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 [https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989332]

Caitlin Zulla named CEO of East Region of Optum Health, Jason Strauss Named Next CEO of SCA Health [https://insights.sca.health/insight/recognition/jason-strauss-caitlin-zulla]

How Providers Across the US Are Caring For the Country’s 580,000+ Homeless People [https://medcitynews.com/2023/03/how-providers-across-the-us-are-caring-for-the-countrys-580000-homeless-people/]

AI software shows promising results in detecting breast cancer missed by doctors [https://theweek.com/briefing/it-wasnt-all-bad/1021639/the-weeks-good-news-march-9-2023]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Jeff Lawrence - Why Data is a Strategic Imperative

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? [https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-02-22/could-your-smartwatch-interfere-with-your-pacemaker]

Why ChatGPT In Healthcare Could Be a Huge Liability, Per One AI Expert [https://medcitynews.com/2023/03/why-chatgpt-in-healthcare-could-be-a-huge-liability-per-one-ai-expert/]

Revolutionizing healthcare: 4 ways tablets are transforming patient care [https://www.healthcaredive.com/spons/revolutionizing-healthcare-4-ways-tablets-are-transforming-patient-care/644033/]

Ugandan Nurse Agnes Nambozo Makes Treacherous Climb to Patients [https://dailynurse.com/agnes-nambozo-makes-treacherous-climb/]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Jim Stilley - How Medical Assistants Can Help with Staffing Issues & Reduce Spend

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 [https://medcitynews.com/2023/02/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 [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/hipaa-complaints-breaches-hhs-ocr-cybersecurity/643139/]

Tapping the Potential of Engagement Tech [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/the-magazine/article/tapping-the-potential-of-engagement-tech]

Rare all-women team successfully performs heart transplant [https://theweek.com/briefing/it-wasnt-all-bad/1021249/the-weeks-good-news-feb-23-2023]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Tara Gillon - Importance of Performing an Annual Chargemaster Analysis

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 [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/lawmakers-reintroduce-bill-to-increase-access-to-ascs.html]

HHS pauses surprise billing arbitration after Texas court decision [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/hhs-pauses-surprise-billing-arbitration-texas-decision/642599/]

Weight Loss in a Pill Device Firm Allurion Heads to NYSE via SPAC Merger [https://medcitynews.com/2023/02/weight-loss-in-a-pill-device-firm-allurion-heads-to-nyse-via-spac-merger/]

Couple falls in love after going through heart surgery together [https://theweek.com/briefing/it-wasnt-all-bad/1021047/the-weeks-good-news-feb-16-2023]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Marie Yarborough - Top 5 KPIs all ASCs Should be Tracking

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 [https://www.ascfocus.org/ascfocus/content/articles-content/articles/2023/february/how-to-market-your-asc-successfully]

How to run a successful ASC: A cheat sheet by 55 industry leaders [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/how-to-run-a-successful-asc-a-cheat-sheet-by-55-industry-leaders.html]

Aromatherapy's Role in Decreasing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34905993/]

Tennessee high school students create a prosthetic hand for their new classmate [https://theweek.com/briefing/it-wasnt-all-bad/1020619/the-weeks-good-news-feb-2-2023]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Lisa Rock - Rev Cycle Trends for 2023

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 [https://www.ascfocus.org/ascfocus/content/articles-content/articles/2023/february/social-media-dos-and-donts]

Incorrect anesthesia start times results in significant revenue loss [https://www.ormanager.com/briefs/incorrect-anesthesia-start-times-results-in-significant-revenue-loss/]

Mount Sinai partners with 1st ASC in rural Uganda [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/mount-sinai-partners-with-1st-asc-in-rural-uganda.html]

Musicians strike a chord at patient bedsides [https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/musicians-on-call-volunteers-hospital-hca-healthcare-charles-esten]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Debra Stinchcomb - Common Deficiencies Found in a Patient Tracer Exercise

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.

LIVE! Four Stories from Real People Changing the Industry | This Week in Surgery Centers

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 [https://grbj.com/news/health-care/trinity-health-examines-in-hospital-virtual-care-model/]

Demand for anesthesia providers is growing as reimbursement is shrinking, says NorthStar Anesthesia CEO [https://www.beckersasc.com/anesthesia/demand-for-anesthesia-providers-is-growing-as-reimbursement-is-shrinking-says-northstar-anesthesia-ceo.html]

ASCA's ASC Administrator Development Program [https://www.ascassociation.org/educationevents/administrator-development]

Nurse Uses Creativity to Help Peers Reduce Job-Related Anxiety [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/news/breaking-news/article/nurse-uses-creativity-to-help-peers-reduce-job-related-anxiety]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Dr. Kenjarski - Optimizing Case Scheduling for All Stakeholders

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 [https://emag.medicalexpo.com/the-future-of-surgery-five-of-the-top-new-technologies/]

‘Uber for Nurses’ Launches Updated App As Employee Base Grows [https://medcitynews.com/2023/01/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? [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/ketamine-clinics-mental-health-are-popping-us-treatment-work-rcna63522]

What happened to Damar Hamlin was traumatic. Let that sink in. A note to healthcare people. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlT1HKmmMIg]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Gwen Donithan - Benchmarking to Improve Care & Your Bottom Line

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 [https://www.beckersasc.com/leadership/5-trends-ascs-need-know-in-2023.html]

Finding a Needle (or Microsurgical Instrument) in a Haystack [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/news/enews-briefs/article/2022-10-26-Nov-23-2022#story1]

7 Rules Hospitals Should Follow When Adopting New Tech [https://medcitynews.com/2022/12/7-rules-hospitals-should-follow-when-adopting-new-tech/]

Doctor saves 2 lives during half-marathon [https://theweek.com/briefing/it-wasnt-all-bad/1019462/the-weeks-good-news-dec-22-2022]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Kara Newbury - Acting on CMS' 2023 Final Medicare Rule

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!