ASC Adviser

Benchmarking Improves Efficiencies and Increases Profits

By Beth Hurley, R.N., C.R.N.O., C.O.E.

Benchmarking has come a long way in a short period of time. It has proved to be an effective management tool that enables a business to identify opportunities for improvement by evaluating key indicators. Knowledge of an opportunity allows an ASC to improve efficiencies and profit margin. There is a narrow margin between an average-performing ASC and a top-performing ASC. Benchmarking is a proactive way of monitoring clinical and financial statistics and is vital to effective ASC management.

Internal Benchmarking

Internal benchmarking, which compares various clinical and financial performance measures within the ASC, is done by comparing identified measurements in your own facility over time to identify trends, measure progress and uncover problems early. An example of an internal financial benchmark is the number of days it takes for your business office to send out a bill. Efficient and effective management of this process is key to maintaining a steady cash flow. This monthly tracking allows detection of problems before they become disasters.

The benchmarking process should be a component of your comprehensive quality management program and an ongoing learning experience for the entire staff. The focus should not be entirely on the numbers; rather, the focus should be evaluating your current processes and practices to determine process changes that will deliver improved results.

External Benchmarking

Benchmarking is not only important to individual ASCs; it is important to our industry as a whole. Reliable statistics can be used to support our positions for payer reform and increased reimbursement; they can be used to demonstrate that we are, indeed, cost-effective providers that provide high-quality patient care.

There is considerable variability in the size and scope of ASCs around the country; finding meaningful benchmarking data can be challenging, but it is important to compare apples to apples. There are several organizations that currently offer benchmarking opportunities and data: Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Institute for Quality Improvement; FASA Outcomes Monitoring Project; FASA Financial Benchmarking Survey; and Medical Group Management Association Surgery Center Survey. In an attempt to provide data specific to ophthalmic outpatient surgery centers, Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) is in the process of developing a comprehensive benchmarking tool. This tool will be made available to OOSS members via online survey that focuses on the most essential business and clinical measures against which your ASC performance can be best measured. Current beta testing of the tool is underway with high-performing OOSS member facilities. Preliminary results will be made available in August or September. OOSS is planning to launch the complete benchmarking program, including the survey and individual ASC assessment tools, as part of a new OOSS Measures for Success initiative. If you are interested in participating in the initial beta test or would like to know more about the initiative, contact Claudia A. McDougal, Executive Director at (866) 892-1001, or visit their website at www.ooss.org.

Benchmarking provides opportunities for process improvement in your own ASC that will maximize profits while continuing to validate excellence in quality patient care. OM

The Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) is a professional medical organization that provides advocacy, education and practice management support to the nation's ophthalmic ASCs. For more information about OOSS, contact Claudia A. McDougal, executive director, at 866-892-1001 or visit www.ooss.org.