How You Can Get Involved In National ASC Month

Ambulatory surgery centers have been around since 1970, and National ASC Month is celebrated each year in August. During this time, facilities can boost awareness and help inform more people about the benefits of ASCs.

Surgery centers are continually evolving, adding more procedures to the outpatient setting and becoming more efficient. As healthcare costs continue to soar, the ASC industry wants to remind patients they have a choice to receive higher-quality and lower-cost healthcare.

For instance, ASCs save Medicare $2.3 billion annually and are expected to save an additional $57.6 billion by 2022 (via ASCA). They also have a proven history of high standards, as The ASC Quality Collaboration focuses on measuring, reporting and advancing quality in ASCs.

An array of surgical procedures are done in these centers, as well -- over seven million each year in America alone. And while many think these are reserved for plastic surgery, advances in minimally invasive techniques mean that ambulatory surgery centers also handle gastroenterology, ophthalmology, gynecology and otolaryngology, as well as urological, neurological, orthopedic, podiatric and pain block procedures (via Surgery Encyclopedia).

ASCs are convenient, too, for patients and physicians, when it comes to scheduling appointments, assembling teams of medical professionals and finding specialized facilities. These are just a few of the reasons that patients prefer ambulatory surgery centers over others, as reported by a new survey from The Leapfrog Group.

So how can YOU get involved in National ASC Month, helping to spread the news about high-quality, cost-effective care?

A popular activity for centers during this month is hosting tours. These can be open houses that allow the public to get a behind-the-scenes look at how ASCs operate, or these can be advocacy visits with state/federal legislative representatives. Due to the current conditions and public health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, many centers are shifting gears and hosting virtual tours, which showcase facilities safely.

Other ideas that focus on potential patients include free screenings and Q & A sessions. Another way to boost awareness is through marketing, such as posting to social media, pitching reporters and advertising the details of your center. Getting involved with industry functions that shine a light on the benefits of ASCs can also be helpful during this month and beyond.

As the only organization dedicated to the representation of surgery centers in Texas, we are so excited about this month! We work to provide advocacy, education and resources that allow ASCs to stay competitive. Therefore, to further celebrate National ASC Month, you can become a member, support TASCS and/or attend our upcoming events.

Comment below to tell us what you are currently doing to showcase your ASC!

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