At athenahealth,
we know your ambulatory practice wants healthier,
a healthier business, healthier care teams, and healthier
patients.
But the complexities of modern health care tech
make it hard for you and your care
teams to focus on what matters
most? That's where athenahealth can help. Our AI
native all in one solutions reduce administrative burdens,
streamline billing and payments, and deliver critical insights
when clinicians need it most.
That means fewer clicks, more time for patients,
and stronger bottom lines.
Practicing medicine is complex, but running a practice
can be that much simpler with athenahealth.
See how simpler is healthier@athenahealth.com.
This is Laura Dierda with the Becker's Ambulatory
Surgery Center's podcast.
I'm thrilled today to be joined by Laurie
Noble, administrator at the Endo Center at Voorhees.
Laurie, it's a pleasure to have you on
the podcast today. Oh, it's so nice to
be here. Thank you.
Absolutely. Now I'm excited for our conversation because
I know we're gonna talk about a variety
of things and really spotlight some of the
interesting things you're doing at the EndoCenter of
Voorhees. But before we dive in, can you
tell us a little bit more about yourself
and your background?
Sure. So
I've been in health care business operations and
accounting for, you know, about thirty years.
I've been
in the ASC industry for,
I would say just over thirteen years.
I started at a multi specialty,
surgery center,
running the business office.
We did ophthalmology
and,
orthopedics
and, pediatrics.
And I've been at the endo center at
Voorhees for eleven years.
We are a gastroenterology
center,
and I just I've you know, I enjoy
working with my
team, the staff, the physicians.
They're very dedicated, very compassionate
for our patients here,
and I'm just really proud of the quality
of care that we provide our patients.
I think that's really most important,
in an ASC, you know, safe, good quality
care.
So we are a pretty busy center,
but I we I really enjoy it. I
love it. Oh, absolutely. And that's amazing. I
mean, being at the same surgery center for
eleven years is a a huge accomplishment and
definitely,
I can imagine you've seen a lot over
that time. Oh, absolutely.
You see everything.
For sure. For sure. Well, you know, given,
your history of the center plus, I I
just know a lot of things are going
on in the health care space today. What
are some of the top three trends that
you're following right now in health care, surgery
centers? Just in general, you know, what are
the things that you're paying most attention to?
So for us, you know, for me, financial
and operational efficiency
is always something,
I keep my eye on and growing patient
and payer preference for lower cost options are
accelerating,
the growth and expansion of the ASC market.
So that's, you know, something I like to
keep my my eye on.
Focusing on upfront collections,
especially here in New Jersey, we had a
bill passed
about reporting medical debt.
So that's something else that,
you know, I keep a close eye on.
Another thing is the,
transforming health care with responsible
AI technology now.
They're they're advancing every day with
AI, which, you know, AI puts
a focus on measurable impact,
proper use,
and using it, I think,
we're having better patient outcomes.
So I think that's really important for us
to follow.
Another one is, you know, kind of going
along with the AI, but technical
technological
and clinical advancements,
is something we follow closely.
Innovations and advancements in
surgical technology and procedures,
clinical practices.
All these advancements are allowing more procedures to
be safely
and effectively performed in the ASC,
setting.
So that's, you know, always a good thing
for us.
So those are three big things that I
like to keep my finger on the pulse
with.
Absolutely. And, you know, all very important things
and fascinating to see how the industry's been
evolving. I think in particular, when you look
at some of the financial and operational efficiencies,
and then to, you know, the what you're
hearing from,
payers and their preferences for some of these
low cost options, etcetera, coming into the surgery
center. How have you seen that,
I guess, the tone or or tenor from
payers changing over time? Is there anything that
you've noticed, from that perspective as you're,
navigating your relationship with the the payers in
your community?
Well, you know, for us being,
gastroenterology,
you know, we've noticed over the years, you
know, better screening,
preventative screening benefits
with, insurances.
You know, they switched from 50 to 45
for screening,
so that's always
a good thing. The more preventative benefits,
the consumer
receives, you know, the better it is for
us. So
it's there's definitely impact there.
Got it. That makes sense. And I know
you mentioned growth and expansion,
within the ASC market too.
What are some of the impacts of that?
What are the factors that are have been
driving more of the ASC growth whether, you
know, in in your center, which I know
is extremely busy, and then others,
you know, nationally?
Well, for for me right now,
AI is at the top of my list.
We've been using an AI assisted polyp detection
system at our center
probably
well over three years now. The AI module
assists physicians by detecting colorectal polyps during colonoscopies,
highlighting suspicious areas in real time to improve
cancer prevention.
So the AI system uses machine learning to
enhance visualization
and detect subtle lesions,
leading to increased polyp detection rates and potentially
improving patient outcomes
by identifying precancerous
polyps earlier. I mean, this is amazing how
far we've come.
We actually have patients
calling the center
to see if we use it. I mean,
this is where we're at in the industry.
I think patients are now expecting these types
of advancements.
It's no longer the exception. It's the rule.
And I I think it's great. I mean,
what more can you ask for? You know?
Anything to improve,
you know, a better patient outcome,
should be highly utilized.
Absolutely agreed. And, you know, it's amazing to
think about how the technology can really have
that type of impact on the patients,
and improve the clinical care in in, a
significant way. And then too, you know,
for the clinicians, were they pretty, accepting and
exciting of the technology, or what was it
like to incorporate that into the endoscopy center?
We went through a trial period,
where we trialed the system.
And, you know, just like anything else new,
it it took
a a few months for for them all
to kind of get used to it.
They were all willing, you know, to give
it a try.
It just you know,
it took some tweaking and but yeah. I
mean, once they got used to it and,
you know, we saw the numbers come in,
everybody was on board.
So it's it's definitely
something everybody should look into if, you know,
there's a system out there that pertains to
what they're doing in their center.
Absolutely. You know, that's great to hear.
And before we wrap up, I wanted to
look into the future as well. How are
you thinking about growth over the next twelve
months or so?
So there's always an opportunity of growth. We
just need to collaboratively
keep our pulse on what's happening in the
ASC market.
Our patient base is always growing.
Our physicians
have added the fast track model to their
practices,
which has helped to increase volume significantly.
You know, if you meet a certain criteria,
you can kind of jump over the physician
appointment and come directly to the center.
Younger patients are also a significant contributor to
the growth in our colonoscopy
volume.
Back in 2020,
the 18 to 45 year old compromised, you
know, age group compromised
twelve percent of our center's cases.
Now that age group is well over twenty
percent.
And,
you know, lastly, it's important for physicians and
the ASCs to educate consumers
to know that going to an ASC,
it's it's much more affordable,
for them. It's a affordable alternative
than having certain procedures done in the hospital
setting,
which in turn is going to increase your
ASC volume.
So that's, you know, I think
those are really good things to to keep
your eye on and, you know, keep growing.
Absolutely. Well, it's fascinating especially to think about,
your the growth in the number of patients
that you have in the eighteen to forty
five,
year old range, which is
fascinating. Is there anything that you're doing differently
and knowing,
you know, with this population
being on on the growth or on the
rise? Anything you have to do differently?
You know, we just we you have to
market
yourself differently, and you have to kind of
zone in on
on that age group.
You know, it's
listen. Nobody wants you know, in our our
setting, nobody wants to go come and get
a colonoscopy.
You know, and it's always been where, you
know, 50 or older, that's something you have
to do. When you're younger,
you, you know, you you kind of think,
oh, you know, maybe, you know, I don't
really need to do that. So I think
we have to, you know,
kind of zone in on that age group
and
educate them on the importance
of of getting screened or if you have
any kind of symptoms.
You know, unfortunately,
you know, being in the GI setting, colorectal
cancer is just hitting people younger and younger.
So I think, you know, through marketing,
and
social media,
we try and put education out there for,
you know, for that age group to to
show them the importance of of getting your
screenings
or getting checked if you feel like something's
not quite right.
Absolutely. That is amazing reminder and and certainly,
so important for everybody,
nowadays
for sure.
Laurie, thank you so much for joining us
on the podcast. This has been such a
fascinating conversation, especially
looking into how the industry is changing and
and some of the cool things that are,
coming down the pipe for endoscopy centers. I
appreciate your time today and look forward to
connecting with you again soon. Oh, it's my
pleasure, Laura. Thank you.
At athenahealth,
we know your ambulatory practice wants healthier,
a healthier business, healthier care teams, and healthier
patients.
But the complexities of modern health care tech
make it hard for you and your care
teams to focus on what matters most.
That's where athenahealth can help. Our AI native
all in one solutions reduce administrative burdens, streamline
billing and payments, and deliver critical insights when
clinicians need it most.
That means fewer clicks, more time for patients,
and stronger bottom lines.
Practicing medicine is complex but running a practice
can be that much simpler with athenahealth.
See how simpler is healthier at athenahealth.com.