HST Pathways

ICYMI: Here's what's going on This Week in Surgery Centers. 🎯 Anesthesia coverage is a growing challenge for ASCs nationwide. From paying stipends to closing rooms, leaders are getting creative. Some are building in-house teams, using locums, or exploring RN-led sedation. There's no one-size-fits-all fix—but flexibility, awareness of market shifts, and alternative staffing models are helping some centers stay ahead in a tight anesthesia landscape. [Source: AORN / Outpatient Surgery Magazine] 😔 HHS is proposing to eliminate a long-standing policy requiring public input on key rulemaking—raising alarms for ASCs. Without that input, future regulations may overlook real-world care settings. Leaders urge ASCs to stay engaged, connect with associations, and be ready to respond. This change could come fast, so advocacy and awareness are more important than ever. [Source: Ambulatory Surgery Center News] 👍 March was Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and ASCs are seeing a rise in colonoscopy volume—especially among younger patients. While demand is up, reimbursement remains low. GI leads in OR utilization and case volume but ranks last in revenue per case. Continued education, innovation, and advocacy are essential to support growth and improve access to life-saving screenings. [Source: ASC Focus / Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA)] 🏆 The 2025 Match cycle hit record highs, with nearly 47,000 applicants and over 43,000 residency slots—great news for ASCs. Ortho filled 100%, emergency med rebounded, and most surgical specialties saw strong match rates. This signals a healthy pipeline of future providers, helping address staffing shortages and support ASC growth in key specialties. [Source: Becker's Healthcare] Check out the full stories on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube! #HealthcareNews #ThisWeekinSurgeryCenters #TWISC 

We recently published a new report highlighting 10 key metrics specific to gastroenterology. Three interesting highlights from 2023 to 2024: ☑️ OR Block Utilization increased from 54% to 58% ☑️ Average days to bill dropped from 6 to 5 ☑️ Denial rate climbed from 7% to 10% Access the full report to see the additional seven metrics and how your center compares. The data in this report can also be used for your next QAPI study! Note: We only pulled data from clients who gave us permission, and we omitted any extreme outliers.

"It’s empowering the front office to make a decision on the fly… instead of spending days trying to figure out if we can do a case or not." – Kellie Maxwell, Center of Urological Surgery Having immediate visibility into case profitability has transformed how Kellie's team operates: ✅ Front office staff can now make informed decisions in real time ✅ They're identifying and analyzing new procedures proactively ✅ They're no longer waiting for denials to realize something went wrong This is what it looks like when data drives decisions 🙌

Staff retention starts with culture—not quick fixes. On this week’s episode of This Week in Surgery Centers, we sat down with Mark Henderson Leary to dig into what it really takes to build and sustain a strong culture at your ASC. Here are some of the biggest takeaways: 🔹 Building a great culture takes time—think 2 years, not 2 weeks. 🔹 Culture starts with clarity: Identify 3–5 core values that define who you are, not who you wish you were. 🔹 Don’t get overwhelmed by toxic staff—remove misaligned team members one by one and watch the ripple effect. 🔹 Beyond salary, what keeps people around is the feeling that they’re winning. Set clear, attainable goals and recognize contributions often. 🔹 Make roles doable. If one person is catching AND throwing the ball, it’s time to rethink your structure. 🔹 And the hardest, most important leadership skill? Tell the truth. Give clear feedback. Don’t let avoidance become quiet endorsement. Tune in to hear more tips from Mark on building a sustainable culture!

When patient bills go unworked post-DOS (no follow-up, no outreach), the longer they sit, the harder they are to collect. We pulled data from 590 surgery centers and determined the following cadence. ✅ 1-90 days old → worked monthly  ✅ 90-150 days old → worked every 2 months  ✅ 150+ days old → worked every 2.5 months As bills age, follow-up efforts seem to decrease—but they should not fall off the radar. Unworked accounts increase write-offs, strain collections teams, and hurt cash flow. How can ASCs prevent this?  • Prioritize high-value accounts first  • Leverage automated reminders to stay on track  • Offer flexible payment options (online, app, installment plans)  • Use early intervention phone calls to resolve issues  • Consider outsourcing RCM support if your team is overwhelmed The bottom line? The longer a bill sits, the harder it is to collect. A proactive approach can make all the difference. 

📈 Data-driven operations is key to an ASC's long-term success. With that in mind, we analyzed HST client data to highlight 10 orthopedic-specific metrics. Find the link in the comments to access the data. Here are the metrics we pulled: · OR Block Utilization · Pre-Authorization Rates · Insurance Verification Rates · Case Cancellation Rates · Case Cancellation Reasons · Patient Deposit Collection Rates · Days to Bill · Claim Denial Rates · Net Revenue Per Case · Case Volume This data represents nearly 438,000 cases from 338 ASC clients. We only pulled data from clients who gave us permission, and we omitted any extreme outliers.

Staffing agencies are becoming more common in the ASC world. Choosing the right one can make all the difference. In part 1 of our 3-part series on Staffing Strategies, Mayte R. from MedHQ shares how ASCs can evaluate agencies, secure consistent coverage, and ensure staff fit seamlessly into their culture. Key Takeaways: ✅ Look for transparency & flexibility – The right agency prioritizes your needs, not their agenda. ✅ Plan ahead for peak seasons – A good partner understands ASC cycles and helps secure coverage early. ✅ Set clear cancellation policies – Define expectations upfront to avoid confusion. ✅ Prioritize cultural fit – Interview candidates, even for per diem roles, to ensure they align with your team. Want to hear the full discussion? Check out the episode now! 

On average, surgeries start 15.4 minutes late—but it varies by specialty: 💡 Most delayed: General Surgery (27.2 min) 💡 Least delayed: ENT (8.1 min) Even small delays compound throughout the day, decreasing OR utilization, frustrating patients, and driving up staff overtime costs. While some factors are out of your control, here’s what ASCs can do: • Incentivize punctuality – Tie on-time starts to bonuses, recognition, or department awards. • Streamline pre-op workflows – Automate documentation checks and ensure patient prep is seamless. • Track & analyze start-time data – Identify patterns in delays by surgeon, procedure, or time slot. • Enforce first-case-on-time policies – The first case sets the tone. Some centers even cancel if it's more than 15 min late. If you want to see the average on-time starts for 12 different specialties, or if you’re interested in more data points and use cases, head to our website to check out the full State of the Industry Report. 

For our next three episodes of This Week in Surgery Centers, we are tackling staffing strategies! Staffing challenges continue to be a top concern for ASCs, so we’re bringing in three experts to explore different solutions: 🤝 March 25th – Mayte R. shares insights on selecting the best agency to meet your center’s needs. 🏆 April 1st – Mark Henderson Leary dives into building a sustainable culture that attracts and retains top talent. 🤔 April 8th – Maddie Traylor will help you identify which staffing model works best for you: Locum, Contract, or Permanent. Make sure to subscribe to "This Week in Surgery Centers" on your favorite podcast platform or on YouTube so you don't miss an episode!

New survey reveals top ASC challenges for 2025 📊 VMG Health just released its first ASC Leader Expectations for 2025 survey, gathering insights from 137 ASC leaders. Colin Park, CPA, ABV, ASA, Managing Partner, shared the following six key takeaways: ✅ Physician recruitment & retention – 40% of leaders cited these as top challenges, with fewer young physicians entering the market and increased competition from hospitals, PE groups, and other ASCs. ✅ Anesthesia costs rising – Anesthesia stipends are becoming a major financial burden, especially for lower-volume centers that may struggle to stay profitable. ✅ Labor & supply costs outpacing revenue growth – Salaries and hourly rates have surged post-COVID and haven’t receded, while medical supply costs continue to climb faster than reimbursement. ✅ 84% of independent ASCs aren’t looking to sell – While most aren’t planning a sale in 2025, many are open to strategic partnerships to strengthen operations. ✅ Health systems increasing outpatient investments – More hospitals are looking to partner with ASCs to capture volume shifting away from inpatient settings. ✅ Private equity’s ASC interest is growing – PE involvement in ASCs has expanded beyond physician practice acquisitions, with more direct investments expected. How do these findings compare to what you're seeing in your ASC? #ASCs #SurgeryCenters #HealthcareTrends