Member Focus

Focus on Members

Member Focus

Member Focus invites ASCA members to express their views on key ASC issues. Share your perspective with your colleagues and get to know your peers in the ASC community.

Want to be the next featured member?

Answer one or both of the following questions:

How do you manage vacation requests? Do you have staff bid for vacation, have a calendar for sign-up or a different process?
What paging system do you use and how well does it work? An overhead system, walkie-talkies, a phone system or something different?

Questions? Write Sahely Mukerji.

Melanie Ramey, RN

Title: Clinical Director
Facility Name: Marion Surgery Center
City: Ocala
State: Florida
Length of time your facility has been an ASCA member: Five or more years

What is your policy, protocol or algorithm for BMI and patient selection?

To be eligible for surgery at our facility, the policy is that the patient cannot have a BMI greater than 45 or be more than 100 pounds overweight. However, patients who exceed the BMI or weight thresholds can be evaluated by the surgeon and the anesthesiologist for approval by exception. These cases are determined on a case-by-case basis.

In addition, exceptions can be made based on the type of anesthesia that is being administered. Under local anesthesia, patients with higher BMIs can have procedures performed at the ASC after the anesthesiologist has reviewed the case to determine if the candidate’s risk factors would compromise patient safety and the delivery of medical care.

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