Digital Debut

ASCA Survey Signals Interest in Return to In-Person Events in 2022

Majority of respondents say they have budgeted for travel, live classes

BY ALEX TAIRA | OCTOBER 2021

In March 2021, ASCA introduced a bimonthly survey series named 60-Second Survey. As the name suggests, each survey takes approximately a minute to complete and asks fewer than 10 questions on a current topic. The topic changes survey to survey, but each aims to take the pulse of the ASC community and help ASCA better serve its members and the ASC industry at large. The fourth survey, conducted in October 2021, asked questions regarding ASCA membership and ASC business/education travel in 2022. The survey received 136 responses.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many in-person educational and business development events in 2020 and 2021. ASCA’s annual conference, which typically attracts more than 1,000 attendees every spring, was forced to move to a virtual format for the past two years. Other ASCA events, such as the coding and reimbursement seminar, the Evolution of Outpatient Surgery Summit (EOSS) and the advocacy fly-in also were forced to go virtual or were canceled altogether. However, ASCA is planning to return to in-person events beginning with the ASCA 2022 Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas, from April 27–30, 2022.

Survey Results

Most survey respondents signaled their intent to return to attending in-person events in 2022. Sixty-two percent of respondents (79/128) said that their organization had budgeted for in-person travel in 2022, and 81 percent (107/132) said that their organization had budgeted for staff education or professional development.

Forty-six percent of respondents (55/119) said they were planning on attending ASCA 2022 in Dallas, with 91 percent (50/55) indicating that they were most looking forward to the education session programming. The ASCA 2019 Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee, the last in-person annual conference before the COVID-19 pandemic, offered more than 50 education sessions across three days, plus special keynotes by speakers such as Olympian figure skater Scott Hamilton.

ASCA Membership and Benefits

Sixty-two percent of survey respondents (83/133) said that two to five employees at their facility have access to ASCA membership and benefits. Members are generally pleased with ASCA benefits, with 77 percent (99/128) indicating that ASCA benefits are comparable to those received at other ASC-focused membership organizations, such as the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

ASCA members have access to several unique benefits. Via the ASCA Connect platform, members can interact with other ASC staff by asking questions, sharing best practices or posting job openings. ASCA’s Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey, discounted for members, allows ASCs to report and compare operational data in a number of survey areas, including quality measures, outcomes, staffing and specialty-specific measures for total joints, complex spine or ophthalmic procedures. ASCA members receive ASC Focus magazine, the official magazine of ASCA, which offers articles from thought leaders in the ASC community on regulations, hot-button topics and “news you can use” that can help improve your facility’s operation.

ASCA provides ASC state and federal advocacy and resources. This includes ASCA's proprietary Medicare Rate Calculator, updated quarterly, that allows members to view their local rates at any given point in time. ASCA also provides updates and analysis on annual Medicare payment updates and quality reporting measures. Staff can help you connect with local/federal officials via a visit to their office or having them come into your facility for a tour.

These are just a few of the resources offered to ASCA members. If you have questions about your membership or access to resources, please write Alex Taira. We hope to see you in Dallas next year.