This Week In Surgery Centers
Your weekly surgery center podcast
If you’re in the ASC industry, then you’re in the right place.
Every week our hosts will recap the latest news impacting ASCs, and share an interesting conversation we had with our featured guest. New episodes released every Tuesday!
Here’s what to expect on this week’s episode. 🎙️
Amy Swaffer, Director at Knoxville Spine Surgery Center, joins us from HST Connect to share what it took to move from 22 years at a Level I trauma center into the ASC industry and help build a de novo surgery center from the ground up.
Amy breaks down the learning curve that comes with entering the ASC world, why she surrounded herself with people who were stronger than her in key areas, and how her team built workflows around both patients and staff. She also shares her approach to leadership, supporting employees, and listening to the people doing the work every day to identify opportunities for improvement.
We also get into how Knoxville Spine Surgery Center responded when its original anesthesia group could no longer provide coverage. Amy explains why the center ultimately built its own anesthesia group, the benefits they’ve seen from having that relationship in-house, and what ASC leaders need to consider around staffing, coverage, and communication before taking a similar approach.
Then, we’re covering some of the latest news impacting the ASC industry, including insurers steering certain elective procedures toward ASCs, CMS’s new CJR-X joint replacement model, and increased regulatory scrutiny surrounding ASC acquisitions.
Plus, HST Pathways has been nominated in several categories for the inaugural Ambulatory Surgery Center News Product of the Year Awards. Voting is open through September 30, and we’d really appreciate your support.
And to end things on a lighter note, we’re looking at new research on how therapy dogs are helping patients stay engaged and active during stroke rehabilitation.
Resources Mentioned:
ASCN Product of the Year Awards – Vote for HST Pathways
CJR-X Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Expanded Model – CMS
FTC Approves Final Consent Order in Ascension Health-AmSurg Deal – Federal Trade Commission
Brought to you by HST Pathways.
