Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1252329
75 GASTROENTEROLOGY were acutely mindful of this when embarking on this transaction, and we worked closely with Mike and the rest of the Gastro One team to structure this partnership accordingly. With Mike as chairman, One GI is truly a clini- cian-led organization. e clinician-centric ethos permeates all aspects of the organization, from provider autonomy to clinical training and establishment of best demonstrated practices. MD: Location, location, location. We believe that geographic density is a must to establish the presence and clout to be highly relevant in whichever direction healthcare evolves as fee-for service dwindles. e business of healthcare is highly regional, and what drives success in one market does not necessarily apply to others. One GI's goal is to develop regional focus to ensure influence within our regional markets. Q: How will the platform grow going forward? MD: Our growth strategy is to partner with other great groups and give them access to all the benefits of One GI. I have spent my entire career develop- ing relationships and sharing best practices, both clinical and business, with other like-minded clinicians. Now that the platform has been established, we have several practices slated to join One GI. Our clinician-centric model with regional density, combined with the expertise Webster brings to the table, makes One GI an exciting opportunity for independent GI practices. JS: is is what we are most excited about. As the largest practice in Tennes- see and a national leader, Gastro One has built an excellent platform, but the opportunities for growth are boundless. We believe strongly in the benefits of scale and perhaps equally as strongly in the benefits of regional concentra- tion. Our goal is to expand the number of clinicians in the organization by partnering with high-quality, like-minded practices that prioritize clinical excellence. Our initial focus will be on the Midwest and Southeastern U.S., where Mike and his team are currently in discussions with several other exceptional practices. n How to reopen your endoscopy center By Eric Oliver T he American College of Gastroenterology released a guide for practices on reopening endoscopy centers, offering a comprehensive breakdown of the factors centers must consider before reopening. Here are three factors centers should weigh when considering reopening: 1. Centers should consider local government guidance; local hos- pital capacity; if COVID-19 cases and deaths are trending down- ward for 14 days; if a community is high or low risk; and whether communities have an ample supply of screening tests. 2. Centers should continue performing immediate and urgent GI procedures, and then add in elective cases like screening for colorectal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, gastric intestinal metapla- sia, and bariatric procedures when appropriate. Before perform- ing any case, centers should screen patients for COVID-19 before their procedure, then perform a number of symptom checks on the day of the procedure. 3. Centers must assess the availability of their staff and the avail- ability of personal protective equipment in the region before taking any action. n AmSurg ASC diagnoses patient with rectal cancer after colonoscopy — A delay could have been fatal By Angie Stewart L ike COVID-19, colon cancer is an invisible disease that can be fatal; it is the second- leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among men and women combined, according to AmSurg, a Nashville, Tenn.-based ASC man- agement company. Multiple states — including Florida — called for the suspension of "nonessential" procedures during the coronavirus pandemic, requiring surgery centers to decide when postponing a case could endanger a patient. AmSurg's Space Coast Endoscopy Center in Rockledge, Fla., is one center where tough calls like that have been made. One of the ASC's physicians performed a colo- noscopy on a 37-year-old patient, determining that her "somewhat benign symptoms" made the procedure necessary. After the colonoscopy, the patient was diagnosed with rectal cancer. "If our center were not open to proceed with her procedure, it may have been months before she had her colonoscopy, drastically changing her life story," AmSurg said in a news release. Space Coast Endoscopy Center decided to take steps to protect patients from COVID-19 while staying open to treat patients with similar urgent needs. Those measures included screening staff and patients, asking patient caregivers to wait outside, having staff wear N95 masks, enforcing social distancing within the facility, and wiping down the facility at least twice a day. The ASC also decided to waive upfront pay- ments for procedures, unless a patient wanted to pay. "Yes, procedure numbers are approximately a quarter of our usual caseload, yet we continue to play a vital role in our community as we abide by local/state health department guidelines while readying ourselves to assist however we can," AmSurg said. "We remain connected with the local police and fire marshal, assuring them of our support as they are truly on the frontlines of this pandemic." n