Before buying equipment, get surgeons’ commitment
Before buying equipment, get surgeons’ commitment
Physicians agree to set number of procedures
At Centre Community Surgical Center in State College, PA, physicians used to submit 10-15 requests for capital purchases each year.
"Now we receive two or three per year that are truly items that will be used and generate additional volumes," says Roger Pence, administrative director of Centre Community Surgical Center and president of FWI Healthcare, an Edgarton, OH-based consulting firm for primarily ambulatory health care providers.
What’s the difference? A policy that requires surgeons to commit, in writing, to an expected number of procedures the first year. [For a copy of the form, go to www.same-daysurgery.com. Your user name is your subscriber number on the mailing label. Your password is sds plus your subscriber number (no spaces). Click on "Toolbox," and look under "Policies and Procedures."]
"The contract has saved us money by ensuring the physicians commit to use the equipment vs. responding to a salesman’s hype," Pence says.
At FWI’s annual medical staff/board meeting, the medical director reviews last year’s requests and the practitioner’s workload, then comments on the success or failure and asks for an explanation.
"The contract has improved our surgeons forecasting accuracy after a few chastisements were rendered at year’s end volume reviews," Pence says.
Originally, he reports, FWI was going to assess a fine for not accomplishing projected procedures, but one physician went over his budget number and wanted a reward!
[Editor’s note: Do you have a cost-saving idea that’s worked for you? Also, do you have any suggestions for obtaining malpractice insurance? Please send the idea(s) and your contact information to Joy Dickinson, P.O. Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Telephone: (229) 551-9195. Fax (229) 551-0539. E-mail: j[email protected].]
At Centre Community Surgical Center in State College, PA, physicians used to submit 10-15 requests for capital purchases each year.Subscribe Now for Access
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