As president and CEO of ASC development and management company Physicians Endoscopy, Barry Tanner is keenly aware of the challenges facing GI-driven ASCs. In a 2011 interview with Becker's ASC Review, he addressed one of the most pressing problems for surgery centers in today's healthcare climate: the looming threat of physician retirement.
According to Mr. Tanner, the best set of circumstances for physician retirement arises when a provider gives plenty of advanced notice to his or her practice and surgery center. "A physician might let the practice know that he or she is going to retire for example at age 67," he says. " It is common practice for the physician to say something about one to two years in advance so that it's not a surprise to anybody."
Mr. Tanner says that physician practices and surgery centers need this time to recruit a new provider. Since hospital employment and physician shortages are making recruitment more difficult, surgery center leaders should expect at least one year of advanced notice so that there is ample time to recruit and to make any other temporary adjustments that may be necessary.
As physicians get close to the end of their career, they tend to reduce their case volume and use less block time in a surgery center, Mr. Tanner says. "The retiring physician often begins to cut back on office time and procedure time as part of a planned transition. Assuming that there is a new physician who is about to or has recently joined the retiring physician's practice, this transition can be accommodated relatively smoothly."
Mr. Tanner joined Physicians Endoscopy in 1999 and co-authored the company's business plan with CFO Karen Sablyak. He currently oversees the company's partnership development activities, as well as strategic direction and services management. He also helps in the day-to-day management and governance of some of Physician Endoscopy's partnered facilities.
Before joining PE, Mr. Tanner served as CFO of Navis Radiology Systems, a physician practice management company in Miami. As the co-founder and CFO, he was responsible for developing a business plan. He helped grow the company from zero to over $75 million in revenues during his time as CFO, including the acquisition of seven professional radiology practices and a major diagnostics company.
Mr. Tanner has also worked as chief operating officer of HealthFusion in Miami, a company that provides home intravenous therapy services. He has experience in the financial services industry, having successfully orchestrated turnarounds for two publicly traded companies.
Learn more about Physicians Endoscopy.
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ASC Leader to Know: Phenelle Segal of Infection Control Consulting Services
ASC Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Kenneth Pettine of Loveland Surgery Center
ASC Leader to Know: Ravi Chopra of The C/N Group
According to Mr. Tanner, the best set of circumstances for physician retirement arises when a provider gives plenty of advanced notice to his or her practice and surgery center. "A physician might let the practice know that he or she is going to retire for example at age 67," he says. " It is common practice for the physician to say something about one to two years in advance so that it's not a surprise to anybody."
Mr. Tanner says that physician practices and surgery centers need this time to recruit a new provider. Since hospital employment and physician shortages are making recruitment more difficult, surgery center leaders should expect at least one year of advanced notice so that there is ample time to recruit and to make any other temporary adjustments that may be necessary.
As physicians get close to the end of their career, they tend to reduce their case volume and use less block time in a surgery center, Mr. Tanner says. "The retiring physician often begins to cut back on office time and procedure time as part of a planned transition. Assuming that there is a new physician who is about to or has recently joined the retiring physician's practice, this transition can be accommodated relatively smoothly."
Mr. Tanner joined Physicians Endoscopy in 1999 and co-authored the company's business plan with CFO Karen Sablyak. He currently oversees the company's partnership development activities, as well as strategic direction and services management. He also helps in the day-to-day management and governance of some of Physician Endoscopy's partnered facilities.
Before joining PE, Mr. Tanner served as CFO of Navis Radiology Systems, a physician practice management company in Miami. As the co-founder and CFO, he was responsible for developing a business plan. He helped grow the company from zero to over $75 million in revenues during his time as CFO, including the acquisition of seven professional radiology practices and a major diagnostics company.
Mr. Tanner has also worked as chief operating officer of HealthFusion in Miami, a company that provides home intravenous therapy services. He has experience in the financial services industry, having successfully orchestrated turnarounds for two publicly traded companies.
Learn more about Physicians Endoscopy.
Related Articles on ASC Industry Leaders:
ASC Leader to Know: Phenelle Segal of Infection Control Consulting Services
ASC Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Kenneth Pettine of Loveland Surgery Center
ASC Leader to Know: Ravi Chopra of The C/N Group