Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

This podcast is brought to you by ASC Support, a division of Custom Surgical Partners, Inc., and is hosted by Tina DiMarino, DNP. The content is designed for ASC Leadership, Nurse Managers, and employees of surgery centers or office-based surgery suites. This content will cover high level issues affecting the industry as well as the ”in the weeds” topics of daily operations within a center. We aim to cover interesting and difficult topics that will deliver pearls and best practices to help make the job more enjoyable.

Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership is a health podcast hosted by Tina DiMarino, with 5 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Tina DiMarino hosts Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership, a health show with 5 episodes published.

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  Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

  How ASCs Can Avoid Costly Technology Mistakes l Custom Surgical Partners, Inc.

  Aug 18, 202633 min

  Healthcare technology is evolving faster than ever—but how do you know which tools are actually worth investing in?In this episode of Operationally Speaking, Tina D. Marino sits down with Laura Miller, Founder of TempeDev, to discuss how ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and medical practices can make smarter technology decisions. From software integrations and workflow optimization to AI and revenue cycle management, Laura shares practical advice to help healthcare leaders avoid costly mistakes and build systems that actually work.Whether you're evaluating a new EMR, implementing AI, or improving operations, this conversation is full of actionable insights.Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:42 Meet Laura Miller & TempeDev02:15 What TempeDev Does for ASCs & Medical Groups04:20 Why New Technology Doesn't Fix Broken Workflows06:35 The Biggest Mistake When Buying Healthcare Software09:10 Why You Should Evaluate Software Before Purchasing11:45 Integration Challenges Between EMRs & Practice Management Systems15:05 Hidden Costs of Interfaces, HL7 & System Connectivity18:00 Understanding Your Practice Before Implementing Technology21:10 Workflow Assessments & Finding the Root Cause of Problems24:15 Software Implementation, Training & Ongoing Support27:05 The Future of AI in Revenue Cycle & Healthcare Operations30:15 AI Risks, Governance & Building the Right Guardrails31:40 Final Thoughts

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  Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

  How AI Is Changing ASC Operations l Custom Surgical Partners, Inc.

  Aug 11, 202649 min

  In this episode of the Operationally Speaking podcast, host Tina sits down with Noel Adachi, President & CEO of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), to explore how the organization sets itself apart from traditional healthcare accreditors.They dive into AAAHC's core "1095 Strong — Quality Every Day" philosophy, which shifts the focus away from cyclical inspection anxiety and instead champions a culture of continuous operational readiness across all 1,095 days of the accreditation cycle.The conversation also tackles the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare technology, highlighting the recent launch of AAAHC's AI standards and their new interactive virtual assistant, "Bernie." Ultimately, Noel emphasizes that while technology can streamline workflows, robust organizational governance and human oversight remain paramount to preserving patient trust and safety.About Our GuestNoel M. Adachi, MBAPresident & CEO, AAAHCNoel Adachi is a recognized builder of strategies, systems, and teams, devoting her 35-plus-year career to advancing quality, compliance, and access to care. Since taking the helm at AAAHC in 2017, she has led a period of strategic transformation—reshaping governance, modernizing technology platforms, and establishing the defining 1095 Strong philosophy.Prior to AAAHC, Noel spent over two decades with the College of American Pathologists (CAP), serving in key leadership roles including Vice President of International Market Development, where she doubled CAP's presence in emerging global markets. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a BA in mathematics and economics from Knox College.

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  Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

  Acing Your ASC Survey - An ACHC Perspective l Custom Surgical Partners, Inc.

  Aug 4, 202632 min

  Navigating healthcare accreditation can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of the Operationally Speaking podcast, host Tina DeMarino sits down with Kelly Dragon, a Clinical Review Specialist and Surveyor at the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).With 20 years of nursing experience in obstetrics and perioperative services, Kelly pulls back the curtain on how ACHC supports Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and Office-Based Surgery (OBS) practices through every step of the survey process.Timestamps00:00 – Intro & Kelly Dragon’s Clinical Background02:15 – The History & Reach of ACHC (29,000+ Locations)04:30 – Transparent Pricing & Collaborative Customer Support06:45 – The Timed Survey Program: Fast-Tracking New ASCs09:15 – Pre-Survey Q&A Calls with Clinical & Life Safety Experts13:00 – On-Site Surveys & Specialized Office-Based Standards18:20 – Consultative Surveying: Teaching the "Why" Behind Rules22:40 – Post-Survey Timelines & The 3-Year Accreditation Cycle26:10 – Continuous Quality Improvement & Flat-Fee Pricing28:30 – Why ACHC Voluntarily Achieved ISO 9001 Certification30:45 – Final Advice & How to Connect with ACHCLearn more about Custom Surgical Partners, Inc. below!Website - https://www.customsurgicalconsultants.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CustomSurgical/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/custom-surgical/

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  Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

  ASC Accreditation: Avoiding Infection Control Citations l Custom Surgical Partners, Inc.

  Jul 7, 202649 min

  In this episode of Operationally Speaking, host Tina sits down with Jeremy Gibson-Rowark, a Standards and Application Interpretation Specialist at DNV. Moving past the old "compliance police" mindset, Jeremy shares how DNV utilizes a collaborative, tailored approach to healthcare accreditation, particularly within the rapidly growing Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) market.The discussion dives deep into the realities behind infection control citations, the necessity of treatings risk assessments as living documents, and the hidden operational pressures that lead to survey non-conformances. Jeremy also outlines the critical importance of adhering strictly to Manufacturers' Instructions for Use (IFUs) in sterile processing departments, the risks of using shortened cycles for inventory management, and how organizations can leverage DNV’s specialized certifications to build a proactive culture of patient safety.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and Jeremy’s Background at DNV01:26 – DNV’s Deeming Authority and Expansion into the ASC Market02:59 – From OR Nurse to Surveyor: Clinical Interpretation Roles03:47 – The Collaborative Survey Approach vs. Traditional Accreditation05:20 – Building a "Just Culture" and Partnership for Patient Safety07:46 – Unpacking Infection Control Citations and Data Since 200909:47 – How Shifting Patient Demographics and Complexities Impact Data13:44 – Resource Allocation Challenges and Diversification of Roles in ASCs16:42 – The Core of Compliance: Keeping Your Risk Assessment Proactive22:29 – Cross-Training and Budgeting for End-of-Life Equipment26:42 – Operational Hurdling: Environmental Services and Terminal Cleaning Training28:23 – Disinfectant Dwell Times vs. Fast Room Turnover Pressures30:43 – The IFU Conundrum: Navigating Manufacturers' Instructions for Use33:00 – Managing Multiple Instrument Manufacturers and Varying Dry Times37:15 – Risk Assessing Older Instrumentation Without Available IFUs39:44 – Ophthalmology Challenges: Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS) vs. Inventory Management42:45 – Chemical and Detergent Risks in Ophthalmic Instrument Reprocessing44:44 – Specialized DNV Certifications for Sterile Processing and Infection Control47:26 – Outro and Accessing DNV Resources for Non-DNV Accredited FacilitiesLearn more about Custom Surgical Partners, Inc. below!Website - https://www.customsurgicalconsultants.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CustomSurgical/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/custom-surgical/

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  Operationally Speaking for ASC Leadership

  ASC Leadership - How to Drive Culture & Patient Safety l Custom Surgical Partners, Inc.

  Jun 23, 202625 min

  In this episode of Operationally Speaking, we sit down with award-winning ASC administrator Beth Russell of the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Beth shares her journey from bedside surgical tech to managing multiple surgery centers and hospital orthopedic departments.We dive deep into the philosophy that has driven her centers to win the Leapfrog Top ASC award for five consecutive years: putting your people first. Beth explains how transparency, celebrating your team, and fostering an environment of trust can improve staff retention and, ultimately, patient care. Whether you are a new manager or a seasoned administrator, this conversation provides actionable "pearls" on driving culture, improving communication, and creating a workplace where your team truly wants to be.Timestamps0:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome0:47 Beth Russell’s Career Journey: From Surgical Tech to Corporate Leadership2:37 Achieving Leapfrog Success: The Importance of Staff Culture3:51 Philosophy: Putting People First to Drive Patient Outcomes5:37 Strategies for Transparency and Open-Door Management6:24 Celebrating the Team: Small Gestures with Big Impact7:38 Building Trust in New Leadership Roles9:50 Retention Pearls: Using Social Media to Showcase Camaraderie12:17 Balancing Business Dashboards with Staff Touchpoints14:51 Handling Difficult Situations and Cultural Fit17:44 The Power of Communication and Problem Solving22:15 Final Takeaways: Building Cohesiveness Through Basic PrinciplesLearn more about Custom Surgical Partners, Inc. below!Website - https://www.customsurgicalconsultants.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CustomSurgical/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/custom-surgical/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/customsurgicalpartners/

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