AHN Monroeville Surgery Center Wins 2024 OR Excellence Financial Management Award from Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Thursday, October 03, 2024

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Monroeville, PA -Allegheny Health Network's (AHN) Monroeville Ambulatory Surgery Centerhas been recognized by Outpatient Surgery Magazine, a division ofthe Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), for its outstanding achievements in sterile processing efficiency.

The award highlights the center's Total Joint Program and its innovative efforts in reducing costs, maximizing efficiency, and improving patient care. The Monroeville center will be recognized in the magazine's September issue.

The AHN Monroeville Ambulatory Surgery Center is the first stand-alone community ambulatory surgery facility in the Pittsburgh region to offer "same-day" knee, hip and shoulder replacements on an outpatient basis. The center's Total Joint Program allows patients to undergo complex joint reconstructions in a convenient, community-based setting, rather than in a hospital.

"This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team," said Jesse Hixson, administrator for the AHN Monroeville Ambulatory Surgery Center. "We've created a program that not only delivers exceptional care quality but also optimizes our resources and processes to ensure that we are also operating in a highly efficient and fiscally responsible manner. ."

The award highlights the center's comprehensive approach to improving operational efficiency. Key initiatives included a strategic instrument consolidation program, which reduced instrument tray sizes by 25%, optimized sterilizer load efficiency, and significant reductions in instrument washing and sterilization costs. This initiative alone has generated substantial savings by reducing the number of instruments needed per surgical case, and by allowing unused instruments to be reallocated elsewhere.

"We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that have driven these results," added Karen Maloney, vice president of AHN Ambulatory Surgery Centers. "By engaging all members of our surgical team - from surgeons to nurses and sterile processing technicians - we've not only improved our financial performance but also have enhanced the overall patient experience."

This accolade adds to a growing list of honors for the AHN Monroeville Ambulatory Surgery Center. The center was ranked first in Western Pennsylvania and second in the state on Newsweek's 2024 list of America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers and in 2023, the center was recognized by the Patient Safety Authority with the I AM Patient Safety achievement award.

"The most significant aspect of this project was the engagement it fostered among our team. Everyone, from surgeons to nurses, surgical techs, and sterile processing techs, worked together towards a common goal - efficiency, repurposing, and eliminating waste," said Hixson. "This collaboration not only benefitted our staff but also ensured that our patients receive the best possible care."

For more information on Monroeville Ambulatory Surgery Center, visit Monroeville Surgery Center | Allegheny Health Network (ahn.org).