Archive for August, 2011

As the summer draws to a close, it seems as though everyone is already thinking about the holiday season, pushing forward to next year. Hold up – we’re not yet done with this one! There’s plenty still coming down the pike for 2011. Let’s look at your goals – what is there yet to achieve for yourself (and your healthcare organization)? And how are your professional relationships? Have you been able to build and strengthen those?

There are a couple of posts that may help as you continue to work on those 2011 goals. For instance, when it comes to professional relationships, we like one from January about connecting, which included these three tips:

1. Be nice to everyone. Make the effort and never underestimate the value of being nice!
2. Listen to every voice. When we build teams and redesign workflows, our belief is that every voice matters.
3. Bring your ‘A’ game to work – every day.

Now, look at what you planned for this year – not only for your healthcare organization or medical practice, but also for you, personally and professionally. What’s the status? Is it time to revisit those plans and make some course corrections back to where priorities truly lie? Remember these tips from another January post:

Clarify your priorities. It is the first and most essential step to achieving a well-balanced life. Here’s a simple 3-step exercise to use as a tool:

1. Write down your Top 5 priorities. Not what you think your priorities should be, but the ones you want!
2. Next, analyze where you spend the majority of your time. Does it align with your Top 5?
3. Finally, those that don’t align, consider how to eliminate them. After all, if they didn’t make it into the Top 5, perhaps it’s time they go away.

Every choice has a consequence. Each leads us down a particular path.  There’s still time to listen to every voice, including your own. If you need some assistance to complete a few “to do” items, give us a call!

Patient Rights. We all have them. But what do they entail? When we walk into an ASC, what notifications should we receive?

Patient Rights is perhaps the most neglected of the CMS Guidelines, unintentionally. These rights state the responsibilities that ASC staff has towards patients and their families during care in their facility. A patient has the Right to Treatment with respect, the Right for an Informed Consent, the Right to have an Advance Medical Directive, the Right for Privacy and Confidentiality. Plus, the ASC must disclose if the physician has a financial interest or ownership in the ASC. All rights must be provided before the date of service. ASCs need to post patient rights in the facility and gain confirmation, by signature, from the patient that all information was given prior to the service-date.

Use these suggestions to help your ASC avoid overlooking and under-documenting the Patient Rights process:

• Implement a simple form that lists the Patient Rights requirements, and obtain the patient’s signature. Some ASCs include the opportunity for the patient to listen to the rights and notifications via a recording, to assure understanding. Post the recording on your website, too, under the Patient Rights section!
• Routinely ask the patient if they understand their rights and answer any questions promptly.
• Contact the Washington State Medical Association for Advance Directive informational brochures.
• Create small packets covering the Notice of Rights, Financial Disclosure and Advance Directive to mail to the patient prior to surgery. Include signature pages and collect them the day of surgery.
• Reiterate “any questions” on the day of surgery, maybe even include one final sign off!

Our Washington State ASCs have a choice. Either do nothing and risk everything ASCs have worked so hard to achieve. Or be proactive; recognize that we have fallen behind and need to get up to speed on regulations ASAP. The do-nothing approach simply isn’t feasible for any ASC committed to patient safety and quality. Frequent DOH visits affect morale and potentially the ASC’s reputation. The pro-active approach means a serious look in the mirror – assessments and very likely, corrective activities and training. But in the long run, your ASC, your staff and your patients win.

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Is your ASC Compliant with CMS? Contact Derry, Nolan & Associates; we can get you there.