Buddy Bacon, CEO of Meridian Surgical Partners, discusses the realities of recruiting physician investors to surgery centers in the current healthcare climate.
Q: Which physician specialties do you think present the greatest opportunity for ASCs seeking physician investors? Why are those specialties more available than others?
Buddy Bacon: I believe the greatest opportunity for ASCs on the physician recruitment side is neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. With the advancement of technology and payors recognizing the benefit of migrating spine procedures to an outpatient setting, this is the next opportunity for physician recruitment. Also, moving spine to an outpatient setting is another opportunity for ASCs to increase the efficiency in the delivery of healthcare.
Q: Which physician specialties have become less available for ASC investment, and why? How does this vary based on region?
BB: I am not sure that I would say that some physician specialties have become less available for ASC investments. Our company continues to have discussions with all specialties about the investment opportunity and benefits of ASC ownership.
Q: Do you predict physician investment will grow, decrease or remain stagnant over the next five years? What drives that change or stagnancy?
BB: I am still very bullish about the ASC industry as a whole. It is clearly a more cost-effective means of healthcare delivery. In a time when our federal government is looking to save money, they need to focus on the benefits of moving surgery to an outpatient setting. I continue to believe that physician investment will continue to grow in the next several years. Obviously the opportunity is not as great as it was 15 years ago, but it is a proven business model for the patient, payor and physician.
Q: How can ASCs approach physician specialties (for example, spine) that may have lses historical involvement in ASCs?
BB: The best way for ASCs to approach physician specialties with less historical involvement is to let your physician partners do the selling for you. For example, we certainly make efforts to spread the word about our achievements related to incorporating minimally invasive spine into our outpatient facilities. However, I believe there is no better way to make that happen than through peer selling between physicians. Our physicians do a great job of sharing their success and satisfaction with other physicians.
Learn more about Meridian Surgical Partners.
Related Articles on Physician Recruitment:
5 Must-Have Technologies for Physician Recruitment
Surgery Center Administrator Recruitment Checklist: 13 Questions to Ask Candidates
10 Statistics on Recruitment of Physicians in Common Surgery Center Specialties
Q: Which physician specialties do you think present the greatest opportunity for ASCs seeking physician investors? Why are those specialties more available than others?
Buddy Bacon: I believe the greatest opportunity for ASCs on the physician recruitment side is neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. With the advancement of technology and payors recognizing the benefit of migrating spine procedures to an outpatient setting, this is the next opportunity for physician recruitment. Also, moving spine to an outpatient setting is another opportunity for ASCs to increase the efficiency in the delivery of healthcare.
Q: Which physician specialties have become less available for ASC investment, and why? How does this vary based on region?
BB: I am not sure that I would say that some physician specialties have become less available for ASC investments. Our company continues to have discussions with all specialties about the investment opportunity and benefits of ASC ownership.
Q: Do you predict physician investment will grow, decrease or remain stagnant over the next five years? What drives that change or stagnancy?
BB: I am still very bullish about the ASC industry as a whole. It is clearly a more cost-effective means of healthcare delivery. In a time when our federal government is looking to save money, they need to focus on the benefits of moving surgery to an outpatient setting. I continue to believe that physician investment will continue to grow in the next several years. Obviously the opportunity is not as great as it was 15 years ago, but it is a proven business model for the patient, payor and physician.
Q: How can ASCs approach physician specialties (for example, spine) that may have lses historical involvement in ASCs?
BB: The best way for ASCs to approach physician specialties with less historical involvement is to let your physician partners do the selling for you. For example, we certainly make efforts to spread the word about our achievements related to incorporating minimally invasive spine into our outpatient facilities. However, I believe there is no better way to make that happen than through peer selling between physicians. Our physicians do a great job of sharing their success and satisfaction with other physicians.
Learn more about Meridian Surgical Partners.
Related Articles on Physician Recruitment:
5 Must-Have Technologies for Physician Recruitment
Surgery Center Administrator Recruitment Checklist: 13 Questions to Ask Candidates
10 Statistics on Recruitment of Physicians in Common Surgery Center Specialties