Joint-Venture Ambulatory Surgery Centers: The Perfect Partnership.

Background: Ambulatory surgery growth has increased in the last few decades as ambulatory surgery centers have been shown to succeed in cost efficiencies through their smaller size and breadth, specialization of care, and ability to quickly participate in perioperative process improvement and education.

Methods: A 5-year retrospective fiscal review was performed for all Northwell Health-physician ambulatory surgery center joint ventures. The outcome measures studied included model of ownership, specialty types, and gross revenue.

Evacuate or shelter in place: A view from the water's edge.

Hospitals are faced with the difficult decision as whether to evacuate their patients or shelter in place when a strong hurricane is predicted to affect the facility. This decision must balance for patients the risk of transport with the risk of staying. This article discusses the experience of a hospital faced with this problem in two consecutive years.