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National ASC Open House Day Opens New Doors for Healthcare Consumers

On Aug. 15, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country held dozens of events to help consumers make informed decisions about their healthcare. The activities were part of the annual National ASC Open House Day, a public awareness effort organized by ASC association FASA.

ASCs in Connecticut and Tennessee educated local public policymakers about the role ASCs play in meeting the surgical needs of the community. Officials walked in the shoes of a patient and toured ASCs to learn about the innovative, safe and cost effective care provided at the centers. The Connecticut Eye Center, one of the 36 ASCs in Connecticut, welcomed James A. Amann, Speaker of the House; State Representative Brian O’Connor, Chair of the Insurance Committee; and State Representative Peggy Sayers, chair of the Public Health Committee. The Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center, a multi-specialty center primarily focused on orthopedic surgery located in Nashville, hosted State Representative Gary Odom.

A year after Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Touro Surgical Center, the only operational ASC in the city since the hurricane, held an open house to not only provide free health screenings but to also give New Orleans residents tangible tools and strategies for better managing their healthcare should another disaster strike. Pharmacy technicians from nearby Dillard University were on site to help patients transcribe medications and create records that will help them take charge of their healthcare.

In Michigan, the Northwest Michigan Surgery Center invited community members for screenings and information sessions. The center also invited primary-care physicians to attend to become better acquainted with the facility’s services, procedures and providers.

The Yakima Ambulatory Surgical Center of Washington opened its doors to the community to take part in free screenings, tour surgical suites, and learn about the newest technology being used at the center. The multi-specialty center, which largely serves the elderly through Medicare and Medicaid, illustrated the cost-saving yet innovative and transparent care they provide.

The Concord Gateway ASC, in Concord, N.C., invited town members and community leaders to tour the center, and because of its focus on pediatric and GI procedures, the facility also brought in daycare center personnel for tours. Also on hand were members of the local chamber of commerce, who spoke with ASC staff about the difference between hospitals and ASCs, and how ASCs serve the needs of the community.

In its first year of holding an open house event, the RMG/IVF Surgery Center in Tampa, Fla., invited public officials to take part in their event, including state officials, the mayor and council members, fire fighters, and police officers.

The Surgery Center of Flint, Mich., also celebrating its first open house event, focused on inviting the community to learn about the services provided at the ASC. The event provided the community with free health services, including carpal tunnel and glaucoma screenings, foot and ankle check-ups, and back and neck pain education seminars. Every hour on the hour, the ASC gave away an MP3 player to a lucky attendee. The center also had its local radio station on site, broadcasting live from the event.

The Surgery Center at Cranberry, in Township, Pa., which has been celebrating the ASC Open House Day for the past four years, added some new creative ideas to their event this year, including inviting a live band to play during the event; their event was broadcast live on their local radio station. In addition to receiving free educational materials and taking part in free screenings, participants enjoyed refreshments and winning raffle items.

In its third year of celebrating Open House Day, the Surgical Center of South Texas, in Edinburg, focused on opening its doors to the community. The ASC went above and beyond marketing the event through an infomercial that aired on a local cable channel and a National ASC Open House Day banner that hung outside of the facility. The ASC’s event included free screenings, including eye exams, urology testing, and blood sugar and blood pressure testing.

The Bellingham Surgery Center in Washington celebrated National ASC Open House Day early this year on July 28, to coincide with its 20th anniversary. At the event, the ASC was recognized by the city with a letter of commendation for its years of meeting the community’s surgical needs. The facility, which invited public officials including the governor, the mayor, legislators, and payors, also received congratulatory letters from federal and state representatives. To attract the community to its event, the center contracted with a local radio station to do a live broadcast from the facility, and run commercials for their event on air and on the radio’s Web site prior to the event. During the event, participants received a tour of the center, including observing a cataract surgery. The center also had educational videos running that featured the innovative technologies that are used at the center.

The Vincennes Surgery Center in Indiana also celebrated Open House Day along with an anniversary, the center’s third year in business. Prior to the event, the ASC ran a commercial and reached out to the media with a customized media advisory. The open house featured free glucose, height and weight, and blood pressure testing, along with educational booths featuring free information on topics such as smoking cessation. Attendees received perks including free hand massages from a licensed masseuse and door prizes.

“During National Open House Day, hundreds of community members got to know their local ASCs better and should the day come when an outpatient surgical procedure is needed, they will know that ASCs are there for them to meet their needs,” remarks FASA president Kathy Bryant.