At the 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 14, Charles Gordon, MD, a partner at Texas Spine & Joint Hospital in Tyler and owner of Gordon Spine & Brain Associates, discussed strategies to achieve clinical and financial success at a spine facility. Clinical success
1. Optimize turnaround time in the operating room. OR turnaround time at TSJH is about 10 minutes or less, achieved largely through the culture at the hospital, according to Dr. Gordon. At TSJH, an OR assistant ensures rooms stay on time and float teams help clean the room.
2. Maintain low infection rates. TSJH has a clinical improvement specialist that monitors hand washing and other infection prevention behaviors. In addition, every infection is reported and analyzed to identify areas for improvement. "All potential obstacles are met in a proactive way," Dr. Gordon said.
Financial success
1. Develop a vendor relation program. TSJH developed a vendor relation program to reduce implant costs. The hospital compared implant quality and costs from multiple manufacturers and the physicians agreed on two to three kinds of suppliers. They then negotiated prices with the vendors to reduce costs.
2. Compete as an out-of-network hospital. TSJH established a competitive cash pay program and prompt pay discount to compete as an out-of-network hospital. Competitive cash pay allows patients to receive the same medical procedures at a cash price, according to Dr. Gordon. Prompt pay discounts provide patients discounts if they pay for the procedure within 30 days. These programs work best for uninsured patients and patients with high deductibles, according to Dr. Gordon.
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1. Optimize turnaround time in the operating room. OR turnaround time at TSJH is about 10 minutes or less, achieved largely through the culture at the hospital, according to Dr. Gordon. At TSJH, an OR assistant ensures rooms stay on time and float teams help clean the room.
2. Maintain low infection rates. TSJH has a clinical improvement specialist that monitors hand washing and other infection prevention behaviors. In addition, every infection is reported and analyzed to identify areas for improvement. "All potential obstacles are met in a proactive way," Dr. Gordon said.
Financial success
1. Develop a vendor relation program. TSJH developed a vendor relation program to reduce implant costs. The hospital compared implant quality and costs from multiple manufacturers and the physicians agreed on two to three kinds of suppliers. They then negotiated prices with the vendors to reduce costs.
2. Compete as an out-of-network hospital. TSJH established a competitive cash pay program and prompt pay discount to compete as an out-of-network hospital. Competitive cash pay allows patients to receive the same medical procedures at a cash price, according to Dr. Gordon. Prompt pay discounts provide patients discounts if they pay for the procedure within 30 days. These programs work best for uninsured patients and patients with high deductibles, according to Dr. Gordon.
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