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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 beckers podcast. 15 00:00:35,570 --> 00:00:37,489 This is Gracelyn Keller with the Becker's Healthcare 16 00:00:37,489 --> 00:00:39,329 Podcast, and we are recording live at the 17 00:00:39,329 --> 00:00:42,070 thirty first annual business and operations of ASCs. 18 00:00:42,755 --> 00:00:45,395 I'm currently sitting down with Jeffrey Singerman, who 19 00:00:45,395 --> 00:00:48,454 is the administrator and COO at Manhattan Endoscopy 20 00:00:48,754 --> 00:00:51,074 Center. Jeffrey, thanks for being here. To kick 21 00:00:51,074 --> 00:00:52,515 us off, can you share a little bit 22 00:00:52,515 --> 00:00:54,114 about yourself and your work in the ASC 23 00:00:54,114 --> 00:00:56,354 space? Sure. Good morning. So as you said, 24 00:00:56,354 --> 00:00:57,850 my name is Jeff Singerman. I am the 25 00:00:57,850 --> 00:01:01,070 chief operating officer slash administrator for Manhattan Endoscopy. 26 00:01:01,929 --> 00:01:03,950 We are a single specialty, 27 00:01:05,049 --> 00:01:06,349 nonhospital affiliated, 28 00:01:07,370 --> 00:01:07,870 ASC 29 00:01:08,730 --> 00:01:10,510 located in Midtown Manhattan. 30 00:01:11,275 --> 00:01:14,174 We are GI specific. We have seven procedure 31 00:01:14,234 --> 00:01:17,114 rooms and should probably end the year with 32 00:01:17,114 --> 00:01:19,694 about 10,000 patients coming through the door. 33 00:01:20,314 --> 00:01:20,795 Alright. 34 00:01:21,114 --> 00:01:22,954 Well, thanks for being here. And let's start 35 00:01:22,954 --> 00:01:25,670 our conversation with the ASC market. Because in 36 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:28,829 The US, this is projected to reach $60,800,000,000 37 00:01:28,829 --> 00:01:30,030 by 2030, 38 00:01:30,030 --> 00:01:32,189 and it continues to experience strong year over 39 00:01:32,189 --> 00:01:35,070 year growth. From your perspective, what are the 40 00:01:35,070 --> 00:01:37,630 most significant trends in market forces driving this 41 00:01:37,630 --> 00:01:40,189 expansion, and how should ASC leaders be preparing 42 00:01:40,189 --> 00:01:40,689 today? 43 00:01:41,284 --> 00:01:43,605 So I think part of this trend is 44 00:01:43,605 --> 00:01:44,105 contributed 45 00:01:45,204 --> 00:01:45,944 to the 46 00:01:46,325 --> 00:01:49,784 cost base between the hospital, the hospital OPD, 47 00:01:50,405 --> 00:01:51,224 and the ASC. 48 00:01:52,564 --> 00:01:54,185 The cost base is much lower 49 00:01:54,724 --> 00:01:57,239 at in the within the ASC environment. 50 00:01:57,939 --> 00:01:58,920 And our outcomes, 51 00:01:59,619 --> 00:02:01,619 I'm happy to say, are probably as good, 52 00:02:01,619 --> 00:02:03,939 if not better, than what goes on in 53 00:02:03,939 --> 00:02:06,019 the hospital. And then the second part that 54 00:02:06,019 --> 00:02:07,799 I think is contributing to this 55 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:09,000 is 56 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:10,759 that we can pivot 57 00:02:11,194 --> 00:02:12,094 from a technological 58 00:02:12,555 --> 00:02:13,055 standpoint 59 00:02:13,995 --> 00:02:14,735 much quicker 60 00:02:15,435 --> 00:02:17,835 than the larger health systems that have to 61 00:02:17,835 --> 00:02:20,014 go through layers and layers of bureaucracy 62 00:02:21,275 --> 00:02:23,675 to obtain what we can do in almost 63 00:02:23,675 --> 00:02:24,655 a instantaneous 64 00:02:24,955 --> 00:02:25,455 decision. 65 00:02:26,129 --> 00:02:27,269 From a administrator's 66 00:02:27,810 --> 00:02:29,750 standpoint or a COO standpoint, 67 00:02:30,689 --> 00:02:32,549 I believe that you need to be flexible, 68 00:02:33,169 --> 00:02:34,870 open minded, and evaluate 69 00:02:35,409 --> 00:02:37,489 what your ROI is gonna be on any 70 00:02:37,489 --> 00:02:39,650 investment that you're gonna make as this trend 71 00:02:39,650 --> 00:02:40,150 continues. 72 00:02:41,145 --> 00:02:41,645 Absolutely. 73 00:02:42,185 --> 00:02:43,645 And shifting gears slightly 74 00:02:44,025 --> 00:02:46,525 from AI and robotic surgeries to advanced DHR 75 00:02:46,584 --> 00:02:49,064 systems, technology does remain a make or break 76 00:02:49,064 --> 00:02:51,724 factor and a critical driver of ASC operations 77 00:02:51,784 --> 00:02:52,525 at scale. 78 00:02:52,824 --> 00:02:54,069 So how do you see deeper deeper tech 79 00:02:54,069 --> 00:02:56,709 integration shaping the way ASCs deliver care and 80 00:02:56,709 --> 00:02:59,209 manage their business over the next few years? 81 00:02:59,750 --> 00:03:01,689 So I kinda divide this into 82 00:03:02,229 --> 00:03:04,389 two different venues. I think one is a 83 00:03:04,389 --> 00:03:06,889 clinical venue and one is an administrative venue. 84 00:03:07,264 --> 00:03:08,645 So from a clinical standpoint 85 00:03:09,025 --> 00:03:10,405 and we've gone through 86 00:03:11,104 --> 00:03:13,444 two, if not three tests of AI, 87 00:03:14,064 --> 00:03:15,444 and its current iteration, 88 00:03:16,064 --> 00:03:18,064 it really has not helped in the GI 89 00:03:18,064 --> 00:03:18,564 environment. 90 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:22,189 I think when we look out in 2030, 91 00:03:22,250 --> 00:03:24,650 I think where we'll probably see the most 92 00:03:24,650 --> 00:03:25,150 advances 93 00:03:25,930 --> 00:03:27,389 will be in polyp detection 94 00:03:28,090 --> 00:03:30,409 and possibly being able to look at when 95 00:03:30,409 --> 00:03:31,550 a when a gastroenterologist 96 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:33,069 is doing histology, 97 00:03:34,395 --> 00:03:36,495 in an area where their mucosal changes, 98 00:03:37,034 --> 00:03:38,014 that they conceivably 99 00:03:38,794 --> 00:03:41,115 determine if this is cancers or not before 100 00:03:41,115 --> 00:03:42,574 it's ever removed from the body. 101 00:03:43,034 --> 00:03:44,574 But where I really see 102 00:03:44,955 --> 00:03:47,055 in 2030, and if not sooner, 103 00:03:47,479 --> 00:03:50,120 the impacts on the administrative side, which would 104 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,539 ultimately, I believe, reduce staffing 105 00:03:53,639 --> 00:03:54,139 and 106 00:03:54,519 --> 00:03:55,019 help 107 00:03:55,639 --> 00:03:57,180 in the area of documentation 108 00:03:57,799 --> 00:03:59,979 from a physician standpoint as well 109 00:04:00,764 --> 00:04:02,305 that they can meet the criteria 110 00:04:02,685 --> 00:04:05,344 that the insurance companies are putting up there 111 00:04:06,204 --> 00:04:06,704 to 112 00:04:07,564 --> 00:04:08,704 inhibit reimbursement 113 00:04:09,004 --> 00:04:11,185 or look for excuses to deny claims. 114 00:04:12,364 --> 00:04:14,699 And following up to that, is there any 115 00:04:14,939 --> 00:04:17,259 specific technology or innovation that stands out to 116 00:04:17,259 --> 00:04:18,720 you as especially transformative? 117 00:04:19,980 --> 00:04:21,839 Probably gonna be on the EMR side. 118 00:04:22,379 --> 00:04:25,019 And I I see beta testing now going 119 00:04:25,019 --> 00:04:26,000 on in 120 00:04:27,794 --> 00:04:29,894 voice dictation for procedure notes, 121 00:04:30,274 --> 00:04:32,055 much different than what we saw in radiology 122 00:04:32,274 --> 00:04:33,814 in the last five to ten years. 123 00:04:34,754 --> 00:04:36,935 And I'm also starting to see it in 124 00:04:36,995 --> 00:04:39,254 working with one company and helping to develop 125 00:04:39,314 --> 00:04:41,235 some of it in the procedure documentation area. 126 00:04:41,235 --> 00:04:42,675 And I think those may have the biggest 127 00:04:42,675 --> 00:04:44,569 impact in the next eighteen to twenty four 128 00:04:44,569 --> 00:04:46,009 months. 100%. 129 00:04:46,730 --> 00:04:49,689 And with 60% of health systems considering ASC 130 00:04:49,689 --> 00:04:50,509 joint ventures 131 00:04:50,889 --> 00:04:53,209 and many ASCs already partnering with systems in 132 00:04:53,209 --> 00:04:55,610 their communities, what opportunities do you see for 133 00:04:55,610 --> 00:04:58,185 collaboration whether with other providers or vendors to 134 00:04:58,185 --> 00:05:00,205 strengthen patient care and operational efficiency? 135 00:05:00,824 --> 00:05:01,564 Great question. 136 00:05:02,185 --> 00:05:04,384 And I think where I see the it's 137 00:05:04,384 --> 00:05:06,425 a couple places where I'm gonna there will 138 00:05:06,425 --> 00:05:08,585 be a large impact. One, I think it's 139 00:05:08,585 --> 00:05:11,064 gonna make it easier, especially with hot hospital 140 00:05:11,064 --> 00:05:11,564 partnerships, 141 00:05:13,439 --> 00:05:14,180 to recruit 142 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,279 and do succession planning. So if you think 143 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,759 about it now, the average fellow coming out 144 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:20,259 of, 145 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,759 fellowship is probably somewhere about a half $1,000,000 146 00:05:23,759 --> 00:05:24,339 in debt 147 00:05:25,055 --> 00:05:27,214 and has to make a decision, do I 148 00:05:27,214 --> 00:05:29,375 go to an ASC environment or a hospital 149 00:05:29,375 --> 00:05:31,855 environment? And right now, the hospital environment is 150 00:05:31,855 --> 00:05:32,355 more 151 00:05:32,975 --> 00:05:33,475 conducive 152 00:05:34,175 --> 00:05:35,555 for salary stabilization. 153 00:05:36,895 --> 00:05:38,675 If there's that partnership there, 154 00:05:39,214 --> 00:05:39,955 the hospital 155 00:05:41,220 --> 00:05:43,879 can direct or feed the ASC environment 156 00:05:44,980 --> 00:05:45,480 the 157 00:05:45,860 --> 00:05:48,339 physicians necessary to maintain as close to a 158 00:05:48,339 --> 00:05:50,199 100% occupancy as possible. 159 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:53,220 The second area, and there's a nationwide shortage 160 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:54,839 in anesthesia and nursing, 161 00:05:55,225 --> 00:05:57,305 they'll help that as well in being able 162 00:05:57,305 --> 00:05:59,564 to move staff around to 163 00:05:59,944 --> 00:06:02,584 substitute in where there are callouts and of 164 00:06:02,584 --> 00:06:03,245 that nature. 165 00:06:04,185 --> 00:06:06,504 And as we wrap up our conversation today, 166 00:06:06,504 --> 00:06:08,345 is there anything that we didn't touch on 167 00:06:08,345 --> 00:06:09,865 or any final thoughts you'd like to share 168 00:06:09,865 --> 00:06:10,605 on the podcast? 169 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,839 Yeah. I think from an administrative standpoint, I 170 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,939 think any administrator needs to be flexible, 171 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:17,920 and they need to do their homework. They 172 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,240 need to do their due diligence to ensure 173 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,199 that whatever investments they're making are gonna be 174 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:24,819 in the best interest for the ASC. 175 00:06:25,365 --> 00:06:27,365 Absolutely. Well, Jeff, thanks so much for being 176 00:06:27,365 --> 00:06:29,444 here today on the Becker's Healthcare podcast to 177 00:06:29,444 --> 00:06:31,285 share these thoughts and insights. Again, we are 178 00:06:31,285 --> 00:06:33,685 recording live at the thirty first annual business 179 00:06:33,685 --> 00:06:36,665 and operations of ASCs. Thank you. My pleasure.