Developing Success

Recruiting a clinical leader is the initial step in creating an exceptional team. Every position in the center has an essential role in clinical care and producing throughput to assure patients and surgeons a world class experience.

The clinical team filed the necessary licensure, accreditation and certification applications to fast track the process allowing the center to obtain their Medicare provider number within three-and-half months from the initial licensure survey.

The PPH team focused on deadlines, time lines and details to assure that filings and follow up efficiently flowed through the state agencies and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) processes. PPH was able to accomplish the expediting of the certification procedures by deploying a sequence of methodologies. Once the Medicare number was obtained, the PPH managed care team attacked the application and negotiation process executing preferable agreements to maximize the net revenue per case.

After obtaining licensure, and during the accreditation and certification process, the center ramped up orientation, in-services, training, documentation, utilization review and quality assurance to meet the expectations of Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and Medicare certification. Case volume grew and additional team members were hired to assist with the growth of the center’s busy surgeons.

The entire team was driven for results and understood that their partners and patients depended upon dedication to each individual process. During the start-up, the partnership was updated on a regular basis, and modifications in the plan and budget reflect the actual experience level.

The center obtained one-year AAAHC accreditation and is currently increasing volumes and team members to expand into the two additional operating rooms. PPH will recruit additional surgeons for partnership and utilization of the center maximizing the centers assets.

PPH’s business is driven by their physician partners in their existing centers that recommend the Practice Partners team to other physicians in need of a strategic partner and manager. PPH strives to focus on the right project, the right partner and the right fit.

Taylor’s team has the experience and execution needed to make projects successful, on time and exceeding expectations, and best of all, PPH’s development process is fee free. The company does not allocate expenses to the project; only out-of-pocket direct expenses. The company becomes a true partner by aligning with physician partners in the truest sense. As a manager and minority owner in centers, it makes sense to keep expenses as low as possible during the development and start-up phase.

Practice Partners works with both single and multi-specialty ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and currently operates in five states. The management team has prior experience in 34 states and a variety of specialties. PPH has eight centers in operation and multiple centers under construction.

Larry Taylor is president and CEO, and Mike Rickman is COO, of Practice Partners in Healthcare (PPH). They can be reached by visiting www.practicepartners.org.