The Business of Surgery Perioperative managers and staffs are collecting data on a growing list of metrics on surgical quality—antibiotic prophylaxis, venous thromboembolism prevention, normothermia, and more. Now these and other metrics are coming into play as big companies like Walmart, Lowe’s, and Pepsico seek the best value for their insured employees, especially those…
Do you know who your competitors for surgical volume are going to be? It may not be the hospital or surgery center down the street or even across town. Your competitor could be in the next state or even across the country, at least for some types of surgery. Big…
A column on managing the OR revenue cycle. What are the rules for charging for preadmission testing and postop recovery? How should ORs handle charges for a patient who stays in the OR because a postanesthesia care bed is not available? In this column, Keith Siddel, JD, MBA, an…
OR business managers and OR directors involved in the financial management of the surgical suite will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills at the second annual OR Business Manager Workshop, April 7 to 9, 2013, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. This intensive, interactive workshop is an opportunity for…
When Kimberley Murray, MS, RN, CNOR, administrator for the orthopedic and spine service line at St Joseph’s Hospital (SJH) in Syracuse, New York, set up a successful system for negotiating with orthopedic vendors on total hip and knee replacement surgery, she knew that spine implants would be the next mountain…
How healthy is your value analysis process? A strong program for evaluating products and new technology is essential to the cost-effective management of resources. Characteristics of a good value analysis program are offered by Barbara Strain, MA, past president of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals. She is director…
While the nation concentrates on the consumer implications of health care reform, ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) are examining its provisions for clues to the impact it will have on their operations and revenue. One likely outcome is that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will transform their supply…
A kanban system seems like a logical method for managing surgical supplies. But it needs a strong foundation to be successful. Kanban, a Lean manufacturing method, relies on visual signals and standard work (related articles). The idea is to be able to tell at a glance that you have what…
Opening a new hospital gave a New York health system an opportunity to take a fresh approach to the OR supply chain. The 483-bed Orange Regional Medical Center, with 12 ORs, opened in 2011, consolidates surgical volume from 2 smaller hospitals. The Orange Regional Medical Center is part of the…
If you opened a supply cabinet in one of your ORs, what would you find? For many, the answer might be, “a mess.” That was the situation for Martin Memorial Health Systems, Stuart, Florida. Even though the supply cabinets had par levels, when a supply was running low, clinicians would…
