6 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6
Continuous nerve blocks have a bad repu-
tation for adding costs to cases, but CNBs
don't have to hurt your facility financially.
Here are 3 ways they can boost your bot-
tom line.
• Improved patient satisfaction.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes you'll
see after adding a continuous nerve block
program is an increase in your patients' overall satisfaction. Keep in
mind that patients who receive a single-shot block and are awakened
at 2 a.m. by the excruciating pain of their surgical site are going to be
the ones filling out their patient satisfaction surveys. CNBs prolong
their comfort, which often means higher AHPS/OAS-CAHPS scores,
which, in turn, will translate to higher Medicare reimbursements and
possibly higher payments from private payers down the road.
• Increased case volume. Continuous nerve blocks also let you per-
form surgeries in an outpatient environment that may not have always
been possible. They are part of the reason why we're seeing patients
head home just a few hours after procedures like knee replacements
and advanced shoulder surgeries.
• Better word-of-mouth. A robust CNB program also boosts your
facility's reputation among potential patients, driving more business
to your center. We routinely get patients that say they come to
Andrews specifically because they've heard how great our pain con-
trol is after knee, ankle and shoulder surgeries. That's a reputation
that's hard to put a price tag on.
— Brandon Winchester, MD
BLOCK ECONOMICS
When Done Right, CNBs Can Boost Revenue
• MISPERCEPTION Continuous nerve blocks have an
unfair reputation for being a revenue drag.
Andrews
Institute
ASC
