Schedule

Click on each session title to view the session description.

Wednesday, May 3	*Additional registration is required.
6:45am–7:15am 7:15am–4:40pm	CASC Review Course Registration and Breakfast Pre-Meeting: CASC Review Course* Faculty: John Goehle, MBA, CPA, CASC Consultant, Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies Mary Ryan, BSN, MBA, CASC Administrator, Tri-State Surgery Center Debra Stinchcomb, RN, BSN, MBA, CASC Consultant, Progressive Surgical Solutions Location: Potomac D Description: If you are planning to take the CASC (Certified Administrator Surgery Center) exam or want a review of the key areas of ASC administration that will help you keep your skills current, this course is for you. Designed for those with ASC experience and knowledge, this course will provide an in-depth review of the key topics in the five content areas of the CASC exam: regulatory and legal issues, finance, delivery of patient care, quality management and human resources. Each content area will be covered by expert faculty with extensive experience in ASC management. Actual test questions will not be provided. Wednesday, May 3, 2017: 9:00am–9:10am Review AM Break 11:40pm–12:30pm CASC Review Lunch 2:45pm–2:55pm CASC Review PM Break
7:30am–10:30am	Pre-Meeting: State Leaders Conference* Location: Potomac B Description: The ASCA State Leaders Conference will be held May 3, 2017, from 7:30am to 10:30am, at ASCA 2017 in Washington, D.C. Participants will engage with their peers in other states to share best practices on association governance and budgeting. Participants will also hear from speakers on the emerging state healthcare trends and how the ASC industry may be impacted. Breakfast will be provided with programming beginning at 8:00am. Register Now! Wednesday, May 3, 2017: 7:30am–8:00am Breakfast with State Affairs Committee Chair, Randy Leffler 8:00pm–9:30am Budget and Governance Presentation 9:30am–10:30am State Emerging Healthcare Trends Speaker 11:00am–12:00pm National Advocacy Day Briefing
8:00am–12:00pm	Pre-Meeting: Preparing for AAAHC Accreditation* Faculty: Ray Grundman, MSN, MPA, FNP-BC, CASC Vice President & General Manager, AAAHC Cheryl Pistone, RN, MA, MBA AAAHC Location: National Harbor 2 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Get the information you need to pass an initial accreditation or re-accreditation survey conducted by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Join these accreditation experts to learn more about the accreditation survey process, the core standards that apply to all ASCs, the adjunct standards that might apply to your ASC and the many benefits of accreditation. Identify the steps you need to take to prepare for and remain prepared for an accreditation or re-accreditation survey.
	Pre-Meeting: Preparing for Joint Commission Accreditation* Faculty: Linda Jordan The Joint Commission Location: National Harbor 3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Review the process for successfully completing a Joint Commission accreditation survey, including preparing for the survey, participating in on-site survey activities and following up after the on-site survey visit. Examine the challenges that can occur and suggestions for helping the process proceed smoothly. A question and answer segment will focus on participants’ concerns about issues or questions that can arise during the Joint Commission accreditation process.
11:00am–12:00pm 12:00am–4:00pm	Pre-Meeting: National Advocacy Day Briefing National Advocacy Day Faculty: Heather Ashby Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Kristin Murphy Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Location: Potomac B Continuing Education: 1 hours of AEU/CE Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: If you signed up for Wednesday’s Capitol Hill visits, you must attend this session to get the information you need to participate and talk with your members of Congress about the issues that impact your ASC’s operations and bottom line. Learn about the legislative initiatives pending in Congress, how to engage your lawmakers effectively and what to expect during your visit. Get an overview of ASCA's legislative agenda for 2017 and beyond, and consider the ways you can participate in ASC advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, your state and your hometown year round. The National Advocacy Day events at ASCA 2017 are taking the place of ASCA’s Fly-In program this year and are your only opportunities this year to visit Capitol Hill accompanied by a large group of your colleagues and ASCA staff.
1:00pm–5:00pm	Pre-Meeting: CMS' Physical Environment and the “New” Life Safety Code* Faculty: William Lindeman, AIA WEL Designs PLC Location: National Harbor 2 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to adopt the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2012 Life Safety Code means new operational requirements for all ASCs, retroactive modifications in existing facilities, and at times, dramatically expanded standards for new ones. As if that were not enough, physical environment compliance is further complicated by CMS-specific mandates. Attend this workshop for a comprehensive overview of the applicable CMS & NFPA facility requirements for all ASCs and a review of easily misunderstood and overlooked aspects of operational compliance and documentation that could lead to Life Safety Code survey citations. Get the guidance you need to design and implement long-term, low-stress solutions that can help your ASC remain in continuous compliance with CMS’ physical environment mandates.
	Pre-Meeting: Hot Topics in Human Resources* Faculty: Marcus Crider Waller Location: National Harbor 3 Content Area: Human Resources Description: In this interactive workshop, Marcus Crider, a partner with the Waller law firm, will cover a variety of Employment Law and HR issues common to ASCs. Attendees will engage with Mr. Crider and fellow attendees in lively discussions about critical issues, such as: conducting effective workplace investigations and dealing with co-worker or supervisor harassment; dealing with the problem employee; getting buy-in from your supervisors; untangling the ADA/FMLA/Workers Comp web; and avoiding common wage and hour pitfalls.
3:30pm–5:00pm	ASCA Affiliate Focus Groups & Speed Meetings* Faculty: Various ASCA Affiliate Sponsors & Exhibitors Location: Prince George’s Exhibit Hall E Content Area: Affiliate Lead Discussions Description: Engage & Learn with ASCA’s Leading Affiliate Sponsors & Exhibitors. As an ASCA 2017 attendee, you are invited to participate in one of two exciting new engagement events while in Washington, D.C. for ASCA 2017. First, choose to attend one of two different Affiliate focus groups. This is your opportunity to help ASCA Affiliates shape their product/service offerings. Or second, select to meet one-on-one with up to five of our most popular ASCA Affiliate Sponsors & Exhibitors in a private setting during ASCA’s first Speed Meetings! Register Now!
4:00pm–5:00pm	What Next Generation Leaders Want and Need Faculty: Lisa Austin, CASC Pinnacle III Cindy Young, BSN, RN, CASC Surgery Center of Farmington Location: National Harbor 12/13 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Talk about how to self-identify as a leader, how to identify future leaders, leadership roles inside and outside your ASC, community connections and what it takes to become a respected ASC leader locally, nationally and internationally. Learn more about the tools and resources that can help. Whether you are new to the ASC setting or a member of an existing leadership team, a disrupter or an advocate for the status quo, join this session to learn more about what Next Gen leaders are bringing to ASCs.
5:30pm–6:30pm	General Session Faculty: William Prentice Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Rebecca Craig Harmony Surgery Center(ASCA) Nader Samii National Medical Billing Services(ASCA) Beau Bristow Healthcare Bluebook(ASCA) Location: Potomac Ballroom A/B Description: Coming Soon
6:30pm - 8:00pm	Welcome Reception Location: Prince George's Hall C/D/E Description: Kick off the conference by attending this year’s Welcome Reception inside the ASC industry’s largest Exhibit Hall of the year. Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, reconnect with old friends and get to know other ASC professionals. Familiarize yourself with the Exhibit Hall and start your Exhibit Hall Passport to enter ASCA’s grand prize give-a-way. With food and drink that showcases the best of DC, this reception will be the start of ASCA 2017. Be sure to attend!

Click on each session title to view the session description.

Thursday, May 4
7:00am–8:00am	Exhibit Hall Breakfast Description: Start your day off in the exhibit hall with over 150 exhibiting companies with breakfast in the exhibit hall. Breakfast is scheduled to include a variety of juices, fruits, bagels, breakfast bakeries and coffee.
8:00am–9:00am 9:00am–12:00pm	National Advocacy Day Briefing National Advocacy Day Faculty: Heather Ashby Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Kristin Murphy Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Location: Coming Soon Continuing Education: 1 hours of AEU/CE Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: If you signed up for Thursday morning’s Capitol Hill visits, you must attend this session to get the information you need to participate and talk with your members of Congress about the issues that impact your ASC’s operations and bottom line. Learn about the legislative initiatives pending in Congress, how to engage your lawmakers effectively and what to expect during your visit. Get an overview of ASCA's legislative agenda for 2017 and beyond, and consider the ways you can participate in ASC advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, your state and your hometown year round. The National Advocacy Day events at ASCA 2017 are taking the place of ASCA’s Fly-In program this year and are your only opportunities this year to visit Capitol Hill accompanied by a large group of your colleagues and ASCA staff.
8:00am–9:00am	Adapting to Medicare’s New ASC Payment Methodologies Faculty: Naya Kehayes, MPH ECG Management Consultants Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: Identify the best opportunities to grow your ASC and avoid newly created pitfalls with this in-depth review of the changes that Medicare has introduced in its ASC payment methodology and logic. Study the impact of these changes on various specialties to assess the opportunities and risks that could transpire with your commercial payers as well.
	Advancing Value-Based, Patient-Centered Care Using Prospective Clinical Registries Faculty: Tony Asher, MD Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Quality Management Clinical registries are an increasingly essential part of our evolving value-based health care system. Get examples of ways to use registry data and a detailed description of developing data collection, analysis and reporting methodologies.
	Avoiding Nurse Burnout Faculty: Jan Allison, RN, CHSP AMSURG Location: Potomac 1-3 Content Area: Human Resources Description: One special type of job stress is referred to as burnout — this is a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion coupled with uncertainties about your competence and the value of your work. When left unchecked, burnout can wreak havoc on one’s health, happiness, relationships and result in a decline of job performance, ultimately impacting patient safety. It’s important to know what to look out for. This presentation will help the learner understand why burnout occurs in nurses, the various factors that contribute to it, the early symptoms of nurse burnout and its consequences, the best way to handle burnout when it occurs but ultimately, how nurse burnout can be avoided before it has a chance to begin.
	Improve Communications to Enhance Your Patient Care Faculty: Ann Shimek, MSN, BSN, RN, CASC USPI Location: Potomac C Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Avoid the number one cause of medical mistakes by using these proven techniques for improving communication among the health professionals who work in your ASC. Find out how to apply these same strategies with your patients and their family members to improve the quality of care you provide, increase patient satisfaction and enhance team work at your ASC. Best practices and easy-to-implement ideas that support meaningful improvements and sustained success will be provided.
	Roles of the Infection Preventionist Faculty: Donna Nucci, RN, MS, CIC Consultant and Yale New Haven Hosptial Location: Potomac D Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Donna will provide insight into the role of the infection preventionist in your facility. Infection Preventionist have a complex role in healthcare settings. The role has expanded over the last 30 years as more complex procedures and treatments are performed in the ambulatory setting. IP’s are expected to have a wide range of knowledge and skill. Their expertise most embody the prevention of infection through a comprehensive risk assessment, practical guidance for staff in all areas from reprocessing to medication management. National organizations expect the CIC certified IP to be a subject expert and guiding force in staff knowledge, engagement, education, project execution and the evaluation of process outcomes.
	Social Media from an HR Perspective Faculty: Marcus Crider Waller Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Your ASC’s employees and physicians are among the 1.15 billion active Facebook users, 500 million Twitter users and 238 million LinkedIn users in the world today. Like it or not, social media is revolutionizing the way we live and fundamentally altering the way we communicate and do business. Get practical advice for managing the complex employment issues that social networking raises in your ASC, including how to minimize potential liability from improper use and avoiding National Labor Relations Board scrutiny.
9:10am–10:10am	CMS Quality Reporting for ASCs Faculty: Donna Slosburg, BSN, LHRM, CASC ASC Quality Collaboration Gina Throneberry, RN, MBA, CASC, CNOR Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Location: Potomac C Content Area: Quality Management Description: CMS requirements and quality reporting can be challenging for perioperative leaders in the ambulatory surgery center setting. Participants will learn what quality reporting is required and the definitions and frequently asked questions for the indicators. Also, participants will receive current information on the quality program.
	Elevate Your Game What to Know About Managed Care Contracts Faculty: Lisa Rock National Medical Billing Services Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Financial Description: The healthcare environment has changed dramatically for ASCs, thus making it critical for you to focus on the fine print in your managed care contracts. Join this session to better understand how you can change your game to avoid the pitfalls that will affect your ability to effectively code, bill and collect in 2017.
	Fraud and Abuse Enforcement Faculty: Scott Grubman Chilivis Cochran Larkins & Bever LLP Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Over the past several years, federal law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice and the HHS Office of Inspector General have stepped up enforcement of suspected fraud and abuse in the healthcare field, and few types of entities have felt the effects of this enforcement more than ASCs. Former federal prosecutor and healthcare fraud defense attorney Scott Grubman will discuss trends in such enforcement and tips for staying off of the government's radar. This presentation will include a discussion of the main statutes at play -- the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute -- as well as what to do if you become the subject of a government investigation.
	Infection Prevention Risk Assessment Faculty: Donna Nucci, RN MS CIC Consultant and Yale New Haven Hospital Location: Potomac D Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: No crystal ball needed: Follow these steps to formulating an infection prevention risk assessment that will have your surveyor asking for a copy. Make certain that you are stratifying your infection risks properly and using the right tools to minimize the transmission of infections in your ASC.
	Making Your Policy and Procedure Manual Work for Your Facility Faculty: Jo Vinson, BA RN CASC Surgical Care Affiliates Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: A finding that can occur in today’s ASCs are policies that are unapproved and/or outdated, policies that are not consistent with current standards of care, and generic policy manuals, purchased from proprietary organizations, that have not been authenticated to the specific ASC’s operations by its governing body. This session will discuss the elements of how to create, then implement appropriate P&Ps, to ensure consistency with requirements, especially for quality and safety in the ASC.
	Protect Your ASC by Evaluating Its Insurance Coverages Faculty: Sarah Logue, MSM in RMI, RPLU, CPCU, AU, ASLI OneBeacon Healthcare Group Linda McSmith, RN, LHRM, CPHRM OneBeacon Healthcare Group Location: Potomac 1-3 Content Area: Financial Description: This presentation will outline key objectives and strategies for the leaders of ambulatory surgery centers in order to evaluate current insurance coverages and future considerations as they enter into their next insurance renewal season. Each insurance policy/coverage involves an opportunity to protect your facility’s assets. This presentation will help demonstrate strategies for leaders to implement that may affect the way they look at and treat risks in their organization.
10:10am–11:10am	Exhibit Hall Morning Break Location: Prince George's Hall C/D/E Description: Enjoy a coffee or tea as you visit with our vendors in the exhibit hall.
11:15am–12:15pm	ASC Business Office Assessment Findings: Recurring Issues to Avoid Faculty: Cristina Bentin, COC, CCS-P, CMA Coding Compliance Management, LLC Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: On-site business office audits reveal recurring ASC business office concerns ranging from simple, rudimentary mistakes to more egregious infractions like willful fraudulent billing or noncompliance with CMS’ interpretive guidelines. Examine these audit findings and the tools and procedures you need to have in place to ensure proper billing practices while making certain that you are being paid properly for all of the services you provide.
	CMS Surveys Faculty: Erin McCoy, MS, RN, ONC Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Location: Potomac C Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Hear firsthand from this Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) official about CMS’ ASC survey process, including the role of state agencies and the accreditation organizations. Discuss the current infection control worksheet and the most common deficiency citations. Find out how to be prepared for a survey even when you are not expecting a surveyor in your facility that day.
	Cyber Threats in Health Care: HIPAA and Beyond Faculty: F. Paul Greene, JD, PhD Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Cyber criminals around the world are targeting health care providers at an alarming rate, and the risk of a data breach in your ASC doesn’t end with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Dealing with a patchwork of 47 different state statutory systems concerning breach response, as well as other federal overlays, such as the Federal Trade Commission, is a daunting task. The Catch-22 for HIPAA-covered entities is that they can be fully compliant with their HIPAA obligations and still run afoul of the other rules that apply. This session will complete the picture of cyber risk for a HIPAA-covered entity and help you avoid some of the more treacherous pitfalls inherent in responding to a breach.
	Reduce Supply Costs in Your Independent ASC Faculty: Daren Smith, BSN Amkai Solutions Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: Especially in smaller ASCs, staff with clinical backgrounds are often asked to manage supply orders and inventory. Without materials management experience, knowing where to start and how to continually monitor processes can be difficult. Learn how to develop and maintain a quality materials management program that can save your ASC time and money, even if you work in a small ASC.
	The Administrator’s Role in Endoscope Reprocessing Faculty: Laura Schneider, RN, CGRN, CASC AMSURG Location: Potomac D Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Endoscope reprocessing has been on the ECRI Institute’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list since 2009. Patients are hearing frightening stories in the news about deadly bacteria transmitted by endoscopes. Surveyors are spending more time in your scope room asking questions and reviewing scope cleaning logs. As an ASC leader, you cannot rely simply on endoscope technicians to perform their job properly, you must audit and verify performance on a regular basis. Review the risks associated with endoscope reprocessing and reprocessing failures. Focus on the steps you need to take to develop and implement an orientation and training program for endoscope reprocessing, and find out how to monitor your reprocessing program to sustain compliance and demonstrate that your facility is meeting the required standards.
12:15pm–2:15pm	Exhibit Hall Lunch Location: Prince George's Hall C/D/E Description: Meet with new and old friends in the exhibit hall for a buffet lunch. Don't forget to visit the sponsors located throughout the exhibit hall!
2:20pm–3:20pm	Bundled Payments Are in Your Future Faculty: Marian Lowe, MBA USPI Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: Bundled payments are moving into the mainstream. Is your surgery center ready? Learn what commercial and government payers are pursuing, understand which types of bundles are getting traction in the market and expand your knowledge about how to successfully manage bundled payments in your ASC.
	Credentialing Faculty: Linda Jordan The Joint Commission Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Will include in-depth dialogue on current trends and compliance tips for enhancing success with Credentialing and Privileging
	How to Write a Plan of Correction for CMS Faculty: Jan Allison, RN, CHSP AMSURG Location: Potomac C Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Following a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Survey, the written Plan of Correction (POC) is your ASC’s response to any deficiency findings your survey reveals. It must successfully address how you plan to correct a deficient practice and how you plan to ensure those corrections are sustained. Without it, CMS and state agencies cannot verify compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements. Beyond that, the completed POC is an official, legal record available to any member of the public upon request and can be used as supporting documentation in a lawsuit. Discuss the elements required for an acceptable POC and how the POC is evaluated by state agencies to determine acceptability.
	Linking Peer Review and Benchmarking to Improve Quality Faculty: Ray Grundman, MSN, MPA, FNP-BC, CASC Vice President & General Manager, AAAHC Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Quality Management Description: Are you still trying to figure out how peer review is utilized in the quality improvement process after all these years? Get the organizational tips and resources you need to analyze the results of peer review using both internal and external benchmarking. You will also learn how to identify potential Quality Improvement studies based on peer review data as well as how to apply peer review into the process for granting the contiunation of clinical privileges.
	Sterilization Quality Control for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Faculty: Craig Wallace 3M Location: Potomac D Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Keep your patients safe with proper quality control over the sterilization processes in your ASC. Join this sterilization expert to review the key elements of quality monitoring of the different types of sterilization processes ASCs use most often summarized from the pages of the most up-to-date standards and recommended practices.
	Strategic Planning for ASCs Faculty: Brian Mathis SCA Location: Potomac 1-3 Content Area: Financial Description: A good strategic plan can save your ASC money, increase employee satisfaction and ensure your long-term clinical and operational success. Engage in an active dialogue about leading your partners through an annual strategic planning process designed to ensure your partnership is on an optimal path to long-term sustainable growth.
3:20pm–3:30pm	Afternoon Break Location: Foyer Description: Take a quick break between sessions to enjoy a little snack or a drink before heading back to the education sessions.
3:30pm–5:30pm	General Session: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Faculty: William Prentice Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Martin Lowery OpusVertex International Rebecca Craig Harmony Surgery Center Location: Potomac Ballroom A/B Content Area: Human Resources Description: Segment 1: William Prentice and Rebecca Craig Segment 2: Martin Lowery Leveraging Emotional Intelligence in the ASC segment 3 Wrap up
5:30pm–6:30pm	Networking Reception Location: Prince George's Hall C/D/E Description: Relax after a full day of educational sessions with a sampling of finger foods and light snacks. Visit with vendors and colleagues, explore the innovations on display and learn about products and services that can improve your ASC. Door prizes will be awarded during the evening!
6:30pm–7:30pm	CASC Reception Location: Prince Georges Hall E Foyer Description: Come Celebrate Your Accomplishment!! The Board of Ambulatory Surgery Certification (BASC) would like to invite you to a cocktail reception on Thursday, May 4th from 6:30pm-7:30pm in the Prince Georges Hall E Foyer. You will be able to meet other individuals that have obtained the CASC credential as well as BASC Board members. Signage will be provided to guide you to the appropriate area.

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Friday, May 5
6:00am	5K Fun Run/Walk Location: Along the shore of the Potomac River Description: ASCA's 5K is a race for all ages and fitness levels! Regular runners and first-timers alike are welcome to join us for the 5K Fun Run/Walk. Whether you’re trying to beat your personal best or walking with friends and co-workers, this is a great way to burn some extra calories during the Annual Meeting. Register Now
7:00am–8:00am	Breakfast Location: Potomac & National Harbor Foyers Description: Start the day off with a breakfast filled with bagels, pastries, fruit and a variety of juices and, of course, a cup of coffee to get you going!
8:00am–9:00am	Federal Regulatory Update Faculty: Kara Marshall Newbury Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Location: Potomac C Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Learn about the latest regulatory developments that impact your ASC’s operations and bottom line. Get an overview of ASCA's regulatory agenda for 2017 and beyond and discuss the ways that ASCA is working for you inside the government agencies that have jurisdiction over your ASC.
	Financial Benchmarking Using ASCA’s Benchmarking Program and More Faculty: John Goehle, MBA, CASC, CPA Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Financial Description: Without an effective financial benchmarking program, ASC administrators and owners are missing valuable information about the financial health of their organization. Learn how to develop and manage a meaningful financial benchmarking program at your ASC using available data, including information from ASCA’s benchmarking program.
	Improve Your Staff Competency Process Faculty: Judy Harless, MBA, CASC Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Join this "tools you can use" session on staff competencies to review the essential building blocks of developing competencies, look at competencies others are using to meet accreditation standards and discuss the expectations of Medicare and accreditation surveyors when they review your personnel files during a survey. Walk away with practical information on how to format your own competencies and reliable examples you can reference once you return home.
	Smart Phone Usage in the ASC by Patients/Patient Representatives, Staff and Physicians Faculty: William Miller, JD Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP Debra Stinchcomb, RN, BSN, MBA, CASC Progressive Surgical Solutions Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Find out how to minimize adverse outcomes tied to the use of smart phones in your ASC during this dynamic, and collaborative, review of both the clinical and legal issues that can arise when patients/patient representatives, staff and physicians use smart phones in your ASC. Examine scenarios likely to give rise to clinical and legal problems, and previous incidents involving smart phone usage, as you develop your own plan for mitigating risk.
	Whole Emergenetics® Communications—Optimizing Communications with Your Team and Patients Faculty: Martin C. Lowery OpusVertex International, LLC Location: Potomac D Content Area: Human Resources Emergenetics® is a model that enables our understanding of the power of our personal preferences and if not managed, how they can bias the way we communicate. It is a measurable, proven way to recognize and apply thinking and behavior patterns people use regularly. Emergenetics® offers seven easily recognizable and useful factors that apply to work, communication and interpersonal relationships. In this entertaining and enlightening session, find out how to define and understand the 4 thinking/communicating styles; define and understand the 3 behaviors and their impact on communication; learn of the prevalence of these attributes and how they occur in the population at large; and be able to tailor future communications to be inclusive of all the Emergenetics® elements using a comprehensive checklist.
9:10am–10:10am	"Help Me Understand" - The Power of an Idea Everyone Gets Faculty: Monica Wofford, MBA CSP Contagious Companies Location: Potomac Ballroom A/B Description: In leadership, it’s teams that gets things done, but few leaders truly know how to create, maintain and support a thriving team. Knowing how to get others to collaborate, communicate and cooperate is where the best ideas happen and results start to rise. Help Me Understand™ does just that by examining the different ways your team members think. Through emotional intelligence and guidance on how to use it, Help Me Understand™ will reduce your stress and remove much of the office drama. During the session, you will learn to clarify your message, motivate your employees and unite your team so that you can get more done together.
10:10am–11:10am	Exhibit Hall Morning Break Location: Prince George's Hall C/D/E Description: Don’t miss out on your last chance to visit the ASC industry’s largest exhibit hall with our morning coffee break.
11:15am–12:15pm	Avoiding ASC Liability Arising From Nursing Scope of Practice and Nursing Practice Issues Faculty: William Miller, JD Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP Debra Stinchcomb, RN, BSN, MBA, CASC Progressive Surgical Solutions Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Avoid litigation involving your ASC by learning to identify and manage the clinical and legal issues surrounding Nursing Scope of Practice and complacent ASC nursing actions. Consider scenarios that can lead to potential clinical and legal adverse outcomes, and take home practical solutions you can implement at your ASC.
	Driving Performance through Clinical Benchmarking Faculty: Michelle George, RN, MSN, CASC Surgical Care Affiliates Location: Potomac D Content Area: Quality Management Description: As your ASC comes under increasing pressure from patients, physicians and payers to demonstrate safety and clinical outcomes, clinical benchmarking can help you respond. Find out how to use this tool effectively to measure performance trends, compare performance against the industry and highlight opportunities for improvement initiatives in your ASC.
	FDA's Response to Drug Shortages Faculty: Jeannie David, Senior Program Management Officer, FDA Location: Potomac C Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Hear direct from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official about the mission of the Drug Shortage Staff at FDA, the history and causes of shortages in the US, the laws and regulations pertaining to shortages and FDA and industry roles in mitigating and preventing shortages.
	HIPAA and Your ASC Faculty: Ed Zacharias McDermott Will & Emery LLP Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Protect your patients’ privacy and avoid the record-setting financial penalties levied for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violations this past year with this session on HIPAA fundamentals and strategic considerations involved in structuring and managing your ASC’s Business Associate relationships.
	Mentoring and Coaching to Develop Your New Leaders Faculty: Sandy Berreth, RN, MS, CASC Administrator, Sansum Clinic Foothills Surgical Center Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Find ways to establish a culture of communication at your ASC that supports relationship-based mentoring and coaching and shares knowledge and the wisdom of success with your next generation of leaders. Identify techniques based on the use of one-to-one conversations that will enhance new leaders’ skills, knowledge and work performance and build toward the future of your ASC.
12:20pm–1:50pm	Celebration Luncheon Location: Potomac Ballroom A/B Description: Take a short break from the intensive educational program and enjoy a leisurely sit-down lunch with your colleagues while you help celebrate recent successes in the ASC industry. Along with the networking opportunities you will find at this event, be prepared to be entertained when our featured speaker takes the stage. Invite your friends, colleagues and family members to join in. This part of ASCA’s annual meeting offers something that everyone can enjoy.
2:00pm–3:00pm	DEA Insights into Managing the Disposal of Controlled Substances Faculty: James Arnold Drug Enforcement Administration Location: Potomac C Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Join this Drug Enforcement Agency official for an in-depth look at the newest regulations, guidance and policies regarding the disposal of controlled substances in your ASC.
	How to Recruit and Engage Physicians in Your ASC Faculty: Winborne Macphail, SCA Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: Recruiting physicians to your ASC and maintaining their support has nothing to do with money. A successful physician relations program relies on your creativity, people skills, understanding of the marketplace and willingness to serve stakeholders. Examine the challenges an ophthalmology-driven ASC faced in the highly competitive South Florida market and the strategies that re-engaged physicians in the community and led to a healthy bottom line. Get tips on what worked, what didn’t and how this ASC keeps up the momentum.
	Leadership 101 Faculty: Ann Geier, MS RN, CNOR, CASC SourceMed Location: Potomac D Content Area: Human Resources Description: When someone moves from a staff position, are they given the tools to succeed in their new role? Many administrators and managers say "No." Focusing on ASC management, discuss the extensive knowledge required to be successful in leadership roles and get go-to resources you can use to educate and support staff in your own ASC. Participants interested in this session might also want to consider attending “Leadership 201” immediately following this presentation.
	Manage the Clinical Operations Behind a Total Joint Program Faculty: Michael Patterson, FACHE Mississippi Valley Health Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Learn how to develop and maintain the clinical operations you need to support an effective total joint replacement program in your ASC. Examine patient selection, patient education, identifying and tracking quality indicators, post-op care, staff education and more during this introductory overview.
	Normothermia and Medicare’s ASC Quality Reporting Program Faculty: David Shapiro, MD, CASC, CHCQM, CHC, CHPRM, LHRM Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Quality Management Description: Gain a new understanding of some of the physiologic implications of maintaining patients' normothermia throughout the perioperative period and strategies for regulating and monitoring patient temperatures in your ASC. Consider the key concerns that confront your ASC related to gathering and reporting data to Medicare’s ASC Quality Reporting Program (QRP).
3:00pm–3:10pm	Afternoon Break Location: Foyer Description: Take a quick break between sessions to enjoy a little snack or a drink before heading back to the education sessions.
3:10pm–4:10pm	Active Shooter Preparedness and Response Faculty: Lee Eaves Agape Tactical Location: Potomac C Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Hear how to prepare for and respond to the unpredictable, quickly evolving chaos likely to accompany an active shooter incident in your ASC. Learn how anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter incident using a "whole community" preparedness approach and products, tools and resources designed to help.
	Communicating in a Multi-Generational Workforce Faculty: Leana McGuire, BS, RN USPI Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Today’s multi-generational workforce comes with its challenges. Discuss the four main generations in the workforce today, compare experiences and events, compare world perceptions, discuss employee retention approaches and shed some light on why we behave the way we do. It's through the understanding of others that we understand ourselves.
	Leadership 201 Faculty: Ann Geier, MS RN, CNOR, CASC SourceMed Location: Potomac D Content Area: Human Resources Description: Building on the Leadership 101 session offered immediately preceding this presentation, focus on four areas that many administrators say they would like to know more about. Get access to sources of best practices and web sites you can use to enhance your knowledge in these key areas.
	Manage the Business Operations Behind a Total Joint Program Faculty: Michael Patterson, FACHE Mississippi Valley Health Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Financial Description: Learn how to develop and maintain the business operations you need to support an effective total joint replacement program in your ASC. Examine payer engagement, implant vendor strategies, physical layout, growing and marketing a total joint replacement program, staff education and more during this introductory overview.
	New Information Technology for ASCs Faculty: Ashley Wise, MBA USPI Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: As the number and variety of IT vendors offering products to ASCs continues its rapid growth, get help tackling the hard decisions your ASC needs to make about how to prioritize your investments, protect your data and make sure your systems work together. Explore basic strategies and get tools that can help you evaluate vendors, negotiate contracts and develop a successful implementation plan.
4:20pm–5:20pm	23-Hour, 59-Minute Stays; Logistics, Pitfalls and Opportunities Faculty: Michael Galvin USPI Lori Greiser, BSN, RN, CNOR The Christ Hospital Spine Surgery Center Location: Potomac D Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Implement a successful 23-hour stay program that increases your ASC’s capacity and bottom line with these lessons learned in implementing a model ASC spine surgery program. Prepare to meet the Medicare certification and accreditation challenges you will encounter and get guidance on appropriate case selection, finding the right staffing model, planning for all of the associated costs, and the additional clinical resources you need to sustain a successful program.
	Improve Your Hiring Process to Boost Retention Faculty: Jo Vinson, BA RN CASC Surgical Care Affiliates Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Human Resources Description: Avoid costly and time-consuming staff turnover by hiring the right talent for all of the positions in your ASC. Find out how to ensure a good fit between job candidates and your ASC by assessing your candidates’ probability of engagement and clearly defining a long-term vision of the talent that you need in the positions you are filling. Use the insights and information this session will provide to avoid inappropriate hiring caused by rushing to fill positions due to time constraints and a desire to deliver service with fewer resources.
	Nursing Leadership: Identifying and Addressing Ethical Challenges Faculty: Dana Bjarnason, PhD, RN, NE-BC Oregon Health & Science University Location: Potomac C Content Area: Human Resources Description: As a nurse and a leader in your ASC, you must continually synthesize your professional obligations with ethical principles and nursing's Code of Ethics to establish expectations and maintain a safe, high quality practice environment. Discuss case studies that describe nursing practice issues that affect health care safety and quality using relevant ethical standards and provisions for addressing concerns that involve staffing, conflict, disruptive behavior and more.
	Out of Network Billing: Opportunity or Liability? Faculty: Mary Jean Geroulo, MBA, JD Wilson Elser Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Financial Description: Billing as an out-of-network (OON) provider can increase an ASC’s revenue, but any increase should be evaluated against the potential liabilities that OON billing can create. Risks associated with out-of-network billing include payment denials and charges of false or misleading claims that could subject the billing provider to enforcement actions and penalties. Discuss the laws that can be used to prosecute certain OON billing practices and the mechanisms providers can use to reduce the risk associated with this type of billing.
	~~Pain Management in the Outpatient Setting Today~~ Cancelled Faculty: Louis Raso, MD Jupiter Interventional Pain Management Location: Coming Soon Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Engage in an interactive discussion with a physician who performs spinal cord stimulator (SCS) insertions and pain pump implantations in the outpatient setting. Discuss indications for these procedures, the patient selection process, proper techniques and more.
6:00pm–9:00pm	Social Event Location: Orchard Terrace Description: This year’s social event—a Cinco De Mayo celebration—is the perfect opportunity to take a break and enjoy an evening out with other ASCA 2017 attendees. On the terrace, overlooking the Potomac River, you will enjoy some traditional Mexican cuisine, including fish tacos, grilled corn on the cob, churros and maybe a margarita or two. While the evening will evoke the spirit of a traditional Cinco De Mayo festival, the band will also play its special collection of classic rock and dance music favorites, so don’t miss this chance to spend some time networking with your ASC friends, new and old!

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Click on each session title to view the session description.

Saturday, May 6
6:45am–7:45am	Breakfast Description: Start the day off with a breakfast filled with bagels, pastries, fruit and a variety of juices and, of course, a cup of coffee to get you going!
8:00am–9:30am	Always Be Prepared - CMS and Accreditation Survey Preparedness Faculty: John Goehle, MBA, CASC, CPA Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: ASCs must always be ready for a surprise Centers for Medciare and Medicaid Services accreditation survey. Discuss the typical issues identified during a survey and how to prepare for and avoid them. Also, get guidance on how your organization can always be prepared for a survey, including resources for preparing and suggestions on how to establish appropriate monitoring systems.
	An Overview of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark and the False Claims Act Faculty: Robert W. Liles, JD, MS, MBA Liles Parker, PLLC Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: With the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, it is more important than ever that you understand how the government is applying and interpreting the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. It is equally important that you understand how to avoid violating Stark. Are your business relationships and practices compliant with these regulatory requirements? What administrative, civil and criminal penalties would you face if you violate these rules? Join us as we discuss how these statutory provisions impact your ASC and steps you can take to reduce your level of risk.
	QAPI Studies that Work Faculty: Carolanne Reho, MHA, BSN, RN, CNOR AMSURG Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Quality Management Description: Review best practices for developing and implementing a Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) study that leads to meaningful and lasting results in your ASC. Bring one of your own studies to walk through the process and explore next steps for developing a higher level study without doing research. Look at ways to incorporate benchmarking effectively.
9:30am–9:40am	Morning Break Description: Grab a quick cup of coffee or tea after the morning sessions.
9:40am–11:10am	Life Safety Compliance: Trends and Standard Changes Faculty: William Phillips, PhD, CGC, CIAQP, CLSS-HC, CSITMS RITEway Building Services Location: National Harbor 2/3 Content Area: Regulatory and Legal Issues Description: Avoid survey citations by making sure your facility is up to date and in compliance with the old and the new Life Safety Code standards that apply to ASCs. Get to know the documentation and record-keeping requirements that lead to survey citations and how to manage those processes. Find out more about how the transition of life safety compliance actions from direct standards of compliance to performance-based and, now, risk-based standards affects your ASC. Bring your questions about your biggest compliance concerns.
	Pharmacy Medication Management Faculty: Michael O'Neal, DPh, MBA Pharmacist Consultant Location: National Harbor 10/11 Content Area: Delivery of Patient Care Description: Keep your patients and staff safe with an effective medication management program that meets the regulatory requirements and incorporates best practices in this critical operational area of your ASC. Review the issues that present the greatest medication management challenges in the ASC setting, learn how to structure policies and programs that lead to survey success and discuss up and coming topics in this area.
	Successfully Managing Medical Necessity Denials, Common Bundling Issues and Collections 101 Faculty: Rebecca Geise NSN Revenue Resources Location: National Harbor 4/5 Content Area: Financial Description: Explore the evolving world of payer medical policies with a focus on those most commonly causing denials in the ASC. From neurostimulator implantation to total joint replacement denials, identify best practices for getting denials overturned and ensuring your center receives the payment it is due. Bundling has long led to problematic denials in the ASC, and understanding how to win bundling appeals is a great opportunity for ensuring you are realizing all the revenue due your center. Look carefully at how to identify these denials, when to appeal and how to win those appeals. In the Collections 101 segment, review fundamental best practices for ensuring optimal cash flow in your ASC. From insurance verification and front-end collections to cash posting and denial/AR management, each area is critical and holds potential for increased revenue.
11:10am	ASCA 2017 adjourns