Author's note: This is the first of a two-part series. In December 2018, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates partnered with Frazier Healthcare Partners to form the practice management company United Digestive (UD). Since that time, colleagues across the country have evaluated their own private equity prospects and partnerships, as well as monitored the progress of our transition.
Our guiding principle is to provide a best-in-class operational infrastructure, so independent gastroenterologists can focus on delivering the highest quality patient care. Thus, in the first year, significant efforts and capital have been invested into United Digestive’s scalable platform to promote organic growth, as well as facilitate a smooth transition for other groups and physicians joining the team. So how are things going? Enjoy this two-part article where we reached out to several team members from all levels within the organization and asked them to share their personal experiences – both highlights and challenges – during UD’s first year. Here’s what they had to say.
During the COVID-19 crisis, how has UD management responded? How has the UD management services organization model affected partner level physician (PLP) compensation?
Dr. Marc Rosenberg, UD Physician Executive Committee member:
- “Immediately, the entire leadership team recognized the threat of COVID to our community, patients, staff, and business. A multidisciplinary task force including clinical and business leaders utilized our PE partner’s vast resources, local hospital expertise, national societal recommendations and colleagues’ experiences from around the country to focus on protocols and procedures to protect our patients and staff. A few of the team’s timely decisions included: closing the majority of our patient fronting services, transitioning to telehealth, hiring an infection control consultant, allowing physical distancing of our staff with off sight work, instituting symptomatic pathways, donating personal protective gear to local hospitals, covering all benefits as well as provided resources to obtain government benefits to furloughed team members, developing a provider wellness program, and encouraging hospital coverage considerations for high risk providers. I also know the team is focusing on how we re-open at the appropriate time with necessary safety considerations, like investigating testing options and ensuring appropriate PPE is in place. The collaboration between clinical and business leadership has been tremendous through this evolving and challenging period. As for UD physician partner compensation, our model is uniquely organized such that the MSO covers all overhead expenses with partners contributing a fixed percentage of a partner’s collections, while others typically share overhead expenses. During uncertain times, like the COVID-19 crisis, it is reassuring to partners to know that they are not responsible for the cost of infrastructure (i.e. leases, capital equipment, EHR system, consultants, etc.) and staffing, including current and new associates.”
With formation of United Digestive as an MSO, has your day-to-day work life changed or your clinical decision-making been impacted?
Dr. Aja McCutchen, UD Physician Executive Committee Member:
- “With the formation of UD, my daily work life has changed very little; however, with their focus on improving “back-office” functions, my schedule is now fully optimized by reducing gaps from cancellations with same-day/next-day scheduling. In addition, the patient experience has been enhanced with decreased wait times, easier appointment scheduling, and quicker access to support staff. The procurement of business intelligence tools, and, more importantly, the implementation of dashboards, has provided much needed visibility across the organization allowing managerial decisions to be driven by accurate data.
From a clinical decision-making standpoint, Atlanta Gastroenterology was already armed with strong clinical teams and committees. We have been able to build upon our pre-existing committees and optimize their ability to steward best practices and develop clinical pathways. This, in turn, translates to consistency across the organization in the delivery of evidence-based, comprehensive GI care.”
Kimberly Orleck, PA-C, Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Supervisor:
- “The formation of UD has not affected my clinical decision-making abilities. In fact, this new platform is dedicated to empowering and establishing APPs as independent clinicians with appropriate physician oversight. As a result, I have welcomed more administrative responsibilities and have become more involved in business meetings and decision making. We have worked together to better utilize APPs using data to match supply with demand.”
Physician compensation improvement is typically a key concern for physicians who work with private equity MSOs. How has United Digestive performed for its partner-level physicians in year one?
Dr. Marc Rosenberg:
- “The MSO has helped to improve physician income – slowly at first and now on a steeper trajectory. We have been ahead of expected income improvement based on models we reviewed when evaluating the formations of an MSO in potential partnership with Frazier Healthcare Partners. United Digestive’s EBIDTA, of which each partner-level physician owns a significant percentage through shares from rollover proceeds, has grown impressively in one year. This has been achieved mostly through significant organic growth and to a lesser degree through mergers and acquisitions. UD has helped to enhance the bottom line through increased reimbursements from payor negotiated contracts, new revenue-generating service lines, and operational efficiencies.”
Dr. Patel and Dr. Sonnenshine are with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates in Atlanta, which is part of United Digestive. They have no conflicts.
*This story was updated on 6/1/2020.
