Accounts receivable
Accounts Receivable is the revenue center of the ASC. Accounts Receivable should be closely monitored to ensure claims are not sitting unpaid at insurance companies and funds are coming in on a timely basis. Goals should also be set for how long claims are idling in A/R, and that revenue milestones are met.
Coding
Certified, experienced coders are a must-have in every ASC. If a coder misses even one thing, the center loses money. Coders should also be training for ICD-10 now—implementation begins October 2014.
Materials Management
Management of materials is a must in an ASC, and fine a balance. Too much inventory siphons profits—too little leaves staff shorthanded when the need is critical. An ASC should closely monitor how much inventory is needed and work to define optimal restocking intervals. Inventory should also be regularly rotated, so the oldest items are used first and expirations dates don’t pass.
Quality control
Certified ASCs now have to report quality measures or penalties. Viewed positively, this offers ASC the chance to increase patient care and monitor its own processes more thoroughly. One means of insuring quality control is the implementation of safe surgery checklists that ensure the physicians and surgical staff are following set protocols and adhering to the center’s policies and standards.
Infection Rate
All ASCs should make a zero infection rate a primary goal. In a recent study, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that two-thirds of all ASCs had at least one failure in infection control. Those lapses are detrimental to patient care and the facility’s standing, and can be avoided with strict health and safety standards, consistent staff training, and regular audits to make sure standards are met.
