Colo. ASC Association Outlines Research Publication for S. Denver Metro Chamber

DENVER — The Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (CASCA) recently presented the results of a survey of Colorado ambulatory surgery center (ASC) activities to the South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Policy Taskforce. CASCA’s first in the nation state Quality Research Initiative (QRI) surveyed a myriad of ASC activities including procedures performed, nurse to patient ratios, infection rates and patient satisfaction. The goal of the QRI is to create a yearly tracking of ASC performance that will give consumers an accurate picture of how Colorado ASCs operate and the level of care they should expect from these ASCs.     

“The information provided in this report represents a critical first step toward open and honest healthcare delivery in Colorado,” said presenter Rosalie Bodenhamer, Greenwood Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator and CASCA president.  “Patients deserve to know what kind of service they should expect from a healthcare facility and this report will help Coloradans to make a fully informed decision when considering surgery.”  

In Dec. 2006, the CASCA Quality Research Initiative questionnaire was mailed out to all 106 Colorado ASCs identified by the State of Colorado. The survey consisted of 29 questions on ASC financial, quality of care and clinical data and ASCs were asked to complete as much of the survey as possible. A little more than half of Colorado’s ASCs provided responses to the survey and the data received was recorded and analyzed by an outside research firm. 

The South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Policy Task Force was formed by concerned business leaders with the intention of studying the current U.S. healthcare system to identify potential improvements and money saving ideas.  The group hopes to identify:

• Affordable insurance for small medium and large organizations.
• Enhanced personal accountability for health and lifestyle choices.
• A better defined value proposition. (How do we define value in healthcare?)
• A rational way to deliver healthcare.

“Our group is working to find safe and affordable alternatives to healthcare delivery in the United States and this study will help immensely in achieving that goal,” continued Paul Archer president of Automated Business Products and co-chair of the Chamber’s Healthcare Policy Task Force. “The data collected through CASCA’s survey shows a tremendous commitment Colorado ASCs have to providing top notch healthcare.”

CASCA’s Quality Research Initiative was sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Compass Bank, Health Inventures, Pinnacle III, QSE Technologies, Surgical Notes and Titan Health Corp. 

For more information on the survey, click HERE.