Dec 05

Somnia

Somnia is leading the transformation of outpatient care as less-invasive surgery migrates to the ambulatory and office-based environments.

The three divisions– Facility Accreditation and Consulting, Anesthesia, and Pain Management — collectively further high quality patient care by putting patients first, and by helping surgeons and insurance companies realize their goals of performing surgery in the safest, most cost-effective venue possible.

In 2004, of the approximately 47.5 million surgical procedures performed in the United States, it is estimated that 38%, (more than 18 million procedures) were performed in free standing Ambulatory Surgery Centers or Office Based Surgical Facilities. As more and more procedures are migrating from the hospital to the ambulatory setting, Somnia’s core mission is to ensure that surgeons have all the necessary resources to safely practice medicine and surgery. In addition, Somnia works with health insurance companies to encourage them to promote the migration of minimally invasive procedures to venues which are the most cost effective; thus increasing bed space in hospitals for aging baby boomers and reducing the overall burden on the healthcare system.

Somnia Anesthesia Division
Surgery Center and Office Based Anesthesia:
Why do surgeons operate in their office or ASC? Some prefer the privacy, convenience and less intimidating environment that it offers their patients. Others desire more control over their schedules. Of course, there are financial incentives too. For instance, physicians and facilities may be able to capture the generous facility fees, tray fees, or enhanced professional fees that many third party payers provide.

An office-based anesthesiologist can help launch a successful office-based surgical practice. Professional anesthesia services render uncomfortable procedures painless and permit the surgeon to focus solely on the procedure at hand. Patient satisfaction leads to word of mouth referrals, which can contribute to practice growth. In addition, many office-based surgeons can experience a more productive day when they have an anesthesiologist work alongside them. Comfortable patients, combined with efficient scheduling and increased case volume, may result in a more profitable practice.

Somnia offers a turnkey approach to office-based and ambulatory anesthesia including: Guaranteed coverage with one or more providers, Facility-tailored staffing models, Self-contained anesthesia billing and reimbursement, Anesthesia logistical support, Office-based suite setup and accreditation, Administrative capabilities and Reduced medical liability.

Guaranteed Coverage With One or more Providers

Ready to get started? Although every facility is different, Somnia can often get started with relatively little notice and is able to provide services anywhere throughout the United States. Naturally, the more expansive the needs in terms of anesthesia team composition or size, the longer the lead time needed to meet a facility’s objectives.

Self-Contained Anesthesia Billing and Reimbursement
Surgical clients or facilities are not charged for the services, while Anesthesia services are billed separately. Similar to pathology and radiology charges, the fees do not affect surgical procedure claims. Most major insurance plans cover office-based and ambulatory anesthesia. The in-house billing department bills insurance plans directly and they par with most national carriers. For procedures not covered by insurance, affordable payment options are available to suit most needs.

Anesthesia Logistical Support
The logistics team takes painstaking effort to ensure compliance with applicable professional guidelines and indicated state regulations. That includes all of the necessary anesthesia-related medications, equipment and supplies-as may be indicated by the setting and the proposed surgery. Compact equipment is used that has minimal space requirements.

Administrative Capabilities
In the hospital or ASC environment there are built-in provisions to address quality and protect patients. Somnia's unique model addresses this through centralized credentialing, compliance, peer review and quality assurance programs. In addition, the Medical Advisory Board and regular Medical Staff Meetings arranged permits smooth and ongoing clinical communication. These value-added services, which have gone through accreditation review, help maintain a high standard of care and lead to enhanced patient satisfaction.

Ambulatory Anesthesia
Choosing an anesthesia team for a licensed surgery center is a critical task. Somnia assembles and manages anesthesia teams for surgery centers throughout the U.S. and uses clinical competency and good bedside manner as a touchstone for success. Somnia understands the premium placed on progressive anesthesia techniques that allow for a pleasant surgical experience with minimal side effects. Quality assurance and peer review programs, along with regular satisfaction surveys, help to reach goals and objectives. Somnia strives to comport with AAAHC and JCAHO requirements, and many policies and procedures are specifically modeled after their guidelines.

Somnia's turnkey approach to ambulatory anesthesia allows us to serve both single and multiple operating room surgery centers. Depending on your needs, a variety of value-added clinical components are available. For instance:

• Acute Pain Component [APC]:
Nerve blocks are performed and catheters placed to allow for patients to wake up from anesthesia pain free and stay that way for up to 72 hours. The APC is most useful for surgery centers where orthopedic surgery is performed.

• Chronic Pain Component [CPC]:
Somewhat more involved then APC, this consultative service is primarily devoted to the treatment of chronic and acute neck or back pain arising from nerves that are damaged or pinched by a protruding disc. Ultimately, many CPC treatments involve the use of oral medications and, commonly, the injection of steroids into the epidural space or into small and large joints.

• Pediatric Anesthesia Component [PAC]:
PAC helps distinguish a surgery center from its competition. It involves specific policies, procedures and the detailed in-service of clinical and administrative staff.

• Medical Directorship Component [MDC]:
The MDC entails a senior anesthesiologist assuming the role of Medical or Anesthesia Director. He or she is responsible for overseeing all clinical operations and helping draft policies and procedures. For facilities that have a Medical Director, Somnia can provide for an Anesthesia Director.

Somnia Facility Accreditation Consulting Division
Physicians are embracing ambulatory surgery. They can gain control over scheduling as well as enhance efficiency and, in many cases, improve reimbursement from insurance companies. In terms of patient safety, study after study has demonstrated that surgery performed in an Office Based Surgical Facility [OBSF] or Ambulatory Surgery Center [ASC] is as safe, if not safer than surgery performed in traditional venues. Somnia’s mission is to promote patient safety in the outpatient setting by assisting surgeons and administrators with the design, construction, set-up and accreditation of ambulatory surgery centers and office-based surgical suites. The staff has years of experience and have been, or are currently, surveyors for the major accreditation organizations. There is also assistance with all aspects of the development, including: State Licensure, Certification & Certificate of Need, Planning & Design, Workflow & Equipment Planning, Policy & Procedure Development and Implementation, and Ancillary Service Agreements and Accreditation.

Facility Accreditation
In order to demonstrate their dedication to patient safety and to distinguish themselves from the competition, many facilities electively go through the accreditation process. Some states even require that accreditation standards be met. The accreditation consultants help surgeons efficiently achieve accreditation for their OBSF or ASC. The turn-key services will help to guide through the rigorous AAAHC, AAAASF or JCAHO accreditation. Services include: Accreditation Consulting, Facility Specific Policy & Procedure Development, Assistance Completing the accreditation application, Educating the Staff on Quality Improvement and OSHA Regulations, Conducting Mock Surveys and Progress Evaluations and Ensure Ongoing TQM Maintenance and Compliance.

Somnia Pain Management Division
Somnia’s Pain Management Division is dedicated to helping chronic pain sufferers regain the quality of life they deserve as an interventional pain management practice. Specialists offer advanced treatments for all types of pain including back and neck pain, as well as outpatient programs to address chemical dependency. The goal is to treat a patient’s pain quickly, safely and effectively.

To offer patients the best possible care, a multidisciplinary approach to treatment is offered. The unique role of many related medical and non-medical specialties is recognized, so the approach may involve the help of internists, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, physical rehabilitation specialists (physiatrists), chiropractors, orthopedists, as well as physical therapists and massage therapists.

Close contact with referring physicians and clinicians is maintained, keeping them fully informed about their patient’s condition and progress. Patients are also welcome to contact Somnia directly.

For more information on Somnia, Inc. go to _ www.somniainc.com or call 877-476-6642, ext. 3538.