Findings assess centers' performance measures

Wilmette, IL-Pre-procedure processing of patients, appropriate staffing and purchasing practices, scheduling, and billing and collection methods contribute to the efficiency of ambulatory health-care centers, according to a non-clinical study of cataract surgery in such centers.

The study, conducted between July and September 2004 by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc.'s Institute for Quality Improvement, assessed performance measures on key non-clinical aspects of cataract surgery-including administrative and financial processes and patient satisfaction outcomes.

The study found that part-time staff, cross-training staff, and preparing paperwork and charts in advance increased efficiencies that lowered staff costs.

Despite these cost-control measures, more than 99% of patients rated their overall experience as positive, and 93% of patients said they were able to schedule their procedures as soon as they wanted.