Feature
Are ambulatory surgical facilities the future?
The role of outpatient vascular interventions during COVID-19 and beyond By James McGuckin, MD, Cailyn Breski, MS, and Jennifer Maximenko, MHA, RT
he COVID-19 global pandemic has continued to test all levels of the healthcare system— not just the effectiveness of medical personnel, but also the effectiveness of healthcare structures and organization.1
T The ICU bed
shortages and the moratorium on most surgeries affected patients and facilities alike, along with the ever-changing temporary measures and lack of PPE.2
Throughout the
pandemic, ambulatory surgical facilities (ASFs) allowed patients
access to essential care while providing a safe environment, implemented new technologies and offered a much-needed avenue of relief for overburdened larger facilities, which created a blueprint for the future role of ASFs.
COVID-19 response Due to the nature and urgency of most vascular procedures, the COVID-19 pandemic required that qualified and licensed freestanding vascular centers such as ASFs operate to relieve the
burden on area hospitals. ASFs who followed CDC and state guidance were able to continue operating and help treat critical, non-COVID-related cases. For example, a dialysis patient whose vascular access was clotted was still able to be treated and receive restoration of open access flow without inconveniences or decreased quality of care. ASFs also donated their surplus stock of PPE materials to local hospitals. In addition, many ASFs were fully equipped to provide readiness overflow of essential surgeries (urgent and emergent) closely tied or correlated to the typical procedures offered and performed at the facility, aided by having qualified vascular and IR surgeons on staff.
As evidenced by ASFs, there are resources available within the healthcare system to meet the demands for proper care during a pandemic. But unfortunately, many facilities across the country were not able to provide much needed support and were instead required to limit practices and surgeries in order to focus on financial survival modifications.5
This is one in a series of articles exploring the wide range of interventional radiology practice settings, from academic centers to office-based laboratories (OBLs). Watch for more articles in this series in IRQ and tune in to the Kinked Wire podcast for episodes dedicated to the topic. The views and opinions of IRQ authors are not necessarily those of the Society of Interventional Radiology.
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