Maryland Ambulatory Surgical Association

Medical expenses have ‘very steep rate of growth’

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:12:52 +0000

Spending on health care consumed an estimated 17 cents of every dollar spent last year in the United States, representing the largest one-year increase since the federal government started tracking the number in 1960.

CMS Manual System: Revised Appendix L, “Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgical Centers” with Exhibit 351 Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:30:42 +0000

Click here to read the document.

Steris System 1 Processor: FDA Notice and Recommendations

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:34:33 +0000

FDA notified healthcare facility administrators and infection control healthcare professionals of important information regarding the regulatory status of the STERIS System 1 Processor (SS1) used in surgical and endoscopy suites for reprocessing, i.e., sterilizing or disinfecting, medical devices.

Click here to read more.

ASC career “recession-proof”

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:11:44 +0000

Based on information from the US Department of Labor and the US Census Bureau, author Lawrence Shatkin says in his recently published “150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs” that careers in Ambulatory Health Care Services are in the third position in the top 10, right behind Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation” and Hospitals, and ahead of Insurance Carriers (#10).

Click here to read more.

AARP: 20-33% Medicare beneficiaries readmitted to hospitals

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:46:19 +0000

“Another serious problem we’ve been hearing about lately is that of hospitals discharging older patients without any follow-up, or ‘transitional,’ services. One of every five Medicare beneficiaries is readmitted within 30 days of discharge; and one of every three, within 90 days – often because of poor communication between patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.” — Jennie Chin Hansen, President, AARP, Sept./Oct. AARP Magazine.

New Rand study on excess health costs

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:38:28 +0000

In 1960, U.S. business spent 1.2% of their payroll on health insurance. In 2006, they spent 9.9%. The Rand Corporation recently released a study that examined 37 industries from 1987 to 2005 and concluded that excess health care costs are causing significant job losses as well as revenue output losses for many American industries.

Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:10:39 +0000

Achieving comprehensive health reform has emerged as a leading priority of the President and Congress. President Obama has outlined eight principles for health reform, seeking to address not only the 45 million people who lack health insurance, but also rising health care costs and lack of quality. In Congress, a number of comprehensive reform proposals have been announced as the debate proceeds over how to overhaul the health care system.

Click here to read more.

U.S. Psyche Bedevils Health Effort

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:34:26 +0000

I hate the health-care system — but don’t you dare mess with it.

That’s a pretty apt summary of the American mind-set about health care — and not just now, but for decades. Something about health care calls forth from the national psyche a deep, almost inexplicable schizophrenia, as the latest, delayed effort to “reform” health care is showing President Barack Obama and the rest of Washington.

Click here to read more.

ASC Focused Training

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:11:13 +0000

State Survey Agency Training ASC Survey Process.

Click here to open the PPT.

Medicare’s New Infection Control Requirements

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:28:26 +0000

Medicare’s recently revised Conditions for Coverage — the requirements ASCs need to meet to be Medicare certified — become effective May 18, 2009. Are you and your ASC prepared?

Click here to read more.