Andrew Lovewell is asked: What do ASC leaders have in mind for 2024?

In a recent interview for Becker's ASC REVIEW, writer Claire Wallace asks Columbia Orthopaedic Group's CEO, Andrew Lovewell, "What 46 ASC leaders have in mind for 2024." Here is his response:

1. Recruit and retain top talent:
We are looking to stabilize our workforce on all fronts. Attracting and retaining top talent is essential for us to continue our growth strategy. In an extremely competitive labor environment, getting the right people in the door is important. We have overhauled our benefits package recently and are continually working to provide the best benefits to our staff. We are still facing critical shortages in anesthesia providers and diligently working to assure we are in the best position to recruit the top talent in the market in this field as well as all others. 

2. Payer contracts and steerage:
With the inflationary curve on the rise and another looming cut to the physician fee schedule, it is imperative that we re-examine our payer contracts with all other payers in our market. Many of the Medicare Advantage plans in our market are trying to pay below the Medicare physician fee schedule, and none of them are accounting for the implant costs associated with doing surgery in our ASC. I am also looking for steerage from the payers for ASC strategies in our market. As the low cost/high value provider in the market, we should see significant streerage to our facility but have not experienced that yet. With our clinical outcomes both surgically and non-operatively, we are the best value around. 

3. Growth:
We are continuing our growth strategy of bringing on high quality surgeons and non-operative providers in our market. In addition, we are working on improving patient access and convenience by adding more adjacent services to our organization to improve the patient experience in our facilities. We have added lab services to our already existing offerings, and patients have really appreciated the opportunity to have a comprehensive offering. 

Andrey Ibragimov, BSN, RN. Director at Ingalls ASC (Chicago): In 2024, my primary focus is on nurturing and retaining our exceptional team. We understand that the quality of care we provide is directly linked to the dedication and expertise of our staff. To ensure our center remains a rewarding and supportive workplace, we're enhancing our strategies and policies. Concurrently, we're actively seeking to collaborate with UChicago Medicine academic surgeons, acknowledging the increasingly competitive healthcare landscape in the Southwest suburbs. Our goal is to create an environment where outstanding healthcare and fulfilling career paths flourish together.

The full article can found here.