February 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
10 cities with biggest annual physician pay growth
Doximity noted physician compensation grew the highest in Providence, R.I., over in the last year.
What 6 ASC leaders think about industry consolidation
Nearly half of independent physicians think consolidation in healthcare is inevitable, according to a survey from McKinsey & Co., but the overwhelming majority of small and independent practice owners believe they should fight to stay independent. Physician-owned ASCs face similar pressures to merge with larger organizations to survive, especially amid the pandemic. Here are thoughts from six ASC industry leaders about consolidation.
What hospitals posting rates online means for ASCs
On Jan. 1, a new regulation requiring hospitals to post payer-specific negotiated rates for 300 services kicked in.
Thriving in outpatient joint replacements: 5 expert insights
Orthopedic surgery in ASCs has continued to accelerate over the past year. Looking ahead in 2021, Becker's ASC Review asked surgeons what they think is needed to thrive in the outpatient total joint replacement space.
Physician growth slowing as demand climbs: 8 things to know
The number of physicians practicing in the U.S. is growing slowly compared to the population growth projections over the next decade-plus, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Louisiana cardiology ASC completes 1st procedure
Interventional cardiologist Craig Walker, MD, completed the first outpatient procedure at Houma, La.-based Cardiovascular Institute of the South's new ASC, Vascular Disease Management reported Jan. 5.
2 eye surgery centers join Florida group
Two eye surgery centers merged with Fort Myers, Fla.-based Quigley Eye Specialists, according to a Jan. 13 report from Fort Myers Florida Weekly.
12 ASC expansions in 2020
Here are 12 ASCs that opened or announced expansions in 2020:
Tenet's strategic shift to ASCs: 5 details
Tenet is moving away from high-cost, lower margin hospitals and deepening its portfolio of lower cost, higher margin ASCs.
9 stats on gastroenterologist salary, net worth, jobs & more
Here are nine things to know about income, net worth, starting salary, payer models and jobs for gastroenterologists:
ASC MANAGEMENT
Walmart physician-led clinics gain steam: 10 things to know
Walmart is positioned to become an even stronger force in healthcare going forward, according to a new CNBC report.
Louisiana cardiology ASC completes 1st procedure
Interventional cardiologist Craig Walker, MD, completed the first outpatient procedure at Houma, La.-based Cardiovascular Institute of the South's new ASC, Vascular Disease Management reported Jan. 5.
EyeSouth Partners expands into Ohio, Kentucky
Atlanta-based EyeSouth Partners partnered with Cincinnati-based Midwest Eye Center, expanding into Ohio and Kentucky, the platform announced Jan. 11.
15 stats on ophthalmology to know in 2021
Here are 15 things to know about income, job satisfaction and conditions for ophthalmologists, according to Medscape's "Ophthalmologist Compensation Report 2020."
10 cities with biggest annual physician pay growth
Doximity noted physician compensation grew the highest in Providence, R.I., over in the last year.
ADMINISTRATOR THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Dr. Cheryl Stanski on finding success with a new rural ASC in 2020
Cheryl Stanski, MD, is a general surgeon and the medical director at Holston Medical Group's Kingsport, Tenn.-based MeadowView Surgery Center.
Tenet's strategic shift to ASCs: 5 details
Tenet is moving away from high-cost, lower margin hospitals and deepening its portfolio of lower cost, higher margin ASCs.
ValueHealth president appointed CEO
Leawood, Kan.-based ValueHealth President Don Bisbee was appointed CEO Jan. 1.
What Dr. Kiley Trott anticipates for otolaryngology long-term
Kiley Trott, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology surgery at New Haven, Conn.-based Yale School of Medicine, shared his thoughts on the ENT field long-term, answering the question, "How do you think the specialty will look in 10 years?"
Thriving in outpatient joint replacements: 5 expert insights
Orthopedic surgery in ASCs has continued to accelerate over the past year. Looking ahead in 2021, Becker's ASC Review asked surgeons what they think is needed to thrive in the outpatient total joint replacement space.
JOINT VENTURES
12 ASC expansions in 2020
Here are 12 ASCs that opened or announced expansions in 2020:
SurgCenter developing ASC in Maryland
Towson, Md.-based SurgCenter Development is scouting locations in Maryland to develop an ASC.
Ohio surgery center project delayed by COVID-19 pandemic
A surgery center slated to be built adjacent to UH Mayfield (Ohio) Village Health Center will be delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cleveland.com reported Jan. 6.
Texas health system breaks ground on $8.5M cardiovascular center
Longview, Texas-based Christus Good Shepherd Health System broke ground on an $8.5 million cardiovascular center of excellence Jan. 7, the Longview News-Journal reports.
South Carolina approves physicians' $12.5M ASC development; hospital to appeal
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on Jan. 7 approved a proposal from two Orangeburg, S.C., physicians to build a $12.5 million ASC, The Times and Democrat reported.
ORTHOPEDICS
1st AR knee replacement performed in US by HSS surgeon
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery orthopedic surgeon Jonathan Vigdorchik, MD, performed the first knee-replacement procedure in the U.S. assisted by augmented reality, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 21.
Willamette Surgery Center has record year of total joint replacements
Salem, Ore.-based Willamette Surgery Center had a record year, performing 254 total joint replacements in 2020, according to a Jan. 6 news release.
Estate of Keck Hospital spine surgeon alleges wrongful termination
The estate of a spine surgeon who worked at Los Angeles-based Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California alleges he was wrongfully fired a year before his death, according to a Jan. 4 report from mynewsla.com.
Medicare pay for arthroscopic surgery down almost 30% since 2000: 4 notes
Medicare reimbursement for orthopedic arthroscopic surgery declined from 2000 to 2019, according to a study published in The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.
Smith+Nephew acquires orthopedics business for $240M
Smith+Nephew completed the acquisition of Integra LifeSciences' extremity orthopedics business for $240 million.
GASTROENTROLOGY
7 things to know about the 4 largest GI private equity platforms: Gastro Health, GI Alliance, US Digestive Health & One GI
2021 will be a banner year for private equity investment in the gastroenterology space, and it's already kicked off.
The 1st deals of 2021 — GI Alliance makes trio of base-growing transactions
Dallas-based GI Alliance made the first deals of 2021, partnering with Cleburne (Texas) Endoscopy Center, Oak Lawn, Ill.-based GI Associates of Chicago and Dallas-based Digestive Health Associates of Texas, the platform announced Jan. 5 and Jan. 6.
Patients with family history of CRC may be able to follow regular screening recommendations
Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer that had a negative screening colonoscopy may be able to wait 10 years for their next exam, according to a study submitted to 2020 Digestive Disease Week, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News reported Jan. 5.
9 stats on gastroenterologist salary, net worth, jobs & more
Here are nine things to know about income, net worth, starting salary, payer models and jobs for gastroenterologists:
Pinnacle GI Partners makes 1st transactions a month after formation
Pinnacle GI Partners partnered with Michigan Gastroenterology Institute and Capitol Colorectal Surgery on Jan. 8, just slightly over a month after its formation.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Glassdoor: Best places to work in healthcare for 2021
Glassdoor released its list of "Best Places to Work" in 2021, and 18 hospitals, health systems and healthcare companies made the list.
2 defendants plead guilty in $109M Medicare fraud case
Two defendants pleaded guilty to partaking in a billing scheme that defrauded more than $109 million from Medicare, the Justice Department said Jan. 20.
Nearly 20% of US counties have no COVID-19 testing sites
Almost 20 percent of U.S. counties have no COVID-19 testing sites, affecting more than 7 million people, according to data from nonprofit group Surgo Ventures cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Lyft, Uber requesting larger role in government COVID-19 vaccine rollout: WSJ report
Lyft and Uber are in talks with the incoming Biden administration as the rideshare companies look to ramp up services for individuals in need of transportation to get COVID-19 vaccinated, according to a Jan. 12 Wall Street Journal report.
Americans increasingly paying medical bills through crowdfunding, study shows
Twenty-seven percent of the over 1 million fundraisers on GoFundMe from May 2010 to December 2018 were held to help patients cover medical costs, according to research published Jan. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.