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IFASC News
Mary Azbill
It is with profound sadness that we inform all of our friends and colleagues in the Ambulatory Surgical Center and health care world that Mary Azbill died yesterday morning, February 10, 2010.
The Following is From Terry Whitson
Assistant Commissioner
Indiana State Department of Health
We feel certain that ISDH Commissioner Whitson would affix his blessing to our use of a portion of his mid-afternoon Wednesday message sent to members of the Indiana Hospital Council:
"...with great sadness...I inform you that Mary Azbill died this morning. Mary...at the ISDH for over 25 years. ...the past fifteen years, Mary served as Director of the Division of Acute Care....
Mary Azbill was a national leader in promoting health care quality. Years ago, Mary assisted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the development of the clinical laboratory (CLIA) program. She was frequently consulted as a national expert on non-long term care (acute care) regulations.
Mary is survived by her mother, husband, two children, and six grandchildren."
Supportive Thoughts From the IFASC to The Indiana State Department of Health
The fact that Mary Azbill meant so much to us reveals how deep is the loss to those of you in the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). Mary's service as Director of the ISDH Division of Acute Care was as exemplary as her absence will be grieved.
To Us, All of Us
"The fact that Mary Azbill meant so much to us..."
Yes, to various members of the health care community, ambulatory surgical centers, the IFASC, Mary was a lot, a wonderful lot. For years, on behalf of the ISDH she was an educational feature of the IFASC's Spring Conference and Trade Show. During this last year, 2009, Mary spoke, and fielded loads of questions, at both Spring and Fall events due to the newly implemented CMS Conditions of Coverage.
It was business. Mary Azbill was very effectively doing the ISDH and the State of Indiana's business. But it was personal. We really liked having her there with us. Diana, as liaison you worked so well with Mary. Thor, you discussed development plans at length with her after a Conference presentation two years ago.
You and other Vendors, Linda, exhibiting at the trade show portion of the event looked forward to finding a seat in the Conference arena when Mary Azbill spoke, for there always seemed to be some thing of value to be learned. Christopher and his wife took time away from their vendor exhibit to sit and discuss rules and regs with her during and after one of the luncheon breaks. Jack, you almost assuredly valued your opportunity to hear what Mary said more than just your company's presence at the trade show.
"Only the good die young." We know who sang that. We know that's not true. But believe this: a good person died way too young.
We can close our thoughts with this snapshot in our minds: Mary, relaxed and happy, sitting with her husband on the deck of the boat they own, on the waters off Florida...
— Carol Blanar, IFASC Executive Director
2001 AIA Guidelines specify the following for Operating Rooms:
Class A operating rooms (minor surgical procedure rooms) = minimum of 120 square feet.
Class B operating rooms = minimum clear area of 250 square feet.
Class C operating rooms = minimum clear area of 400 square feet.
There are several other issues to consider regarding the classification of operating rooms. The complete Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities, 2001 edition can be obtained from the AIA by calling 1-800-365-2724.
ASC Legislation Resources
ASC Facility information on State Website
The Indiana State Department of Health just added a consumer reports page to their website. This page includes reports of the last three state licensure survey results and other information on ambulatory surgery centers in Indiana. Click here to go to page
Accreditation Status on Information Sheet Sent to All ASCs
Posted October 20, 2005
IFASC Executive Director Carol Blanar recently contacted Tom Reed, Public Health
Administrator, regarding the information sheet sent
to ASCs for review. This sheet erroneously lists some accredited ASCs as not being accredited.
Mr. Reed responded by saying, "We requested and still need a copy of the Letter or Certificate
from the Accreditation Organization." He also said that a facility can fax a copy of the letter
to the state at 317/233-7157. Once the information is received, it "will appear in
the individual consumer report two weeks after data entry." Mr. Reed concluded his
response by saying that they have received many letters from accreditation
organizations.
Serious Event Reporting Rule demarcating activity taking place in Indiana surgical centers
See documents below:
In January 2006, the Indiana State Dept. of Health will have an ASC Consumer Report Available on their web site (www.statehealth.IN.gov) It will mirror the hospital Consumer Rept currently available. The serious events reported by the ASC will be listed on this report along with deficiencies noted at time of survey.
Tremendous Victory in Final ASC Procedures List Regulation
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will publish this week an interim-final regulation that restores to the ASC procedures list 95 of the 100 services that were proposed for deletion late last year.
Procedure Manual Available for Training Ambulatory Surgery Center Staff for Malignant Hyperthermia Crisis
May 9, 2005
(Sherburne, NY) — The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) has announced the availability of its Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Procedure Manual for the Ambulatory Surgery Center. The manual organizes and prepares the ASC staff with the latest treatment methods for an MH crisis.
MH is a metabolic crisis precipitated by triggering general anesthetics in susceptible individuals. Because MH can result in morbidity and mortality, minutes count in its management.
"By having a plan for coordinated emergency response to the malignant hyperthermia crisis, the time from diagnosis to control of the syndrome is significantly shortened," says Henry Rosenberg, MD, the president of MHAUS. In dealing with MH every minute counts in reducing the chance of patient injury or death."
That plan is exactly what the procedure manual will accomplish for you and your colleagues in the ASC setting, in order to minimize the risk associated with malignant hyperthermia. The manual:
- assigns specific tasks to staff
- provides checklists and worksheets
- emphasizes frequent mock drills
An instructional video, which enacts the response plan, accompanies the manual, all packaged in a durable, 3-ring binder. The MH Procedure Manual is also available in versions for hospital or office surgical settings.
For more information on the MH procedure manuals, contact MHAUS at (607)674-7901, PO Box 1069, Sherburne NY 13460, or www.mhaus.org.
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States has spent more than 20 years saving lives by providing MH educational services. It is dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality from MH and improving scientific understanding. Basic services include the MH Hotline, which provides access 24/7 to anesthesiologists specializing in MH-crisis management, a quarterly newsletter with the most recent info on MH, its Web site, www.mhaus.org, a valuable information resource, a treatment poster and other educational tools.
Contact:
Jo Nichols (607) 674-7901
Al Rothstein (866) 636-3342
CMS Publishes ASC Procedure List Proposed Rule
Learn More
New MedPAC Reports Analyzes High Volume Medicare Procedures
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued two reports, both assembled by RAND, which are of great potential interest to the ambulatory surgery center community. The studies compare patient characteristics for several procedures across various ambulatory settings, cataract surgery, colonoscopy, and MRI of head, neck and brain in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Click here for ASC Association review.
Letter to ASC Members from PAC Chairman Galinton C. Bryan
Legislative Talking Points
Memorandum - Contribution Recommendations
Letter
to Providers - Advance Directive Update
(File is
in .PDF format. Click
here to update or download Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Advance
Directives: Your Right to Decide
In May of 2004, the Indiana
State Department of Health sent all Indiana ASCs a copy of "Advance
Directives: Your Right to Decide". In response to this, Carol
Blanar, President of IFASC, contacted Randy Snyder from the IN State
Department of Health and inquired about whether ASCs should hand
a copy of the document to all patients. To see his response, click
here.
AAASC
Educates Congress on Medicare Procedure List
In a June 16, 2004 letter
to all members of Congress, ASC Association President David Shapiro, MD identified
the favorable MedPAC recommendation to eliminate the restrictive
Medicare Procedure list and thus save Medicare and beneficiaries
millions of dollars annually and provide broader choice to beneficiaries.
Learn
More
State
ASC Associations Report on Priority Issues.
In May, 2004 ASC Association surveyed
state ASC associations to identify the most pressing legislative
and regulatory issues impacting the growth of ASC. Here are the
top issues:
- Workers Comp payment reductions
- Restrictions on physician ownership
- Public reporting of ASC financial information
- CON changes that restrict ASC growth
For more information
about a specific state, review the information on state association
websites or contact the leadership of the state association available
at the ASC Association website: http://www.ascassociation.org/state/
ASC Association has placed emphasis
on the development and support of strong state ASC associations
for many years. The state association is the first line of defense
for state level issues. Fortunately many state associations are
well positioned organizationally and are doing a great job representing
the ASC industry as state legislative and regulatory issues arise.
ASC Association
Grassroots Advocacy Guide
This guide
is intended to provide the ASC community with basic information
about how to influence the government policies that affect our businesses
and our patients.
AHA
Issues New Policy Paper Opposing “Niche Providers”
The American
Hospital Association (AHA) issued a new policy paper during their
meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. that “niche providers”
are “undercutting the ability of community hospitals to continue
to meet the needs of the broader community”. AHA includes
ambulatory surgery centers as a niche provider.
Learn
More
ASC Association
Meets with MEDPAC and GAO
ASC Association
President David Shapiro traveled to Washington , DC on April 8
for two important meetings with government study groups evaluating
the Medicare ASC program. Dr. Shapiro was joined by ASC Association Executive
Director, Craig Jeffries, and Washington Counsel, Michael Romansky
and Eric Zimmerman.
CMS
Issues Memo on Overnight Stays
In
a March 11 memorandum to state survey agency directors, CMS
appears to be changing longstanding policy regarding overnight
stays in ambulatory surgery centers. ASC Association Washington Counsel
has been in communication with CMS. CMS understands the questions
we have raised about the statements in their memo that appear
to restrict Medicare certified centers to performing only Medicare
approved procedures. CMS is actively considering the need to
correct the unintended change and we will notify members of
their resolution.
ASC Association
Submits Comments to MedPAC on Value of Physician Ownership in ASCs
The Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services announced details of its plan to implement
a moratorium on physician investment in and referrals to certain
specialty hospitals. Learn
More
Report
of State Licensure Fees
Medicare
Payment Rates for ASC Services to be Dropped to pre-Oct.1, 03 Levels
Effective
April 1, 2004, payment rates for the nine procedure groups will
be as follows: Group 1 - $333,Group 2 - $446,Group 3 - $510, Group
4 - $630, Group 5 - $717, Group 6 - $676 plus $150 for IOL, Group
7 - $995, Group 8 - $823 plus $150 for IOL, Group 9 -$1,339 Please
note that the rates listed above are national rates, and that actual
payment rates will vary depending on your geographic location.
Learn
More
January
2004 MedPAC Meeting Supports ASC Recommendations:
The Medicare
Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) approved three recommendations
concerning Medicare payment to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)
including two that were supported by ASC Association.
Learn
More
ASC Association
Encourages MedPAC to Support Elimination of ASC Procedure List
Learn
More
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