See update below regarding IV fluids from NJAASC Vice President Cori Prisco

Baxter has reported that the production rooms have been deep cleaned, and equipment assessments, repairs, and testing are underway. Additionally, a second temporary bridge is being installed, with an expected completion in early November. The timeline for resuming production remains unchanged, with operations anticipated to restart in phases by the end of the year.

To boost inventory, seven global plants have been activated, and the FDA has approved temporary imports from Canada, China, Ireland, the UK, Mexico, and Spain. The first shipments arrived last weekend, with more details on product availability and disbursements coming soon.

Stay in close contact with your distributors and sales reps to ensure proper allocation calculations and keep track of your ordering schedules.

Cori Prisco
NJAASC Vice President

Below is an update about IV fluids from Cori Prisco, NJAASC Board of Directors
Vice President.

As healthcare leaders and providers,  the COVID-19 pandemic taught us how to adapt quickly and pivot daily.  Today, I’m confident that we are prepared to meet such challenges. We know that solutions emerge through collaboration and access to reliable information. As always, NJAASC is here to support you, committed to providing timely, accurate updates and connecting you with a community of resources.

While the latest update from Baxter is encouraging, current allocations are still based on historical purchases and medical necessity. In response, Baxter has ramped up production at other facilities and increased U.S. allocations for both direct customers and distributors. However, while Baxter is reporting they hope production at the North Carolina site will resume in 2-3 weeks, we must plan ahead until the end of 2024. It’s important to discuss strategies with your Medical Director, Anesthesia Director, and Governing Body to safeguard your supply in the coming months. As you assess your needs and inventory, here are some key considerations:

• Is there an opportunity to increase your allocation? Contact your vendor representatives and suppliers and work with them on this. Allocations are typically based on recent purchasing history, so as you assess your inventory, remember that November and December often bring higher volumes.
• Can you optimize your current inventory? Collaborate with department heads, your Medical Director, and Anesthesia Director to determine how best to meet patient needs while conserving supplies. Review KVO (Keep Vein Open) protocols and evaluate total fluid requirements for each case, considering what is necessary to both complete the procedure and support patient in postop and recovery.
• Are you keeping all parties informed? Ensure that you assess your stock daily and share action plans with your anesthesia team, nurses, and providers. Consider implementing daily huddles, sending emails, or posting flyers to keep everyone informed about the action plans. Think about appointing a nurse or physician champion who can serve as a go-to resource, help with communication, offer practice recommendations, and promote team engagement.
• Don’t overlook the basics of infection control: avoid pre-spiking. With cold and flu season upon us, cancellations can occur. It’s already standard practice not to spike IV bags until they’re needed, and sticking to this practice also helps reduce waste.
• Don’t forget to assess emergency needs. Check the expiration dates of fluids in your crash carts and evaluate your current inventory to ensure readiness for a potential MH crisis.

NJAASC is dedicated to providing you with the latest information and resources as we navigate this challenge together.

Please share your thoughts on conservation and obtaining inventory in the comment section below.

Cori Prisco, NJAASC Vice President

Below is a message from NJAASC Board Member Sarah Malaniak, MBA, CASC. Sarah shares a personal and professional update with NJAASC members. Thank you for your service to NJAASC Sarah, and NJAASC wishes you success in your new role!

Dear NJAASC Members,

I hope this note finds you all well. It is with mixed emotions that I announce my resignation from the NJAASC board of directors effective immediately.

The mission of NJAASC is one I’m passionate about, and I believe the work of the organization deserves the full attention of any board member. That said, I have accepted a new and exciting professional opportunity that will keep me very busy for the foreseeable future. Further, since this new role is located in New York City, I am ineligible to further serve on the NJAASC board.

I want to express my gratitude to the membership and fellow board members for having the faith in me to serve this amazing organization. It has truly been an honor to serve alongside you, and I wish NJAASC continued success in its important endeavors.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful cause.

Best wishes,

Sarah Malaniak, MBA, CASC

The NJAASC Board of Directors will be taking further steps according to NJAASC bylaws to fill the board member vacancy. A copy of the bylaws is listed in the Members Only section of the website under "Governance".

If you have any questions, please reach out to Christine Ulatoski at culatoski@successcomgroup.com.

In healthcare, ambulatory surgery centers play a crucial role in advancing the quadruple aim, all by enhancing the patient experience, reducing costs, and improving healthcare outcomes at  ASCs, with the incredible support of NJAASC, have already mastered the quadruple aim! We’re unstoppable!

Did I get your attention?

As a board member and current co-chair of the Membership Committee, I am committed to helping to recruit new members to join NJAASC. In all seriousness, I’m happy to share that we are taking a multifaceted, personalized and targeted approach to maximize these efforts. We believe that NJAASC offers many value-added benefits, educational initiatives, strategic partnerships, incredible networking opportunities, and a supportive community environment. Wait, there’s more!

That being said, we welcome you to join us on our membership recruitment journey!

Tell your friends in the ASC community about us! NJAASC has committed to the best in patient care by promoting and sharing best practices, while fostering professional development among healthcare professionals. NJAASC’s newsletter, “The Pulse” highlights upcoming events and shares information, insights and helpful resources for our professional community, as well as our robust calendar of seminars and webinars that provide additional valuable learning opportunities.

NJAASC’s great opportunities to network with colleagues across the state allow our members to learn about best practices and make important connections.

NJAASC can be especially helpful for new Administrators who wish to position themselves for success through knowledge transfer, partnerships, and meaningful collaboration -- NJAASC helps to expand your reach as industry leaders!

The Membership Committee is piloting a variety of techniques to gain insight into how we can engage (and re-engage with) more members. Through these recruitment efforts, potential members are offered the opportunity to attend a quarterly meeting free of charge and learn more about the benefits of membership.

NJAASC’s new ‘buddy system” is designed to help newer members make the most of all that NJAASC has to offer.  Did you know you can get a buddy of your own? As a new member, your buddy will be sure to connect with you right away and will follow up with personalized communications to make sure your questions are answered and that you are making the most of all that NJAASC has to offer.

We welcome you to join us on this journey!

Remember that in the world of surgery, a good sense of humor is the best anesthesia.

Alene Stewart
NJAASC Board Member
alene.stewart@scasurgery.com

Welcome to the NJAASC blog! 

As NJAASC President, I am excited to introduce a new forum to share helpful information, engage our members and give them an opportunity to become better acquainted with our board and all that is in store at NJAASC. You can look forward to hearing from our board members and active ASC community over the next few months.

The ASC marketplace is constantly evolving, which presents opportunities for both new and exciting opportunities, as well as the challenges that we face as a community.  I am interested in discussing these topics with you, our membership.

I am passionate about a few things that I am excited to share with you: First, I love mentoring leaders.  Whether you have been in a leadership role for a long time or are just starting out, there is so much we can all learn from each other.  Feel free to reach out to me with a question or concerns.  I am happy to give an encouraging word.

I am also passionate about sterile processing. To the outsider, sterile processing may appear daunting. But there are great resources to help managers learn about sterile processing standards. For example, do you know how to monitor the quality of decontamination and sterilization at your surgery center?  It can be easier than you think. There are several courses available to train you how to supervise this critical area to your surgery center.

Do you know what a TOSI test is? A Test Object Surgical Instrument (TOSI) Test will examine the effectiveness of your instrument washer. At a minimum, you should be performing a TOSI test every week, but most subject matter experts recommend performing a TOSI test daily. Don’t forget to document the test result with the date and name of the SPD tech that performed the test. There are several manufacturers for “TOSI tests” which are easily searchable online.

Start by asking your SPD tech how often they are performing a TOSI test. Do you have a policy about it? Do you have a log sheet? Look at that - you already have a 10-step quality study in the making.  Yes, I forgot to say that I love turning everyday tasks into quality studies!  Let’s save that topic for another blog! 

I’d love your feedback about what you want to hear more about from us!

Meg Stagliano
NJAASC President
Meg.Stagliano@rwjbh.org