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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 00:00:35,489 --> 00:00:37,489 This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare 16 00:00:37,489 --> 00:00:39,570 Podcast, and we are recording live at the 17 00:00:39,570 --> 00:00:40,629 thirty first annual 18 00:00:40,929 --> 00:00:43,030 business and operations of ASCs. 19 00:00:43,465 --> 00:00:45,545 I'm currently joined by Tricia Wallum, who is 20 00:00:45,545 --> 00:00:48,344 the administrator at Alliance Surgery Center. So, Tricia, 21 00:00:48,344 --> 00:00:50,185 thanks for being here. To kick us off, 22 00:00:50,185 --> 00:00:51,545 can you please share a little bit about 23 00:00:51,545 --> 00:00:53,484 yourself and your work in the ASC space? 24 00:00:53,545 --> 00:00:55,244 Sure. Thanks for having me. 25 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,939 Yes. I, am the administrator of a orthopedic 26 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:01,500 only surgery center in Traverse City, Michigan. 27 00:01:02,039 --> 00:01:05,239 We currently have 12 surgeons operating there, and 28 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:06,939 we have three operating rooms. 29 00:01:07,974 --> 00:01:10,135 Wonderful. Well, thanks for being here. And let's 30 00:01:10,135 --> 00:01:12,715 start our conversation talking about the ASC market. 31 00:01:12,854 --> 00:01:15,915 In The US, it's projected to reach 60,800,000,000.0 32 00:01:16,135 --> 00:01:19,094 by 2030 and continues to experience strong year 33 00:01:19,094 --> 00:01:21,549 over year growth. So from your perspective, what 34 00:01:21,549 --> 00:01:23,950 are the most significant trends and market forces 35 00:01:23,950 --> 00:01:26,109 driving this expansion, and how should ASC leaders 36 00:01:26,109 --> 00:01:27,170 be preparing today? 37 00:01:27,709 --> 00:01:28,769 Yeah. Great question. 38 00:01:29,469 --> 00:01:31,709 I think our trends that we're seeing are 39 00:01:31,709 --> 00:01:33,409 more complex higher acuity 40 00:01:33,825 --> 00:01:34,805 acuity procedures, 41 00:01:35,665 --> 00:01:37,125 total joints, cardiac, 42 00:01:38,064 --> 00:01:40,305 cases, things like that are gonna continue to 43 00:01:40,305 --> 00:01:41,025 just drive, 44 00:01:41,584 --> 00:01:44,385 those cases towards the ASC, which is gonna 45 00:01:44,385 --> 00:01:46,724 continue to just grow the market. 46 00:01:47,579 --> 00:01:48,560 I think also 47 00:01:48,939 --> 00:01:49,439 CMS, 48 00:01:49,739 --> 00:01:52,079 you know, is covering more and more procedures 49 00:01:52,219 --> 00:01:54,700 every year in an ASC setting. And I 50 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:57,599 think, we just are gonna continue to see, 51 00:01:58,299 --> 00:02:01,439 that grow, and that's becoming by patient preference. 52 00:02:01,795 --> 00:02:04,135 Insurance companies are becoming more astute. 53 00:02:04,674 --> 00:02:06,834 I think CMS is becoming more astute of 54 00:02:06,834 --> 00:02:07,814 what an ASE 55 00:02:08,115 --> 00:02:11,235 can offer both them as a payer, but 56 00:02:11,235 --> 00:02:12,995 then also what they can offer, 57 00:02:13,555 --> 00:02:14,055 patients. 58 00:02:15,289 --> 00:02:17,849 And from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced 59 00:02:17,849 --> 00:02:20,169 EHR system, technology remains both a make or 60 00:02:20,169 --> 00:02:22,409 break factor and a critical driver of ASC 61 00:02:22,409 --> 00:02:23,549 operation at scale. 62 00:02:24,009 --> 00:02:26,590 So how do you see deeper tech integration 63 00:02:26,810 --> 00:02:29,034 shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage 64 00:02:29,034 --> 00:02:30,895 their business over the next few years? 65 00:02:31,995 --> 00:02:33,995 I think technology is going to be a 66 00:02:33,995 --> 00:02:36,254 great thing. I think for us, an EMR 67 00:02:36,395 --> 00:02:36,895 system 68 00:02:37,675 --> 00:02:40,770 really was critical for us. We transitioned in 69 00:02:40,770 --> 00:02:42,050 February, 70 00:02:42,050 --> 00:02:43,669 and it has been a game changer, 71 00:02:44,289 --> 00:02:45,590 for us. It's allowing, 72 00:02:46,770 --> 00:02:49,330 to become more efficient. You can have increased 73 00:02:49,330 --> 00:02:51,110 case volume with your, 74 00:02:51,889 --> 00:02:53,349 current staffing model 75 00:02:53,894 --> 00:02:56,454 just due to the efficiencies across the center 76 00:02:56,454 --> 00:02:58,454 that it offers. So I think you we're 77 00:02:58,454 --> 00:02:59,995 gonna see more and more ASCs 78 00:03:00,294 --> 00:03:02,314 transitioning to EHR systems. 79 00:03:03,334 --> 00:03:05,550 And follow-up to that, is there one specific 80 00:03:05,790 --> 00:03:07,710 technology or innovation that does stand out to 81 00:03:07,710 --> 00:03:09,169 you that's especially transformative? 82 00:03:09,790 --> 00:03:12,189 Well, like I said, it would definitely be 83 00:03:12,189 --> 00:03:12,689 EHR. 84 00:03:13,310 --> 00:03:15,310 I'm a huge advocate of it. I cannot 85 00:03:15,310 --> 00:03:17,330 believe the difference in efficiencies 86 00:03:17,710 --> 00:03:19,790 that it has provided for our staff and 87 00:03:19,790 --> 00:03:21,090 for our center overall. 88 00:03:21,844 --> 00:03:23,145 So that one is definitely, 89 00:03:24,004 --> 00:03:24,905 the one that 90 00:03:25,284 --> 00:03:26,585 I think highly of the most. 91 00:03:27,205 --> 00:03:30,245 And with 60% of health systems considering ASC 92 00:03:30,245 --> 00:03:32,885 joint ventures and many ASCs already partnering with 93 00:03:32,885 --> 00:03:35,444 systems in their communities, what opportunities do you 94 00:03:35,444 --> 00:03:38,139 see for collaboration, whether with other providers or 95 00:03:38,139 --> 00:03:41,360 vendors, to strengthen patient care and operational efficiency? 96 00:03:42,620 --> 00:03:45,039 I think there's gonna be coordinated care pathways 97 00:03:45,099 --> 00:03:47,659 kind of across the continuum of care. You're 98 00:03:47,659 --> 00:03:49,120 gonna see smoother transition. 99 00:03:49,579 --> 00:03:52,000 It's gonna reduce duplication of services. 100 00:03:52,625 --> 00:03:54,965 But I also think we're gonna strengthen transparency 101 00:03:55,425 --> 00:03:57,925 and trust among those venture partnerships. 102 00:03:59,344 --> 00:04:01,504 And as we wrap up our conversation, is 103 00:04:01,504 --> 00:04:03,264 there anything that we haven't touched on or 104 00:04:03,264 --> 00:04:05,044 any final thoughts you'd like to share? 105 00:04:05,629 --> 00:04:07,230 I think the big thing is is if 106 00:04:07,230 --> 00:04:10,349 the ASCs continue to stay focused on keeping 107 00:04:10,349 --> 00:04:12,050 patient care at the center 108 00:04:12,349 --> 00:04:14,849 and providing that care in the most efficient 109 00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:16,050 ways possible, 110 00:04:16,589 --> 00:04:18,750 the future will continue to be bright for 111 00:04:18,750 --> 00:04:19,250 ASCs. 112 00:04:20,204 --> 00:04:21,964 Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for joining 113 00:04:21,964 --> 00:04:24,285 me today on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. Again, 114 00:04:24,285 --> 00:04:26,685 we're recording live at the thirty first annual 115 00:04:26,685 --> 00:04:28,384 business and operations of ASCs. 116 00:04:28,925 --> 00:04:30,225 Thanks for having me.