Administrator of Burlington, Vt.-based Green Mountain Surgery Center John Paoni discusses the promising landscape for his ASC, scheduled to open later this year.
It will be the first ASC in Vermont, and it has created buzz among local independent physicians.
Question: What opportunities do you see for physician recruitment in your market?
John Paoni: We are starting to see a trend towards private practice. Physicians are moving away from the hospital-employed model to the private practice model. Private practice groups will be looking to expand by adding providers and will increase their recruitment efforts.
Q: How has consolidation in healthcare affected your center? What preparations are you making for the future?
JP: In our market, the hospital has purchased other smaller facilities creating a single source for healthcare. Our center, due to open this spring, will offer an alternative to hospital-based procedures at a much more affordable cost to the patient.
Q: How do you project short-and long-term growth for your center? What is your strategy?
JP: We anticipate a great deal of growth for our facility. We have been contacted by many independent physician groups inquiring about utilizing our surgery center. Our facility will be the first multispecialty ambulatory surgery center in Vermont. Physicians are attracted to our center as we offer flexibility in scheduling cases and lowering procedure costs within our market. We want to offer an alternative for same-day procedures to the residents of the state of Vermont.
Q: How do you see consolidation in the broader healthcare arena affecting ASCs?
JP: I think that you will see growth and expansion in ASCs. Healthcare costs continue to increase, and the ASC offers those same procedures at a lower cost. ASCs run very efficiently. Waiting all day for a procedure doesn't typically happen in an ASC. Patients move in and out of the surgery center in a very timely manner. Physicians like the ASC setting as they don't have to wait for an operating room to turnover.
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For a deeper dive into ASC operations, attend the Becker's 17th Annual Future of Spine + Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC in Chicago, June 13-5, 2019. Click here to learn more and register.