Same-Day Surgery Manager: Can your facility shine? 14 ways to stand out
Can your facility shine? 14 ways to stand out
By Stephen W. Earnhart, MS
CEO
Earnhart & Associates
Austin, TX
Last month, I was fairly verbose in talking about warning signs of outpatient surgery departments and centers that could be headed for trouble. While my predictors were unscientific, they were the observations of a person whose job it is to look for such predictability. This month, I want to do the same thing, but I want to focus on those departments that probably will continue to enjoy success and grow.
Tips on how to be savvy
To be successful in a highly regulated and watched industry like health care, you need to be fairly savvy. Few people are going to cut you slack if you are undeserving. Here are my observations on the facilities that will continue to enjoy success:
1. The managers are not afraid to spend money on items essential to success. For example, they buy a new piece of equipment for a surgeon only after they have determined its payback period.
2. They have a plan for physical plant expansion and adhere to it. There are predictors of when you should expand your physical plant. They include missed opportunities with new surgeons by not being able to get them on your schedule, cases running later in the afternoon, and frequently incurring overtime. The greatest mistake facilities make is expanding too late, such as after the surgeons have gone someplace else where they can get cases posted.
3. The staff and management have incentives, financial and professional, to be the best they can. That type of performance doesn’t go unnoticed by surgeons.
4. They recognize that their primary market is the surgeon — not the patient. No patients come to the operating room who have not been directed there by a surgeon.
5. Problems in their facility are dealt with — not ignored — when they occur.
6. Their staff is cross-trained in every appropriate department.
7. Staff meetings are interactive, with guest speakers at least six times per year.
8. They learn from their mistakes. We all make them. The trick is to not make them twice.
9. Their goals and objectives for the current month are posted for all staff members and surgeons to see. A department with no goals is like a ship without a rudder.
10. They hire slow and fire fast. They take their time evaluating the need for a new staff member. They evaluate all aspects of the hire — not just the position, but the person. If they have someone who is not living up to the needs of their area, they don’t procrastinate. They terminate them quickly, but they are careful to follow the laws and regulations of their state.
11. They are respectful but firm with vendors. They may let them in, but only by appointment.
12. They let anesthesia be involved in just about every aspect of management that they chose. A good anesthesia department can make or break a department or facility.
13. They understand basic business principles. Being a clinical person does not prevent learning the fundamentals. They take local business courses or spend time with their accountant and understand how businesses function.
14. They frequently invite the surgeon’s office staff to their facility to update them on changes in policy and posting procedures.
If you can adhere to the above, you are ahead of the pack.
Last month, I was fairly verbose in talking about warning signs of outpatient surgery departments and centers that could be headed for trouble. While my predictors were unscientific, they were the observations of a person whose job it is to look for such predictability.Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.