Versatility Equals Virtuosity
One of the players taken in the recent NFL draft was said by expert commentators to have great value because he could play both offensive tackle and guard. Positional versatility was deemed a huge plus. In the same way, George Anastasian, MD, chief of anesthesiology at White Plains Hospital in New York, noted that “Clinicians who not only work at the ASC but also the surrounding local hospitals will be stronger,” noting that “should care need to be transferred or elevated, they will have the necessary connections to make it seamless.” He also expressed that “anesthesia groups that have pediatric and regionally trained anesthesiologists make for stronger partners.”
Building the Culture
To continue the sports analogy, another NFL team has endeavored to create a culture of high-character leaders among their roster. They tend to choose former college team captains, knowing that this will ultimately transform the overall ethic of the locker room in a positive and winning way. Creating the right culture is also important to those who run healthcare facilities, such as surgery centers. According to some ASC leaders, this is critical to overall growth and profit.
Eric Callan, CEO of LifeLinc Anesthesia in Memphis, Tennessee, says thatyour anesthesia partners should ideally be much more than just staffing for an OR room. It’s about creating the right environment where everyone can prosper. He went on to state:
You want a partner that will build an anesthesia culture to “buy-in” to the needs and success of the center. A partner that will offer safe, effective, up-to-date care for their patients while also working internally with ASC management to promote sustainability and growth. A partner with proven success that can provide consults, not only medically for the center’s patients, but operationally and analytically through data interpretation and presentation. You want a partner that is transparent and trustworthy; a partner that will openly discuss wasted resources and assist in operational improvements. Today, selecting your anesthesia group is much more than staffing your ORs, it’s about creating a partnership that truly believes that our future success is dependent upon one another.
Jay Kiokemeister, DO, president of Ambulatory Anesthesiologists of Chicago, similarly emphasized that the right kind of collaboration between the anesthesia group and the administration “will lead to a successful surgery center culture and environment.”
Efficiency Expertise
Sometimes, an organization will bring in consultants who are, in effect, efficiency experts. They look for ways in which they can successfully streamline certain departments or processes within the company so that productivity and profitability are maximized. Who can forget “the Bobs” in the movie Office Space? Well, some facilities are looking for an anesthesia group that can not only provide clinical expertise but efficiency management from a perioperative perspective.
Luc Corriveau, who is a chief nurse anesthetist at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Gorham, New Hampshire, has expressed the importance of going beyond the clinical, noting the following:
Strong anesthesia partners bring stability, collaboration and a deep understanding of the ASC landscape. They’re present, communicative and aligned with the ASC’s goals from both a clinical and operational perspective. Crucially, they also know how to operate with fiscal efficiency to provide high-value service. That means optimizing staffing models, leveraging technology and ensuring that all anesthesia professionals are practicing to the full extent of their licensure. When done well, this not only maintains clinical quality but improves throughput and financial sustainability. The best partners are invested in the success of the ASC and the communities it serves. They lead with integrity, deliver consistent results and commit to long-term relationships, not just short-term contracts.
Megan Friedman, DO, an anesthesiologist and director of Pacific Coast Anesthesia Consultants in Los Angeles, echoed this sentiment by stressing that “What truly sets a group apart is leadership that’s present and actively involved in strategy. An anesthesia team that participates in scheduling, recruitment, quality improvement and operational planning adds value far beyond the OR.”
These are just a few of the representative views from those who are hunkered down in the surgery center space as it concerns what they’re looking for in a successful partnership with anesthesia. For those readers who are already in, or contemplating a future presence within, the ASC setting, you may want to ask yourself: does our group bring to the table the kinds of attributes and abilities described in the above paragraphs? If so, then you may well be on your way to finding a match made in healthcare heaven.