Victor Alves presenting at the MAASC New England Conference
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Reflections from the Stage: A Heartfelt Thank You to MAASC and President Gregory P. DeConciliis

What an incredible experience presenting at this year’s New England ASC Conference!

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Massachusetts Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (MAASC) board for organizing such an outstanding educational event. A very special thank you goes out to MAASC President Gregory P. DeConciliis, PA-C, CASC, for the personal invitation to take the stage and share my insights. Under Greg’s ongoing regional leadership, our local ambulatory surgery center community continues to have a vital platform for advocacy, compliance education, and operational growth.

Diving Into Medication Safety & Survey Readiness

 During my session, “Survey-Ready Infection Control: Practical Guidance from a Consultant Pharmacist,” I had the privilege of discussing the subtle, invisible risks that hide within everyday medication management workflows. We tackled critical topics that are currently facing heavy scrutiny from regulatory bodies, including:

  • Evidence-Based Practices: Navigating CDC safe injection standards, including multi-dose vial boundaries and aseptic compounding techniques.
  • Proactive Risk Mitigation: Uncovering vulnerable gaps in clinical operations, including drug diversion tracking and proper IV solution management.
  • Mastering the Audit: Aligning day-to-day nursing habits directly with the CMS Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet to eliminate deficiencies before surveyors arrive.

The energy in the room was fantastic, and the proactive questions from regional administrators and clinical directors highlighted exactly why New England remains a leader in patient-centric, outpatient surgical excellence.

The Power of Continuous Collaboration

 As a consultant pharmacist, the most rewarding part of any regional conference is stepping away from the podium to connect directly with the frontline heroes of outpatient care. Healthcare regulations are shifting faster than ever—especially with increased scrutiny from CMS and accrediting bodies like AAAHC and The Joint Commission. Staying collaborative is our industry’s best line of defense.

It was inspiring to learn alongside fellow experts and trade perspectives on managing the ongoing migration of complex procedures into freestanding centers. Congratulations to the entire MAASC team for executing a seamless, high-value conference that successfully elevates safety and quality standards across New England!

About MAASC

The Massachusetts Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (MAASC) is the only Commonwealth of Massachusetts organization devoted solely to promoting the interests of freestanding ambulatory surgical centers located across the state. Member facilities provide care to 300,000 patients annually. MAASC’s goal is to support the development and operation of freestanding surgicenters (ASCs) as cost-effective, high quality providers of ambulatory services in the state.

The Consultant Pharmacists at OctariusRx provide guidance on safe medication management, survey readiness and cost savings to ambulatory healthcare facilities/surgery centers, senior care facilities and pharmacies . We also help individual patients optimize their medications to improve their quality of life and save money. Contact us for assistance.

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