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To learn 13 00:00:30,649 --> 00:00:32,929 more, visit carecredit.com 14 00:00:32,929 --> 00:00:34,789 forward slash beckerspodcast. 15 00:00:35,570 --> 00:00:37,489 This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare 16 00:00:37,489 --> 00:00:39,649 Podcast, and we are recording live at the 17 00:00:39,649 --> 00:00:42,789 thirty first annual business and operations of ASCs. 18 00:00:43,375 --> 00:00:45,375 I'm currently joined by Todd Currier, who is 19 00:00:45,375 --> 00:00:48,354 the CEO and administrator at Bend Surgery Center. 20 00:00:48,414 --> 00:00:50,414 Todd, thanks for being here today. Let's have 21 00:00:50,414 --> 00:00:52,255 us, kick off by sharing a bit more 22 00:00:52,255 --> 00:00:53,854 about yourself and your work in the ASC 23 00:00:53,854 --> 00:00:55,854 space. You bet. Thank you for having me 24 00:00:55,854 --> 00:00:56,354 here. 25 00:00:56,895 --> 00:00:57,875 I really enjoy, 26 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,980 conferences such as this Becker's conference. And, 27 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,460 just to share a little bit about myself, 28 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,420 my past history was as a CPA for 29 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,959 seventeen years in public practice. A lot of 30 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,880 that was within the health care realm. I 31 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,799 did a lot of auditing and consulting with 32 00:01:12,799 --> 00:01:13,939 health care related 33 00:01:14,265 --> 00:01:16,204 entities and private practices. 34 00:01:16,905 --> 00:01:18,505 But for the last twenty years, I've been 35 00:01:18,505 --> 00:01:20,905 involved with the ASC industry and the leadership 36 00:01:20,905 --> 00:01:22,665 roles. I've really fell in love with the 37 00:01:22,665 --> 00:01:23,165 industry 38 00:01:23,545 --> 00:01:24,045 and, 39 00:01:24,825 --> 00:01:26,665 I have been able to work in a 40 00:01:26,665 --> 00:01:29,645 variety of different types of ASCs to smaller 41 00:01:30,230 --> 00:01:32,310 ASCs to to my current one, which is 42 00:01:32,310 --> 00:01:35,510 a large ASC. We do about 15,000 cases. 43 00:01:35,510 --> 00:01:38,170 We're multi specialty in Oregon and, 44 00:01:38,710 --> 00:01:40,969 really love the direction that we're going. 45 00:01:41,829 --> 00:01:42,329 Wonderful. 46 00:01:42,864 --> 00:01:44,784 Well, let's start our conversation talking about the 47 00:01:44,784 --> 00:01:47,185 ASC market. Because in The US, this is 48 00:01:47,185 --> 00:01:50,405 projected to reach $60,800,000,000 49 00:01:50,465 --> 00:01:51,765 by 2030, 50 00:01:51,905 --> 00:01:54,224 and it continues to experience strong year over 51 00:01:54,224 --> 00:01:56,890 year growth. So from your perspective, what are 52 00:01:56,890 --> 00:01:59,530 the most significant trends in Market Forces driving 53 00:01:59,530 --> 00:02:02,170 this expansion, and how should ASC leaders be 54 00:02:02,170 --> 00:02:03,069 preparing today? 55 00:02:03,930 --> 00:02:05,930 It's very exciting times, isn't it? 56 00:02:06,329 --> 00:02:08,145 It's really exciting to be in the ASC 57 00:02:08,305 --> 00:02:10,645 industry right now because things are evolving, 58 00:02:11,185 --> 00:02:11,925 really fast. 59 00:02:12,465 --> 00:02:14,405 We continue to see the shift, the procedures 60 00:02:14,625 --> 00:02:15,125 from, 61 00:02:15,665 --> 00:02:16,165 the 62 00:02:16,625 --> 00:02:19,985 hospital setting to the outpatient setting. So the 63 00:02:19,985 --> 00:02:22,110 site of care, we're seeing continually see a 64 00:02:22,349 --> 00:02:24,289 a shift. We're seeing CMS 65 00:02:24,590 --> 00:02:27,469 recognize the added value of aided ASCs by 66 00:02:27,469 --> 00:02:29,969 adding more procedures to the covered procedure list 67 00:02:30,270 --> 00:02:31,090 or continuing, 68 00:02:31,629 --> 00:02:33,169 advances in technology 69 00:02:33,469 --> 00:02:34,370 and techniques. 70 00:02:35,335 --> 00:02:37,495 And ASCs are continuing to prove we can 71 00:02:37,495 --> 00:02:37,995 do 72 00:02:38,775 --> 00:02:41,254 higher acuity procedures and advanced care in a 73 00:02:41,254 --> 00:02:42,555 safe and effective manner. 74 00:02:43,335 --> 00:02:44,395 As far as preparing, 75 00:02:44,694 --> 00:02:46,395 I think the main thing is, 76 00:02:46,935 --> 00:02:49,335 ASC leaders need to stay active when within 77 00:02:49,335 --> 00:02:51,860 the industry for, like, going to conferences like 78 00:02:51,860 --> 00:02:53,000 this Becker's conference 79 00:02:53,379 --> 00:02:55,219 is one of those. Being involved in your 80 00:02:55,219 --> 00:02:56,040 state association 81 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:57,400 and the national, 82 00:02:58,180 --> 00:03:00,040 ASCA association are critical. 83 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:02,840 There's a lot of information out there. They, 84 00:03:03,294 --> 00:03:05,215 everybody keeps you up to date on what 85 00:03:05,215 --> 00:03:07,055 is happening and what is shifting within the 86 00:03:07,055 --> 00:03:07,555 industry. 87 00:03:08,014 --> 00:03:09,935 And probably the last thing is, you know, 88 00:03:09,935 --> 00:03:13,375 advocate for our industry. Be active and speak 89 00:03:13,375 --> 00:03:14,275 with your legislators. 90 00:03:14,735 --> 00:03:16,754 Make sure people are aware of 91 00:03:17,180 --> 00:03:19,819 the quality care we do every single day. 92 00:03:20,060 --> 00:03:22,139 You'll be amazed that a lot of people 93 00:03:22,139 --> 00:03:24,719 out there don't understand or realize what we 94 00:03:25,099 --> 00:03:27,199 do for our communities. And, 95 00:03:27,819 --> 00:03:31,224 the constituents with our legislators, they our legislators 96 00:03:31,365 --> 00:03:33,465 really need to understand that we're a vital, 97 00:03:34,324 --> 00:03:36,564 role within our communities, and we provide such 98 00:03:36,564 --> 00:03:37,224 an impact. 99 00:03:38,324 --> 00:03:41,284 And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced 100 00:03:41,284 --> 00:03:42,264 EHR systems, 101 00:03:42,659 --> 00:03:44,900 technology remains a make or break factor and 102 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:47,479 a critical driver of ASC operations at scale. 103 00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:49,719 So how do you see deeper tech integration 104 00:03:49,780 --> 00:03:52,419 shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage 105 00:03:52,419 --> 00:03:54,360 their business over the next few years? 106 00:03:55,060 --> 00:03:56,995 It's It's another exciting component. I you know, 107 00:03:56,995 --> 00:03:58,754 we are just on the surface of some 108 00:03:58,754 --> 00:04:02,675 of the advances within technology and AI. And, 109 00:04:02,675 --> 00:04:04,435 you know, when we look at the AI 110 00:04:04,435 --> 00:04:05,414 versus robotic, 111 00:04:05,794 --> 00:04:08,594 everything is happening really fast and moving forward 112 00:04:08,594 --> 00:04:10,055 into the ASC environment. 113 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:13,199 I think the biggest impact it's gonna have 114 00:04:13,199 --> 00:04:15,699 and deliver for us as managers of businesses 115 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:17,600 that you know, I I'm a data guy 116 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,000 that my background in CPA, I love data. 117 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:20,660 And so, 118 00:04:21,199 --> 00:04:23,759 the AI and the EHR tools really provide 119 00:04:23,759 --> 00:04:25,514 a lot of data to help us streamline 120 00:04:25,654 --> 00:04:27,675 our operations and make them more efficient. 121 00:04:28,055 --> 00:04:30,535 As our margins get continue to get smaller, 122 00:04:30,535 --> 00:04:33,175 that's critical for our future. That way, we 123 00:04:33,175 --> 00:04:35,035 are able to monitor that, 124 00:04:35,495 --> 00:04:36,395 in a very, 125 00:04:37,014 --> 00:04:38,475 hands on and, 126 00:04:39,014 --> 00:04:39,995 active way. 127 00:04:40,310 --> 00:04:41,750 As far as when we look at the 128 00:04:41,750 --> 00:04:44,170 robotic surgeries, we continue to see the, 129 00:04:44,710 --> 00:04:46,330 not only our joint, 130 00:04:47,029 --> 00:04:47,529 robotic 131 00:04:47,830 --> 00:04:50,949 programs or robotic assisted procedures, but we're also 132 00:04:50,949 --> 00:04:54,310 seeing the soft tissue procedures entering the ASC 133 00:04:54,310 --> 00:04:56,925 market. So that'll be interesting to see how 134 00:04:56,925 --> 00:04:59,245 that gets integrated over the next five to 135 00:04:59,245 --> 00:04:59,985 ten years. 136 00:05:00,685 --> 00:05:03,324 And is there one technology or innovation that 137 00:05:03,324 --> 00:05:05,264 stands out to you as especially transformative? 138 00:05:06,285 --> 00:05:06,865 I think 139 00:05:07,404 --> 00:05:09,805 we are on the cusp of understanding what 140 00:05:09,805 --> 00:05:11,770 AI can do for us. That there's, 141 00:05:12,550 --> 00:05:14,550 a lot of positives with AI and there's 142 00:05:14,550 --> 00:05:16,230 a lot of unknowns with AI that make 143 00:05:16,230 --> 00:05:18,790 it scary. So I think we're definitely on 144 00:05:18,790 --> 00:05:20,710 the cusp of what could be, 145 00:05:21,110 --> 00:05:22,009 very innovative 146 00:05:22,389 --> 00:05:22,889 and, 147 00:05:23,509 --> 00:05:25,004 helpful in our industry. 148 00:05:25,305 --> 00:05:26,985 What that is, I think, that's yet to 149 00:05:26,985 --> 00:05:27,645 be seen. 150 00:05:28,425 --> 00:05:30,105 Well, Todd, thanks so much for joining me 151 00:05:30,105 --> 00:05:32,025 today. Is there anything that we didn't touch 152 00:05:32,025 --> 00:05:33,384 on or any final thoughts you'd like to 153 00:05:33,384 --> 00:05:34,365 share on the podcast? 154 00:05:34,824 --> 00:05:36,425 Well, again, I'd like to thank you for 155 00:05:36,425 --> 00:05:38,985 having me on the podcast. I look forward 156 00:05:38,985 --> 00:05:39,725 to the 157 00:05:40,209 --> 00:05:42,050 the this conference every single year. I think 158 00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:44,529 it provides a lot of great information and 159 00:05:44,529 --> 00:05:47,269 data. It's a great network networking opportunity 160 00:05:47,649 --> 00:05:49,169 to be able to be with our peers 161 00:05:49,169 --> 00:05:50,069 and the vendors, 162 00:05:50,449 --> 00:05:52,310 see new product line. 163 00:05:53,115 --> 00:05:54,795 Probably the biggest thing I would leave is 164 00:05:54,795 --> 00:05:57,115 to get back to the continue to be 165 00:05:57,115 --> 00:05:58,654 active within the association, 166 00:05:59,035 --> 00:06:00,254 be active within 167 00:06:00,634 --> 00:06:03,455 your state associations, national, and within 168 00:06:04,074 --> 00:06:05,995 your peer groups that you're able to meet 169 00:06:05,995 --> 00:06:08,879 up with, like, conferences such as these. We're 170 00:06:08,879 --> 00:06:11,139 a very exciting time within our industry. 171 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,080 We've gone through stages over the last fifty 172 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,120 years, but we're in the a stage right 173 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,720 now where we're seeing a lot of growth 174 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,500 and a lot of opportunity ahead. 175 00:06:21,185 --> 00:06:23,024 Wonderful. Well, thanks so much for joining me 176 00:06:23,024 --> 00:06:24,944 today. Again, we are recording live at the 177 00:06:24,944 --> 00:06:28,165 thirty first annual business and operations of ASCs.