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GI/ENDOSCOPY
10 key business trends for GI physicians and centers
in 2018 & beyond
By Laura Dyrda
H
ere are 10 key business trends for
gastroenterologists and gastroenter-
ology centers today and in the future.
1. Increased patient awareness of
colorectal cancer. In 2018, more than
140,000 Americans are expected to receive a
colorectal cancer diagnosis, according to the
American Cancer Society, a diagnosis that
results in around 50,000 deaths nationally.
However, preventive screenings are also
increasingly detecting colorectal cancer early.
"Patient awareness that colorectal cancer
is highly preventable, coupled with an ag-
ing demographic within our society and a
trend toward preventative medicine, are the
biggest economic factors impacting GI facili-
ties," said Barry Tanner, CEO of Jamison,
Pa.-based Physicians Endoscopy. "From a
political/regulatory perspective, there is a
growing trend toward increasing the screen-
ing percentage of the eligible population
and toward earlier screening based upon a
significant increase in colon cancer in the
under-50 years old population."
2. With the updated guidelines,
younger patients are undergoing
colonoscopies. Earlier this year, the
American Cancer Society updated its guide-
line, recommending adults with an average
risk of colorectal cancer begin screening
at age 45 instead of 50. According to the
organization, the rate of colorectal cancer
for people under 55 years old increased 51
percent from 1994 to 2014. e guidelines
recommend regular screening for six dif-
ferent tests, including colonoscopy every 10
years.
3. There is an impending gastroen-
terologist shortage. e population of
Americans over the age of 55 years is also
expected to increase in the coming years,
making it more important than ever for
gastroenterologists to take the lead in screen-
ing patients. However, there is a shortage of
board-certified gastroenterologists heading
into the next decade.
"Currently, there are many more gastroen-
terologists nearing retirement than there are
newly trained gastroenterologists entering
the profession," said Mr. Tanner. Counter-
balancing that, however, is the fact that
gastroenterologists in general are extending
their working career for a variety of reasons.
4. Independence in many markets
may require consolidation. There
are opportunities across the country for
gastroenterologists to run their practice
independently, and many specialists are
joining larger groups or organizations to
avoid hospital employment. "Preparing
to stay independent and vibrant in many
markets today may mean consolidation
into a larger practice and surrendering
some degree of autonomy in favor of being
able to provide for the four key elements
of success," said Mr. Tanner. The four ele-
ments of success include:
• Delivering outstanding patient care
• Maximizing efficiency from both a
clinical and cost perspective
• Attracting new GI physicians to the
practice
• Ability to meet the needs of new GI
physicians from a lifestyle, financial
and diversity perspective
"Preparing for this involves both self-exami-
nation from a practice perspective and iden-
tification of what is truly important about
the independent practice of gastroenterol-
ogy," Mr. Tanner said. "What I mean by that
is identifying what is truly important from
what would be nice to have. is is likely to
be quite different from one physician to the
next and therefore compromise will be an
important part of preparedness."
5. The reimbursement landscape is
relatively stable for GI, but practice
costs are steadily on the rise. "For
many years GI physicians have been able to
overcome significant decreases in profes-
sional reimbursements by working harder
and smarter — more efficiently," said Mr.
Tanner. "Unfortunately, the days of work-
ing harder and smarter are to a very large
extent over. What is keeping GI practices
comfortable today is access to ancillary
revenue streams."
6. Self-pay could be an opportu-
nity for gastroenterologists in the
Gastro Health completes South Florida
Gastroenterology Associates acquisition —
5 insights
By Eric Oliver
M
iami-based Gastro Health
closed its acquisition of
Boynton Beach-based South
Florida Gastroenterology Associates,
rebranding the practice's several
locations under the Gastro Health
banner.
Here's what you should know:
1. Gastro Health announced the
acquisition in April.
2. The acquisition more than doubled
Gastro Health's presence in Palm
Beach County, with the group ac-
quiring locations in Boynton Beach,
Jupiter, Fla., and Lake Worth, Fla.
3. Gastro Health also expanded its
footprint in Boca Raton, Fla., Delray
Beach, Fla., and Wellington, Fla.
4. Gastro Health now has 119 physi-
cians in 55 Florida-based offices.
5. Gastro Health CEO Joseph Garcia
said, "We are pleased to welcome
SFGA's patients, physicians and pro-
fessionals to the Gastro Health family.
This important collaboration helps us
serve more patients and strengthens
our focus on delivering a market-
leading healthcare experience." n
