Becker's ASC Review

47 GASTROENTEROLOGY 5 takeaways on GI practice management, private equity By Carly Behm T he COVID-19 pandemic is one fac- tor that's changed the private practice and management landscape for gastroenterologists, according to a paper written by United Digestive leaders. e article was authored by United Diges- tive CEO Mark Gilreath; Chief Strategy Officer Neal Patel, MD; Chief Medical Officer John Suh, MD and Joel Brill, MD, chief medical officer at Phoenix-based Pre- dictive Health. It is a follow-up to a 2019 publication in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology describing the market forces driving consolidation. Here are five key takeaways from "Gastro- enterology Physician Practice Management and Private Equity: riving in Uncertain Times": 1. Gastroenterology is seeing an explo- sion of private equity growth, and three platforms are dominating the space: Gastro Health, the GI Alliance and United Diges- tive. 2. A driving force of consolidation is physi- cians' desires to remain independent. Re- imbursement and payer negotiations have also put pressure on independent practices. 3. e COVID-19 pandemic allowed gastroenterology platforms to respond and adapt to the challenges physicians faced. More independent practices became inter- ested in joining a management organiza- tion. 4. Mergers and acquisitions may attract more publicity, but they don't always create value the same way organic growth initia- tives do. ey can also carry more risk with high complexity and high upside. 5. Some private practice models still hold onto a traditional leadership model with one decision-maker. However, most larger healthcare organizations have a dyad lead- ership model with expertise from physi- cians and non-physicians. n What are the most rewarding, challenging factors for gastroenterologists? By Carly Behm M ost gastroenterologists say making the world a better place or finding diagnoses for patients are the most rewarding aspects of their job, according to Medscape's Gastroenterologist Com- pensation Report 2021. Gastroenterologists surveyed by Med- scape from Oct. 6, 2020, through Feb. 11, 2021, also said regulations and work- ing long hours were among the most challenging factors in their profession. The most rewarding aspects: • Being very good at what I do/find- ing answers, diagnoses: 32 percent • Knowing I'm making the world a better place: 26 percent • Gratitude/relationships with pa- tients: 18 percent • Making good money at a job that I like: 10 percent • Being proud of being a doctor: 7 percent • Teaching: 4 percent The most challenging aspects: • Having so many rules and regula- tions: 22 percent • Dealing with difficult patients: 19 percent • Having to work long hours: 16 percent • Difficulties getting fair reimburse- ment from insurers: 13 percent • Working with an EHR system: 9 percent • Risks associated with treating CO- VID-19 patients: 8 percent • Worrying about being sued: 5 percent n 3 most significant issues in GI: Q&A with Mass General's Dr. Andrew Chan By Patsy Newitt Cancer screenings and disparities are some of the biggest issues in gastroen- terology, according to some GI leaders. Andrew Chan, MD, is Massachusetts General Hospital's chief of clinical and translational epidemiology unit and director of cancer epidemiology. He spoke with Becker's ASC Review about what he sees as pressing issues in the field. Here are the three most important issues in GI, according to Dr. Chan: 1. Gastroenterologists need to identify how they can best meet the demand for colorectal cancer screening in the U.S., Dr. Chan said. This is particularly important with the recently updated guidelines to reduce the age of initiation for screening to 45. 2. He also cited a need to eliminate disparities in access to gastrointestinal care. Gastroenterology is no exception to medical disparities. Black patients have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer of any racial group in the U.S. and twice the hepatitis C and liver cancer incidence as white patients, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. 3. Gastroenterology leaders also need to ensure a diverse workforce to provide GI care, Dr. Chan added. n

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