Getting
ASCs Ready for Retina
Incorporating
retina into an ASC can create benefits for all those involved.
BY RACHEL RENSHAW, EXECUTIVE
EDITOR
The
advantages to performing surgery in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting include
shorter surgical times, more streamlined procedures, staff members who are more
knowledgeable about specific procedures, and the overall quality of care that surgeons
are able to offer their patients. While these advantages need not differ for retinal
surgery, ASC owners and administrators alike have reservations about incorporating
retina into the ASC setting for 3 main reasons: inherently longer procedure times,
the more complicated nature of posterior segment surgery, and cost. However, adding
retina to an ASC can benefit a practice by making it more comprehensive and increasing
the patient base. In this article, I will explain why this is so.
OUTFITTING AN ASC
FOR RETINA CASES
Leo T.
Neu, III, MD, a partner
in Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center and Surgery Center, which has locations in Missouri,
has been performing retina surgery in his surgery center for 5 years.
"When we bought our
ASC, it was
already an ophthalmological ASC for cataract surgery, so it had a microscope and
everything that one needs for cataract surgery," says Dr. Neu. "To accommodate retinal
procedures, I converted my existing laser for use in the operating room and purchased
some retinal equipment."
Dr. Neu was already using the Millennium
(Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) for cataract surgery so he added the vitrectomy
component for his posterior segment work.
"It's a matter of trying to monitor
your equipment costs and not letting them get out of control," Dr. Neu says.
SHORTENING SURGICAL
TIMES
Robert B. Feldman, MD, partner
and retinal surgeon at the Florida Eye Clinic and Florida Eye Clinic ASC in Altamonte
Springs, FL, made the switch from the hospital setting to his ASC for retina cases
approximately 10 years ago. His average time for a routine vitrectomy is 30 to 40
minutes, and he feels that his case time is about half of what it would be in a
hospital setting.
"The time savings is huge," says
Dr. Feldman. "First of all, you will never be bumped by an appendectomy or wait
several hours for your nonophthalmic colleague to finish his case. Second, my patients
are given peribulbar blocks in the preoperative/recovery area by 1 of my full-time
CRNAs while the surgical room is being turned over."
"I use short- and long-acting
peribulbar blocks, depending on the case," he says. "I typically use midazolam hydrochloride
(Versed, Roche) and fentanyl (Duragesic, Janssen) and have the patients take ondansetrom
(Zophran, GlaxoSmithKline) afterward to cut down postoperative nausea."
According to Dr. Feldman, one of
the main advantages to performing retinal procedures in an ASC as compared to a
hospital is that the staff in an ophthalmology ASC is devoted to that specialty.
He believes that he benefits from the dedication of his employees, who range from
"scrubs" who know his surgical routine well and turn over the rooms quickly, to
CRNAs who do not over- or undersedate his patients during procedures such as internal
limiting membrane peeling.
Dr. Neu agrees. "Our ASC is dedicated
to eyes only, so the staff can adjust to, and troubleshoot the equipment much easier
because we use the same machinery all the time. In the hospital, we still end up
with circulating nurses and technicians in the room who do other nonocular procedures,
so they are not as in tune with troubleshooting retinal equipment and it takes them
longer to figure the problem out."
"In our particular situation, we
never use a general anesthetic," continues Dr. Neu. "We have a nurse anesthetist
who does our periorbital blocks who has 20 years of experience. He's also very familiar
with how much anesthesia to give systemically through the IV to relax the patient."
Dr. Neu emphasizes the importance
of consistency in the operating room. He adds that anesthesiologists who routinely
work in other specialties, such as orthopedics or general surgery, do not have a
complete understanding of what the eye surgeon needs.
Dr. Feldman says that he is in
the process of obtaining 25-g instrumentation to further cut down surgical time.
"I believe that 25-g technology
will save time on opening and closing of cases and make postoperative recovery more
comfortable for patients," he says.
Erin
Duffey, RN, is director of
operating room services at the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Greater New York in
the Bronx. Duffey has worked in ophthalmology since its infancy in the ASC setting.
The most common procedure performed at her facility is pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)
endolaser for patients with diabetic retinopathy.
While
Duffey's ASC does not use technology, such as the 25-g vitrector, they still have
reduced their surgical time and costs by combining a highly skilled technical and
professional staff with high-speed vitrectomy and competent surgeons.
PATIENT FLOW
Beth Hurley, RN, BSN,
CRNO, COE,
who is the director of clinical development at Sovereign Healthcare in Newport Beach,
CA, has had more than 18 years' experience working with retina cases in an ASC setting.
"Posterior cases can utilize existing
present staff and equipment," Hurley says. "In an ASC, the retinal surgeon has access
to a knowledgeable staff that knows ophthalmology, so that there is greater efficiency
in patient flow and case turnover. Posterior cases also add variety, as every case
is different."
In addition, says Hurley, the quality
of case rendered to patients is greater in an ASC, as is demonstrated by patient
outcomes and satisfaction surveys.
Four surgeons utilize the ASC where
Dr. Neu operates.
"We found that [prior to performing
retinal procedures] there was downtime on certain days where the surgery rooms weren't
being utilized." Dr. Neu's ASC pays 5 days' salary to employees, so if the center
is going unused for some of that time, it is not cost effective.
"I had time in my surgical center
to incorporate retinal surgery without taxing the system. On my designated day in
our ASC, I perform my anterior cases first and then do retinal surgery thereafter,"
he says. "Other days of the week when the operating room is not being used, I can
schedule retinal cases on my time and not be controlled by a hospital schedule."
Dr Neu says that this strategy
helps him by not having to take retina cases to the hospital.
"Saving time and improving the
dynamics of retinal surgical procedures makes it much easier when you own your
ASC,"
says Dr. Neu.
BENEFITS TO PERFORMING
RETINA IN AN ASC
After 8 years of performing retinal
surgery in an ASC, Dr. Feldman says that efficiency, not profitability, drives the
success of including retina. However, there are bottom-line benefits to adding retina
to an ASC. According to Dr. Feldman, retinal cases can be scheduled in between cataract
cases, and when there is a lull in both, doctors can see patients for postoperative
check-ups.
Dr. Neu views the main benefits
of performing retinal cases in the ASC as those affecting time management, and thus,
quality of life.
"By performing retinal surgery
in the ASC, I can decrease my overall time in the operating room compared to the
hospital by half. In the hospital, it may take me 2 hours to do everything, not
just the procedure,
but also the overall orchestration of the procedure," says Dr. Neu. "In our ASC,
we can cut that time in half. So, I'm saving about a half a day a week by doing
these procedures in the ASC. I can use that half-day to see other patients, which
drives the overall bottom line to a higher level, or I can take time off to live
a fuller life, rather than just work all the time."
Patients also benefit in that they
are able to have their retinal procedures performed in the same building as their
office examinations. The continuity of having all eyecare visits and procedures
in 1 location increases the convenience level for patients and also increases the
level of comfort and confidence.
However, he does not discount the
financial benefits to the surgeon who owns or partners in an ASC.
"The professional fee for the retinal
surgeon is going to be the same whether it's done in the hospital or the ASC, but
the facility fee payment is going to be a bonus," says Dr. Neu.
However, says Dr.
Neu, it is critical
that those handling reimbursement keep an eye on the overall cost of the procedures
that are being performed.
"You have to really watch your
costs to make sure you're not losing money on the facility fee, because the Medicare
system only pays a set amount," Dr. Neu says. "If you buy a lot of fancy equipment,
require a lot of extra instrumentation or require more personnel in the room with
high salaries, you could barely break even or actually lose money on the facility
side."
Regarding financial matters, Hurley
cautions, "Coding posterior segment surgery is imperative."
Multiple procedures are common
in some cases, so this must also be taken into account. Either having a seasoned
coding person on staff or hiring an experienced consultant is a good idea when getting
started.
TRANSITIONING AN ASC
FOR RETINA
When incorporating retina into
an ASC, several factors should be considered. Often, it is helpful to talk with
colleagues who have already added retina to learn from their experiences.
Following are combined tips from
those interviewed for this article for administrators and physicians who are getting
ready to incorporate retina into the ASC setting:
Carefully select cases. Retinal
procedures that are performed in an ASC should be routine and noncomplex. If you
choose a procedure that is complex, money will most likely be lost because of the
extended procedural time and staff wages. Remember that Medicare and insurance companies
will only pay a certain amount in some cases.
Monitor costs. Closely monitor
equipment purchases (e.g., microscopes, lasers). Do not buy an instrument that will
be used once every 2 years. That procedure should be performed in a hospital setting.
Make sure that retinal surgeons
have ASC mindset. Retinal surgeons should understand the issues that affect overall
efficiency, such as time and costs.
Have good help. Nurses, surgical
technicians, and anesthesiologists should be familiar with performing ophthalmic
cases in an ASC and be aware of the important issues that are specific to ophthalmology.
Ultimately, while efficiency and
costs are important factors, the quality of patient care is the most important consideration.
Patients will appreciate shortened procedure times, dedicated staff, and the convenience
that an ASC offers. If incorporated carefully and correctly, adding retina can be
a rewarding experience for ASC owners and staff. These rewards can be passed on,
in the form of better, more streamlined care, to every patient who walks through
the doors.
The
Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) contributed sources and information
for this article. OOSS is a source for ASC leadership and advocacy. For more information
about OOSS, contact Claudia A. McDougal, Executive Director, at 866-892-1001, or
go to www.ooss.org.
Retinal Physician, Issue: July 2005