By Nick Vailas, CEO and Founder
of Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center
Thirty-one years ago, six surgeons, mostly orthopedic specialists, and I opened New Hampshire’s first licensed independent ambulatory surgical center, the Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center (BASC).
As an independent center, there was no hospital partner, just us doctors. In 1993, there were less than 700 ambulatory surgical centers in America. The ones that did exist then were mostly eye centers for corrective eye care and gastroenterology centers for colonoscopies. There were a few ASCs for orthopedics and most of them were located in western states. This occurrence is a result of less regulation out west.
What changed the orthopedic world was the development of arthroscopic joint surgery. Arthroscopes allow orthopedic surgeons to repair damaged soft tissue (cartilage, ligaments and tendons) in the various body joints like knees, hips, ankles, elbows and wrists without having to open the patient’s joints. This completely new technique and procedure reduced surgical time, reduced healing time, reduced infections, reduced pain, and increased patient and surgeon satisfaction. Arthroscopic surgery also greatly reduces the cost of surgery. This advancement in technology meant doctors could safely perform surgery outside the walls of a hospital.
One major factor in starting an ASC was that my founding partners felt compelled to have more control over their surgical time in the operating room and between cases. One of my pitches to attract surgeons to BASC was that I could save them a half day by having them work in the ambulatory surgical center. This is accomplished by preparing the operating room between cases more efficiently than what they were experiencing at the hospital. A half day of savings is valuable to anyone, especially a busy surgeon.
Another compelling reason to start our own ASC was the need for our surgeons to have greater oversight in the care of their patients. The size and bureaucracy of a hospital make it more difficult for surgeons to have a voice in the care of their patients. In an ASC there are no layers of administration and physician ownership empowers the physicians to make changes whenever necessary.
Presently at the Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center, our surgeons have performed hundreds of total hip and knee replacements assisted with robotics and without robotics. Our outcomes have rated the BASC one of the top surgical centers in America three years in a row by Newsweek magazine. Our promise to our patients is that it will be a great day for them and their surgeon. What patients often do not realize is how much money using an ASC saves them, their insurance company and their employer. On average, BASC annually saves the health care system and employers tens of thousands of dollars per total joint replacement amounting to millions of dollars annually.
Independent ambulatory surgical centers and their surgeons bring the greatest value to patients and their employers because of the great outcomes and extreme cost savings that occur daily.
11 Washington Place
Bedford NH 03110
(603) 622-3670
bascnh.com
Over the past 31 years, BASC has been serving the good people of New Hampshire with distinction. To date, we have performed 231,339 surgical cases. There is a good chance you or someone you know who has received our care.
As policymakers debate solutions to make health care more accessible, one thing is for sure, independent surgical facilities reduce costs and aid in keeping independent private practicing doctors, independent. You as a patient have choices —seek independent doctors.
