Innovations in ‘Site of Care’: A Message from Donnie Aga, MD, Chief Medical Officer
In this issue of Care Connections, I’m pleased to share innovations at Kelsey-Seybold that are taking surgeries out of the hospital setting and now safely being performed in our Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) or even in-office at several of our clinic locations. KelseyCare members and employers offering a KelseyCare plan to their employees benefit from surgeries that can be done in a safer environment, that also supports faster recovery, and results in significant cost savings. As much as 50% of costs may be reduced by moving a surgery from the hospital to an ASC setting.
Kelsey-Seybold providers focus on practicing evidence-based medicine and care delivery in the right setting for the patient. When it comes to elective surgical procedures, we have choices. It may be most appropriate to handle the case at one of our affiliate-hospital partners, or at a Kelsey-Seybold ASC, or even in-office where you see your Kelsey-Seybold doctor. This results in cost-effective care with convenient and superior results for KelseyCare members.
Many common elective surgeries, such as joint replacement, gallbladder, and partial or total hysterectomy are now being done in our ASCs. KelseyCare members pay less out of pocket for outpatient surgery when compared to the same procedure done in a higher acuity setting, like a hospital.
Similarly, surgical cases that can be safely done as in-office procedures reduce risks for patients, and the lower-level acuity setting (in office versus an ASC or in hospital) helps employers and patients save money. In fact, many KelseyCare members only pay a specialist copay for an in-office procedure, the same as they would for a visit that did not include surgery.
Kelsey-Seybold’s Ambulatory Surgery Center footprint is growing with more options close to home and work for our KelseyCare members surgical care needs. Kelsey-Seybold has three, fully operational Ambulatory Surgery Centers including: Main Campus ASC, North Houston Campus ASC, Memorial Villages Campus ASC. Our fourth ASC – Springwoods Village Campus ASC – will open in 2024 followed by two more comprehensive surgery centers at Bay Area Campus and Fort Bend Campus.
Chief Medical Officer
