staff or team, which I don't mind. But during weekends, nights and
holidays, there's no email traffic and no text messages."
Everything is driven from the top down, says Ms. Summerlin, so
balance has to be a priority for upper management. "Don't take away
people's days off or their holidays. And maintain adequate staffing,"
she says. "If you look at your [inadequate] staffing at the beginning of
the month and say, 'Well, we'll just try to make due,' that's not going
to send a message that you support them."
As administrator of the East Side Endoscopy & Pain Management
Center in New York City, Helen Lowenwirth, MBA, CASC, arrives
early and often stays late. But surrounded by some of the world's best
restaurants, museums and theaters, she's determined to take full
advantage of life in New York.
"I work 50 to 60
hours a week," she
says, "but I'm not
pulling my hair out,
screaming about the
long hours." The key,
she agrees, is to set
clear boundaries.
"Other than some light
reading, I never take
work home. It's a rule
I have for myself. I
don't carry files home
or log in at home. If
there's work to be
done, I come into the
office."
4 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7
SOURCE: Outpatient Surgery Magazine reader
Survey, December 2016, n=675
HOPD ASC
Much higher 3.68% 4.61%
Slightly higher 43.25% 45.82%
about the same 44.17% 42.36%
Slightly lower 7.98% 5.48%
Much lower 0.92% 1.73%
When we asked our survey respondents how their
2016 salaries compared with their previous year's
income, most reported that their salaries stayed
about the same or rose slightly in 2016.
HOW DID 2016 COMPARE?
Salaries Slightly Higher
or About the Same
