1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,319 Are your patients looking for an easy way 2 00:00:02,319 --> 00:00:04,480 to pay for health care? Want to level 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,639 up the way you do business? Then the 4 00:00:06,639 --> 00:00:09,199 CareCredit Health and Wellness card just might be 5 00:00:09,199 --> 00:00:09,859 the answer. 6 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,539 For over 30 years, CareCredit, a Synchrony solution, 7 00:00:13,759 --> 00:00:16,454 has been providing patients with a modern, flexible 8 00:00:16,454 --> 00:00:18,375 way to pay for their health and wellness 9 00:00:18,375 --> 00:00:18,875 expenses. 10 00:00:19,414 --> 00:00:22,875 CareCredit seamlessly integrates with your business, helping minimize 11 00:00:23,015 --> 00:00:25,975 account receivable, all while your patients enjoy budget 12 00:00:25,975 --> 00:00:27,595 friendly financing options. 13 00:00:28,054 --> 00:00:30,214 To learn more about how CareCredit works for 14 00:00:30,214 --> 00:00:31,274 you and your patients, 15 00:00:31,679 --> 00:00:32,420 visit carecredit.comforward/beccarspodcast. 16 00:00:36,719 --> 00:00:39,200 This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare 17 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,119 podcast, and we are live at the business 18 00:00:41,119 --> 00:00:42,899 and operations of ASCs. 19 00:00:43,725 --> 00:00:45,885 I'm currently joined by Elena Turner, who is 20 00:00:45,885 --> 00:00:48,924 the ASC administrator at Commonwealth Pain and Spine. 21 00:00:48,924 --> 00:00:51,244 Elena, thanks for being here this morning. We'd 22 00:00:51,244 --> 00:00:53,005 love to have you start off by introducing 23 00:00:53,005 --> 00:00:54,604 yourself and telling us a little bit more 24 00:00:54,604 --> 00:00:56,469 about your role in the industry. Of course. 25 00:00:56,469 --> 00:00:58,630 Thanks for having me. My name is Elena 26 00:00:58,630 --> 00:01:00,729 Turner. And like you said, I'm the administrator 27 00:01:00,869 --> 00:01:02,950 for Commonwealth Pain and Spine for the ASC 28 00:01:02,950 --> 00:01:05,590 that we have in New Albany, Indiana. We 29 00:01:05,590 --> 00:01:06,969 are currently building 30 00:01:07,670 --> 00:01:09,129 3 de novo ASCs, 31 00:01:09,909 --> 00:01:11,369 throughout Indiana and Kentucky. 32 00:01:12,185 --> 00:01:14,185 So that's big news for us coming up. 33 00:01:14,424 --> 00:01:16,424 I've been in surgery for about 13 years. 34 00:01:16,424 --> 00:01:18,745 3 of those years are in the ASC 35 00:01:18,745 --> 00:01:19,245 space. 36 00:01:19,784 --> 00:01:21,944 Yeah. The first surgery center is slated to 37 00:01:21,944 --> 00:01:23,944 be open, December of this year. The other 38 00:01:23,944 --> 00:01:25,885 2 to follow summer of 2025. 39 00:01:27,049 --> 00:01:29,530 I've had a great career in the OR. 40 00:01:29,530 --> 00:01:31,049 My whole nursing career has been in the 41 00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:33,450 OR. I've had the opportunity to serve on 42 00:01:33,450 --> 00:01:34,989 surgical mission trips in Guatemala. 43 00:01:35,689 --> 00:01:38,010 So I'm happy to be here and further 44 00:01:38,010 --> 00:01:39,790 my career even even more. 45 00:01:40,325 --> 00:01:42,484 Wonderful. Well, thanks for taking the time today, 46 00:01:42,484 --> 00:01:44,024 and let's start our conversation 47 00:01:44,325 --> 00:01:47,944 now with ASC volume. So this is expected 48 00:01:48,084 --> 00:01:49,784 to increase by 16% 49 00:01:50,084 --> 00:01:52,344 across the country by the year 2032. 50 00:01:53,219 --> 00:01:54,980 With this growth, what are the most pressing 51 00:01:54,980 --> 00:01:57,799 challenges to maintaining a positive patient experience? 52 00:01:58,740 --> 00:02:00,260 Yeah. I think there's a few, 53 00:02:00,740 --> 00:02:02,579 key items that we need to look at 54 00:02:02,579 --> 00:02:04,740 there. The first of all being staffing. You 55 00:02:04,740 --> 00:02:06,520 gotta make sure you have the correct staff, 56 00:02:06,584 --> 00:02:08,824 make sure they're focused on patient care, 57 00:02:09,145 --> 00:02:11,724 and creating that positive patient environment. 58 00:02:12,584 --> 00:02:13,084 Additionally, 59 00:02:13,384 --> 00:02:15,485 patients come to the ASCs because of efficiency. 60 00:02:15,625 --> 00:02:17,544 Doctors wanna be in the ASC because of 61 00:02:17,544 --> 00:02:19,949 efficiency. So you wanna make sure that, you're 62 00:02:19,949 --> 00:02:22,430 scheduling correctly and using time management skills to 63 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:22,930 allow 64 00:02:23,229 --> 00:02:25,409 that higher volume in smaller spaces. 65 00:02:26,110 --> 00:02:28,509 And then supply chain management, making sure you 66 00:02:28,509 --> 00:02:30,909 have all the supplies that you need to 67 00:02:30,909 --> 00:02:32,590 to do the surgeries that are on your 68 00:02:32,590 --> 00:02:33,090 schedule 69 00:02:33,549 --> 00:02:34,449 while you navigate 70 00:02:35,275 --> 00:02:37,215 back orders and and allocations. 71 00:02:38,555 --> 00:02:41,375 Absolutely. And going along with that, what strategies 72 00:02:41,435 --> 00:02:43,435 have worked for your organization to tackle these 73 00:02:43,435 --> 00:02:46,314 challenges you're discussing, and what's one recommendation you 74 00:02:46,314 --> 00:02:48,750 have for healthcare leaders to stay ahead? Sure. 75 00:02:48,750 --> 00:02:51,250 Forming close partnerships with, suppliers, 76 00:02:51,949 --> 00:02:53,169 and encouraging those 77 00:02:53,870 --> 00:02:56,770 conversations to stay ahead of back orders, allotments, 78 00:02:56,830 --> 00:02:57,810 things like that 79 00:02:58,270 --> 00:02:59,949 will help with the supply chain part of 80 00:02:59,949 --> 00:03:02,364 it. As far as the staffing part, you 81 00:03:02,364 --> 00:03:04,044 have to lead by example, set the stage 82 00:03:04,044 --> 00:03:04,784 and ensure 83 00:03:05,164 --> 00:03:07,185 there's a positive culture with your staffing, 84 00:03:07,805 --> 00:03:09,824 which will lead to a positive patient experience 85 00:03:10,044 --> 00:03:11,504 and ultimately happy surgeons. 86 00:03:12,284 --> 00:03:14,604 And then as far as efficiency, you want 87 00:03:14,604 --> 00:03:16,044 a quality EHR that, 88 00:03:16,444 --> 00:03:17,425 uses automation 89 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:18,550 and 90 00:03:18,930 --> 00:03:22,069 then additionally focused schedulers that know how to 91 00:03:22,370 --> 00:03:24,229 schedule cases so that you can get 92 00:03:24,530 --> 00:03:26,389 the most efficient use of your time. 93 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:29,909 And shifting gears just slightly to the financial 94 00:03:29,969 --> 00:03:32,204 side. How can leaders ensure their staff are 95 00:03:32,204 --> 00:03:34,525 well equipped to help patients navigate the financial 96 00:03:34,525 --> 00:03:36,525 aspect of care? And how does this benefit 97 00:03:36,525 --> 00:03:37,824 patient provider relationships? 98 00:03:38,364 --> 00:03:40,844 Of course, I think it starts with educating 99 00:03:40,844 --> 00:03:42,864 a patient before their procedure. 100 00:03:43,699 --> 00:03:45,699 Making sure they have their estimate prior to 101 00:03:45,699 --> 00:03:47,620 day of surgery, that we don't have same 102 00:03:47,620 --> 00:03:50,419 day cancellations just based on, financials for the 103 00:03:50,419 --> 00:03:52,419 patient, finding out about huge co pays day 104 00:03:52,419 --> 00:03:54,680 of is a huge bummer for any patient. 105 00:03:54,819 --> 00:03:57,379 And then obviously that leads to unhappy patients, 106 00:03:57,379 --> 00:03:58,280 unhappy surgeons, 107 00:03:59,115 --> 00:04:00,735 due to cancellations. So 108 00:04:01,115 --> 00:04:03,615 making sure your staff have the correct information 109 00:04:04,074 --> 00:04:06,074 to give to the patients ahead of time. 110 00:04:06,074 --> 00:04:09,055 So in that pre surgery testing phone call, 111 00:04:09,194 --> 00:04:11,115 talking to them about what their estimate might 112 00:04:11,115 --> 00:04:13,979 be, using automation through your EHR to send 113 00:04:13,979 --> 00:04:16,620 those information out to people to patients before 114 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:17,759 they get there is huge. 115 00:04:18,139 --> 00:04:20,480 And then just making sure your staff 116 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:22,399 know where to go to 117 00:04:22,860 --> 00:04:23,360 for 118 00:04:23,675 --> 00:04:25,675 the financial information. Because I don't I just 119 00:04:25,675 --> 00:04:27,595 don't think my staff should be giving financial 120 00:04:27,595 --> 00:04:29,754 information to the patients. We should let our 121 00:04:29,754 --> 00:04:31,375 billers kinda handle that. 122 00:04:32,074 --> 00:04:34,875 Absolutely. And as we wrap our conversation today, 123 00:04:34,875 --> 00:04:36,394 are there any parting words you'd like to 124 00:04:36,394 --> 00:04:38,790 share on the podcast? No. I just appreciate 125 00:04:38,790 --> 00:04:41,029 the the opportunity in being here and and 126 00:04:41,029 --> 00:04:43,029 happy to be at Becker's this year. Wonderful. 127 00:04:43,029 --> 00:04:44,790 Well, Elena, thanks so much for joining me 128 00:04:44,790 --> 00:04:47,110 today on the Becker's Healthcare podcast. Again, we 129 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:49,269 are live at the business and operations of 130 00:04:49,269 --> 00:04:50,889 ASCs. Thanks so much.