the CMS 2023 final payment rule, talk about an uptick in plastic surgery cases, share a much-needed update from YouTube Health, and share the story of two police officers who saved the life of a 1-month-old baby.

Articles Mentioned:

Key Takeaways from the CMS 2023 Final Payment Rule

The Plastic Surgery Boom Drives Growth in Outpatient Surgeries

YouTube will now let medical professionals apply for additional verification

2 heroic officers save 1-month-old baby with RSV who stopped breathing

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Collecting payment from patients can be tedious and challenging, especially after their surgery is complete. We’re joined today by Ken Bulow, EVP of Operations at Surgical Notes, to chat about how you can implement workflows and proven processes to get your claims paid after the bill goes out.

In our news recap, we'll cover CMS’ 2023 final payment rule, new innovation around tattoos and medical alert bracelets, the average consumers medical debts, and a nurse who helped care for a man after he collapsed during a Broadway show.

Articles Mentioned:

2023 Final Medicare Payment Rule Released; Results Are Mixed for Surgery Centers

Could Tattoos Replace Medical Alert Bracelets?

Nearly half of consumers are in debt due to medical bills, survey finds

Nurse of the Week: Florida Nurse Helps Man After Collapsing During Funny Girl Performance

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Managing a medication room in a surgery center can be super complicated. From vendor selection to national drug shortages to supply chain issues to drug diversion it can be extremely overwhelming. Amy Jones, Owner of Jones Premier Pharmacy Consulting, joins us today to discuss the policies ASCs should put into place so that they can have full control over their medication room.

In our news recap, we'll cover a new price transparency law impacting Virginia ASCs, declining physicians pay, the latest industry acquisition, and over-the-counter hearing aids.

Articles Mentioned:

VA ASCs to Be Included in Implementation of State’s Hospital Price Transparency Law

How declining pay is pushing physicians to ASCs

National Medical Billing Services Announces Acquisition of MedTek

The Biden Move to Allow Hearing Aids to Be Sold Over-the-Counter is Now Saving Americans Thousands

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Beth LaBouyer - From Nurse to Admin: Succeeding in Business

Episode Notes:

You know how to run an OR, but how about running an ASC? In our world, it's common for someone with a clinical background to get promoted to an Admin or CEO and be expected to now run the day-to-day business. Beth LaBouyer, the Executive Director of CASA, shares her own experience and breaks down five tips to make your transition from clinical to business a success.

In our news recap, we'll cover Google’s new Medical Imaging Suite, this year’s flu season, Newsweek’s latest report on America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers, and a new documentary called The Strength to Heal.

Articles Mentioned:

Google launches suite of digital tools around medical images

Flu off to an early start as CDC warns about potentially severe season

America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers 2023

Lehigh Valley Health Network's The Strength to Heal

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Are you ready to start marketing your ASC?! Our host Nick Latz sits down with Bill Hazen, the Admin/CEO at Surgery Center at Pelham, who uses different marketing tactics to drive revenue and their Total Joints program. From billboards to radio ads to local sponsorships - Bill gives our listeners a look into how he's using consumer-driven healthcare to improve their bottom line.

In our news recap, we'll cover new tech that has entered the ASC industry for the first time, the importance of hosting an open house, and some industry stats on specialties, ORs, and more.

Articles Mentioned:

Discharge 1-2-3 Expands Into Surgical Centers to Enhance Pre- and Post-Operative Care

Wyoming ASC Hosts Open House

Q2 2022 Industry Overview by ASC Data

Mom runs hair salon inside hospital to pamper parents of NICU babies

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

On this week's episode, our host Raphael Akinsipe chatted with Alex Taira, ASCA's Regulatory Policy and Research Manager about what ASCs can likely expect in 2023 when it comes to the No Surprises Act. In our news recap, we'll cover the Great Resignation, the smartest moves made in 2022, and the disparity in the number of Latino doctors and surgeons.

Articles Mentioned:

How To Ensure Your Nurses Stick Around Through The Great Resignation

The smartest move 3 ASC leaders made in 2022

There's a big disparity in the number of Latino doctors and surgeons

California Hospital Tech Brightens Kids' Casts with Amazing Artwork

Resources Mentioned:

ASCA - General Information

CMS - General Information

CMS - Consent Form for balance billing protections

CMS - Model disclosure notice

IDR Process for Providers and Payers

IDR Process for Providers and Patients

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

For our first episode, we sat down with Austin Cheng, CEO of Gramercy Surgery Center, to chat about how ASCs can help lower the cost of healthcare. In our news recap, we’ll cover the fastest growing ASC specialty, healthcare worker strikes, and the average hourly pay for RNs per state.

Articles Mentioned:

Why cardiology is ASCs' next big thing

Strikes among healthcare workers in 2022

Hourly nurses pay for all 50 states

Parents of baby who spent 6 months in NICU ask his nurse to become his godmother

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Welcome to this Week in Surgery Centers! Every week, our hosts will recap the latest news impacting ASCs and share an interesting conversation we had with our featured guest. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Brought to you by HST Pathways.