Anesthesia Practice Management – Improving Efficiency and Productivity

The most successful anesthesia departments never stop improving, always working to better their:

1.   operating room efficiency

2.   patient service revenue

3.   physician and patient satisfaction

To assist those that are struggling in these areas, many hospitals are now soliciting the services of outside consulting firms or Management Service Organizations (MSO’s) to design a more cost-effective, customer-focused model that optimizes clinical quality and customer service.

A bolder option consists of completely turning over complete administrative control of the anesthesia operation to a partner. As a turnkey operations company, Concordia Anesthesia develops a model based on operational requirements. Rapid staffing and support ensure.

  Providers’ time is leveraged to where their skills are best suited, and all procedures focus on patient safety, efficiency, cost, and viability. A comprehensive Perioperative Management model drives cost-saving initiatives.

 www.ccianesthesia.com/hospitals/anesthesia-consulting

 www.concordiaanesthesiology.com

 Regardless of whether anesthesia services are provided in-house or through an outside team (Concordia) of highly trained anesthesiologists and CRNAs, improvements in anesthesia practice management should include a focus on the following areas:

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Profitability Through Efficiency

Surgical programs everywhere depend on the strength of their anesthesia partner. A well-functioning anesthesia service will keep the operating room (OR) running on schedule. Anesthesia departments must be empowered to make the necessary decisions that will improve throughput while reducing costs. Compensation for anesthesia departments must be based less on hospital subsidies and more on performance improvements in these areas.

The Compensation Structure of CRNAs

 Changes in how anesthesia departments are compensated should not only include a more direct alignment with improved efficiencies but also involve an examination of how CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are paid. As hospitals, clinics, and practices look for ways to improve revenue, the pay structure of these highly trained professionals can change:

 ·      from hourly to salaried rates

·      to offer bonuses for meeting key performance.

Where Anesthesia Providers Can Work

 Hospital administrators should allow their anesthesia clinicians the flexibility to also work at other facilities such as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Allowing anesthetists and CRNAs to staff these additional facilities increases the revenue-per-partner, reduces turnover, and improves recruitment of new providers.

 In summary, the best anesthesia-managed departments will have incorporated data-driven efficiencies and cost-effective solutions into their daily operation. That must be done without losing focus on the most important objective - the elevation of both physician and patient satisfaction.

 The most successful anesthesia departments never stop getting better. Partnering with an anesthesia practice management improves efficiency, productivity - and the bottom line!