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8 ASC MANAGEMENT Bringing in Young Blood to Your ASC: 4 Considerations for Recruiting Physician Investors By Mary Rechtoris R ecruiting young physician investors can bring in new cases and add young blood to an ASC's mix of investors. Surgery centers, in turn, can offer physicians freedom they may not have in other health- care environments. "A doctor would want to work in an ASC because if they are owners, they can make decisions on day- to-day operations," says Paul Eiseman, vice presi- dent of business development for Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health. "is is something that is not always possible in the hospital." Here are four considerations when recruiting physician investors: 1. Debt and other expenses may limit young physician's investing capabilities. Coming out of residency, many physicians face a series of financial obstacles. Physicians do not accumulate a large amount of capital to make them well-suited for a large investment im- mediately following their fellowship or residency. Additionally, many potential investors have or want to start a family, which does not come cheap in 2016. Aer medical school, physicians are faced with $166,750 in medical debt, on average, according to CBS News. However, all hope is not lost as physicians without an influx of capital can take on less ownership, with the ASC possibly restructuring their ownership down the line. "Everyone can't take on the same amount of debt," Mr. Eiseman says. "ere may be opportunities down the road when someone cashes out and the center can restructure its ownership." In some cases, a bank may provide a physician a loan for the equity, giving that physician the opportunity to invest in the ASC. 2. Hospitals are seeing ASCs as an ally. e drive for low-cost, high quality care is allowing hospital-employed physicians to invest in surgery centers. "Surgery centers are a more cost-effective way to do outpatient sur- gery than a unit of a hospital," Mr. Eiseman says. "Hospitals are in- creasingly joint venturing with ASCs for the purpose of doing surger- ies in a lower cost environment." e adversarial-turned-ally relationship has allowed more hospital- employed physicians to become investors. "e business of employed physicians becoming partners was unheard of, and now, it is," Mr. Eiseman says. "Hospitals are finding this to be a great recruiting tool for new surgeons, and also very helpful in retaining the physician aer their contract ends." 3. Highlight the benefits ASCs offer. Surgery centers provide physicians a valuable resource — flexibility. e younger generations of physicians have a greater desire for work-life balance as opposed to older generations. ASCs can offer surgeons a faster turnaround time between cases, creating a fast-paced, efficient environment. ASCs can also offer block time scheduling, so a surgeon does not have to travel back-and-forth between cases. "Because you can make decisions about how you work, you can be more efficient," Mr. Eiseman says. "is gives you an opportunity to earn more assuming you have the business. is all contributes in a positive way to work-life balance." 4. Recruit a physician who would mesh well with exist- ing physician investors. Not every physician would make a great partner for an ASC, and ASCs should ensure they are fully aware of a physician's reputation. Mr. Eiseman explains, "Ten cases from this guy are not the same as 10 cases from the next guy." When selecting a possible investor, go out into the community and ask other physicians you respect about young physicians they enjoy work- ing with. Ask your existing partners who they would want to bring on as a partner. "Surgeons want to know who they are operating next to and how they will impact the surgery center," Mr. Eiseman says. "Choose well-re- spected, high quality doctors that are recommended by hospitals." n Paul Eiseman Mississippi Valley Surgery Center Commemorates 20 Years: 5 Things to Know By Mary Rechtoris T his month marks Davenport, Iowa-based Missis- sippi Valley Surgery Center's 20th anniversary providing outpatient services to local residents. Here are five things to know: 1. Since its inception in 1996, MVSC has provided outpa- tient services to Quad City residents. 2. To meet patient demand, MVSC opened a second location, Mississippi Valley Endoscopy Center, in 2004. MVEC offers GI procedures, and enabled MVSC to ex- pand its offerings. 3. Nearly 10 years ago, MVSC became the first ambula- tory surgery center in the state to offer outpatient total joint replacements. The center's surgeons have replaced more than 1,300 hips, knees, ankles and shoulders since 2006. The providers also offer minimally invasive spine procedures. 4. Last year, MVSC and MVEC partnered with Surgi- cal Care Affiliates and Unity Point Health. Through the partnership, they are continually working on new strate- gies to increase value, lower costs and expand offerings through risk-based sharing opportunities. 5. MVSC and MVEC surgeons perform nearly 9,000 cases each year, and are comprised of 20 physician owners. n