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forward slash beckerspodcast.
This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare
Podcast, and we are recording live at the
thirty first annual
business and operations of ASCs.
I'm currently joined by Tricia Wallum, who is
the administrator at Alliance Surgery Center. So, Tricia,
thanks for being here. To kick us off,
can you please share a little bit about
yourself and your work in the ASC space?
Sure. Thanks for having me.
Yes. I, am the administrator of a orthopedic
only surgery center in Traverse City, Michigan.
We currently have 12 surgeons operating there, and
we have three operating rooms.
Wonderful. Well, thanks for being here. And let's
start our conversation talking about the ASC market.
In The US, it's projected to reach 60,800,000,000.0
by 2030 and continues to experience strong year
over year growth. So from your perspective, what
are the most significant trends and market forces
driving this expansion, and how should ASC leaders
be preparing today?
Yeah. Great question.
I think our trends that we're seeing are
more complex higher acuity
acuity procedures,
total joints, cardiac,
cases, things like that are gonna continue to
just drive,
those cases towards the ASC, which is gonna
continue to just grow the market.
I think also
CMS,
you know, is covering more and more procedures
every year in an ASC setting. And I
think, we just are gonna continue to see,
that grow, and that's becoming by patient preference.
Insurance companies are becoming more astute.
I think CMS is becoming more astute of
what an ASE
can offer both them as a payer, but
then also what they can offer,
patients.
And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced
EHR system, technology remains both a make or
break factor and a critical driver of ASC
operation at scale.
So how do you see deeper tech integration
shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage
their business over the next few years?
I think technology is going to be a
great thing. I think for us, an EMR
system
really was critical for us. We transitioned in
February,
and it has been a game changer,
for us. It's allowing,
to become more efficient. You can have increased
case volume with your,
current staffing model
just due to the efficiencies across the center
that it offers. So I think you we're
gonna see more and more ASCs
transitioning to EHR systems.
And follow-up to that, is there one specific
technology or innovation that does stand out to
you that's especially transformative?
Well, like I said, it would definitely be
EHR.
I'm a huge advocate of it. I cannot
believe the difference in efficiencies
that it has provided for our staff and
for our center overall.
So that one is definitely,
the one that
I think highly of the most.
And with 60% of health systems considering ASC
joint ventures and many ASCs already partnering with
systems in their communities, what opportunities do you
see for collaboration, whether with other providers or
vendors, to strengthen patient care and operational efficiency?
I think there's gonna be coordinated care pathways
kind of across the continuum of care. You're
gonna see smoother transition.
It's gonna reduce duplication of services.
But I also think we're gonna strengthen transparency
and trust among those venture partnerships.
And as we wrap up our conversation, is
there anything that we haven't touched on or
any final thoughts you'd like to share?
I think the big thing is is if
the ASCs continue to stay focused on keeping
patient care at the center
and providing that care in the most efficient
ways possible,
the future will continue to be bright for
ASCs.
Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for joining
me today on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. Again,
we're recording live at the thirty first annual
business and operations of ASCs.
Thanks for having me.