The Washington Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s Annual Educational Conference titled, “Changes and Challenges” was held October 19, 2007 in Seattle. WASCA hosted a stellar educational program that included guest speakers from the state department of health and the Governor’s office. Other topics included infection control, the legalities surrounding physician ownership, supply cost control and complex surgeries performed in an ASC.

“Given the major legislative and regulatory issues we are facing, it was encouraging that every major regulatory and legislative player attended and spoke,” shares conference chair Maria Hickox. “Our members got to hear firsthand the issues we are facing and the thinking of the key players. Our membership was also impressed that the Governor gave a half-hour presentation.”

“WASCA has made a strong grassroots effort to reach out to physicians on a statewide basis and the turnout of docs reflected that,” adds Allan Pokorny, MD, co-chair of the event. 

UASCA Annual Educational Conference 

The Utah Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s (UASCA) Annual Educational Conference was held in November 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme was Health Care in Utah: New Directions. The agenda had an impressive line-up of speakers which included many state leaders.

“We are about to start a legislative session with healthcare as a major topic and so our conference could not have been timed better,” says Diana McPherson, conference chair. “Our focus on infection control, healthcare reform, and material management strategies were both topical and relevant. Our audience was truly impressed by the caliber of our speakers,” she added.

Three major players who will impact healthcare reform in the upcoming session presented. John T. Nielson, healthcare policy advisor to Governor Jon Huntsman, House majority leader Dave Clark and assistant senate majority leader Sheldon Killpack, who will co-sponsor the legislation, addressed the key elements of the proposed legislation while acknowledging it will be heavy lifting to get it passed.

Nielson notes that, “the current system is unsustainable,” and that he is hearing from different sectors that “breaking the pattern of consolidating power in insurance” needs to be a focus. Nielson is a longtime healthcare player in Utah and he completed his remarks by adding, “I had surgery in an ASC and I was very pleased with the service.”

UASCA’s conference attracted a significant number of physicians, which was a primary goal. A new feature of the conference was a dinner hosted by UASCAPAC. “We have a group of dedicated physicians who serve on the PAC board and we are making progress on raising funds,” asserts surgeon Glenn Morrell, MD. “I never thought when I went to medical school I would be engaging in politics. Rob Schwartz (vice president of state government relations and association development for ASC Association) has been my teacher and coach and I truly see that physicians need to get involved or we will have very little say on how to best treat our patients.”

For more information on UASCA, visit www.utahasca.com. 

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