Balancing Safety and Efficiency in Outpatient Surgery

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, the transition to fall often mirrors the journey many new ASC administrators face: a season of change and challenge.

For first-time leaders, balancing efficiency and safety can feel like walking a tightrope. One wrong step could disrupt patient care or operations, yet the pressure to keep things moving is always there. So how can you, as a new ASC leader, strike this delicate balance?

Speed vs. precision

In my early days as an ASC administrator, I was tempted to focus on my center’s fast-paced nature. It was all about speed. Keeping cases on schedule, minimizing turnover times and maintaining efficiency felt like the markers of success. But after a few days of feeling the pressure, I realized that speed without precision can lead to problems.

Rushing a patient or missing a checklist item can create complications that not only lead to delays but could also harm patients or demoralize staff. I found myself questioning how I could maintain a culture of safety without sacrificing the efficiency needed to keep the ASC running smoothly.

That’s when I began shifting my focus from quick fixes to creating an environment where safety naturally drives efficiency.

Patience and preparation pay off

Getting back to my original metaphor, fall is a season that teaches patience and preparation. Just as farmers harvest their crops after months of careful tending, success in balancing efficiency and safety at your ASC comes from the groundwork you lay early on.

Open communication with your team is key to this success, but you can only create a culture of trust and safety by staying connected — being present in huddles, engaging in cases and actively participating in daily operations. Avoid retreating into your office. Instead, focus on teaching, listening and staying engaged with your team.

When you notice a protocol being skipped or cut short, approach the situation with curiosity rather than accusations or anger. Take the opportunity to find out why the breach of protocol occurred. The feedback you receive might reveal a hidden problem you didn’t know existed — a procedural gap, a training deficiency or another inefficiency that, if addressed, can prevent future problems.

By using these moments as opportunities to help, teach and collaborate — rather than criticize — you create an environment where staff feel supported.

Empower your team to prioritize safety

A key strategy is to foster a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. Staff need to feel empowered to speak up when they see a potential risk, even if it means taking a little extra time. When your team feels empowered to prioritize safety, efficiency follows.

It’s about creating systems that allow staff to perform their tasks confidently and without unnecessary pressure, no matter how busy the day gets.

Complementary goals

Efficiency and safety are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they complement each other. By building a strong foundation where safety is a priority, your ASC can operate smoothly without cutting corners.

As we embrace the changes that fall brings, let’s remember that growth often comes from finding balance. And in your role as an ASC leader, that balance will be your greatest asset. OSM