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 [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/google-epic-cloud-partnership-host-ehr-hackensack/636400/]

A drug shortage created by TikTok and 10 more supply chain updates [https://www.beckersasc.com/supply-chain/a-drug-shortage-created-by-tiktok-and-10-more-supply-chain-updates.html]

Mississippi at risk of losing over half of its rural hospitals [https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/mississippi-hospitals-closing-daniel-edney]

4th grader uses Heimlich to save fellow student from choking [https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-racine-36a3d5f2c17812a457885c27a6a6e81b]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

James McClung - Performing an Effective Mock Survey

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 [https://pharmanewsintel.com/news/first-humans-transfused-with-lab-grown-blood]

First Robot-Supported Microsurgical Operations Performed on Humans [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/articles/enews-briefs/nov-9-2022#story1]

Gateway Ambulatory Surgery Center patient data leaked in phishing attack [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/gateway-ambulatory-surgery-center-patient-data-leaked-in-phishing-attack.html]

Cybersecurity Tips and Best Practices [https://www.hstpathways.com/category/cybersecurity/]

Girl, 10, helps her mom deliver a baby at home [https://www.today.com/parents/babies/girl-10-helps-mom-deliver-baby-home-911-dispatcher-rcna57756]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Dallas Freyer - Four Tips to Improve Staff Satisfaction

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 [https://www.hstpathways.com/2022/11/15/key-takeaways-from-the-cms-2023-final-payment-rule/]

The Plastic Surgery Boom Drives Growth in Outpatient Surgeries [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/articles/enews-briefs/nov-3-2022#story3]

YouTube will now let medical professionals apply for additional verification [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-will-now-let-medical-professionals-apply-additional-verificati-rcna54561]

2 heroic officers save 1-month-old baby with RSV who stopped breathing [https://www.today.com/health/cold-flu/2-heroic-officers-1-month-old-baby-rsv-stopped-breathing-rcna56549]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Tim Burney - Understanding & Negotiating Implant Costs

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
  [https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/aboutus/latestnews/newsarchive/newsarchive2022/november2022/202211medicare2023finalpaymentrule]

Could Tattoos Replace Medical Alert Bracelets? [https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/articles/enews-briefs/nov-3-2022#story2]

Nearly half of consumers are in debt due to medical bills, survey finds
  [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/american-consumers-medical-debt-Babylon/634968/]

Nurse of the Week: Florida Nurse Helps Man After Collapsing During Funny Girl Performance [https://dailynurse.com/nicole-horochowski-broadway-star/]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Ken Bulow - Getting Your Claim Paid After the Bill Goes Out

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 [https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/govtadvocacy/governmentaffairsupdate/gaupdatearchive/2022/october/gaupdate10062022]

How declining pay is pushing physicians to ASCs [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/how-declining-pay-is-pushing-physicians-to-ascs.html]

National Medical Billing Services Announces Acquisition of MedTek [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-medical-billing-services-announces-acquisition-of-medtek-301657922.html]

The Biden Move to Allow Hearing Aids to Be Sold Over-the-Counter is Now Saving Americans Thousands [https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/us-allows-hearing-aids-to-be-sold-over-the-counter-at-lower-prices/]
  [https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/us-allows-hearing-aids-to-be-sold-over-the-counter-at-lower-prices/]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Amy Jones - Best Practices for Managing Your Medication Room

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 [http://google%20launches%20suite%20of%20digital%20tools%20around%20medical%20images/]

Flu off to an early start as CDC warns about potentially severe season [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/flu-early-start-cdc-warns-potentially-severe-season-rcna52115]

America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers 2023 [https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-ambulatory-surgery-centers-2023]

Lehigh Valley Health Network's The Strength to Heal [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqgp5ZuiXXY]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Beth LaBouyer - From Nurse to Admin: Succeeding in Business

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 [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discharge-1-2-3-expands-into-surgical-centers-to-enhance-pre--and-post-operative-care-301648090.html]

Wyoming ASC Hosts Open House
  [https://www.ascfocus.org/ascfocus/content/articles-content/articles/2022/digital-debut/wyoming-asc-hosts-open-house]

Q2 2022 Industry Overview by ASC Data [https://ascdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ASC-Data-Industry-Overview_Q2-2022.pdf]

Mom runs hair salon inside hospital to pamper parents of NICU babies [https://www.today.com/parents/babies/hair-salon-indiana-hospital-parents-nicu-babies-rcna5095]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Bill Hazen - How Marketing Your ASC Improves Revenue

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 [https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/10/06/how-to-ensure-your-nurses-stick-around-through-the-great-resignation/?sh=50e55b735bae]

The smartest move 3 ASC leaders made in 2022 [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/the-smartest-move-3-asc-leaders-made-in-2022.html]

There's a big disparity in the number of Latino doctors and surgeons [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/big-disparity-number-latino-doctors-surgeons-advocates-are-working-cha-rcna48778]

California Hospital Tech Brightens Kids' Casts with Amazing Artwork [https://people.com/human-interest/california-hospital-tech-creates-art-on-kid-casts/]

Resources Mentioned:

ASCA - General Information [https://www.ascassociation.org/federalregulations/overview/no-surprises-act#:~:text=Tucked%20inside%20the%201%2C067%2Dpage,Surprises%20Act%20went%20into%20effect.]

CMS - General Information [https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises]

CMS - Consent Form for balance billing protections [https://www.cms.gov/media/514396]

CMS - Model disclosure notice [https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf]

IDR Process for Providers and Payers [https://nsa-idr.cms.gov/paymentdisputes/s/]

IDR Process for Providers and Patients [https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers/medical-bill-disagreements-if-you-are-uninsured]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Alex Taira - The No Surprises Act: Looking Ahead to 2023

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 [https://www.beckersasc.com/cardiology/why-cardiology-is-ascs-next-big-thing.html]

Strikes among healthcare workers in 2022 [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/labor-strikes-healthcare-workers-2022/626965/]

Hourly nurses pay for all 50 states [https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-news/hourly-nurse-pay-for-all-50-states-2022.html]

Parents of baby who spent 6 months in NICU ask his nurse to become his godmother [https://www.today.com/parents/babies/parents-ask-nicu-nurse-godmother-rcna48598]

Brought to you by HST Pathways.

Austin Cheng - Lowering the Cost of Care

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.

Welcome to 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!