Health Care Social Media How-to

Anicca Media, a company founded by a physician and a sales professional, shares social media insight for health care practices with the infographic “Healthcare Social Media: Choose the Best Tools for the Job”.  Although selection is not an exact science, the graphic suggests social media platforms that are more effective in achieving some general practice goals, e.g.:  provide patient education or patient reminders, announce practice changes, etc. 

Source:  Anicca Media

The graphic places social media icons for seven common platforms on a scale from thumbs-down (not so great) to thumbs-up (better).  Near the right: good; near the left: not so good.
Click here to learn more and view the full graphic. 

Acadia Closer to $2B Goal

Acadia Healthcare Company, provider of behavioral health care in 20 states, just announced plans to add 8 more facilities to its 34 facility network by year-end.  With nearly $400M in planned acquisitions since September, Acadia’s latest two deals increases bed count by 25% and extends its footprint into Ohio.  

As part of the late November deal, Acadia will acquire Behavioral Centers of America (Sellers: Linden Capital Partners, Health Enterprise Partners and Siguler Guff & Co.) and AmiCare Behavioral Centers, each operating four facilities.  Acadia CEO, Joey Jacobs noted in a news release, 

“...We continue to consider additional acquisition opportunities in the fragmented inpatient behavioral health industry." 

Under Jacob's leadership, beginning in 2011, Acadia has grown from 6 to over 40 facilities.  At that time, Jacobs said that the company had potential to generate $2B in revenue from 100 facilities.  Acadia continues to move toward those goals.  >>Read more

New Partner for Anesthesia Specialty

U.S. Anesthesia Partners  (USAP) represents a new option for independent anesthesia physician groups to better position themselves for practice growth and success.  The new company is focused exclusively on the single-specialty of anesthesia and perioperative care.  It joins the financial backing of private equity firm Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe and expertise of industry executives, Kris Bratberg and John Rizzo.  

USAP will identify groups of anesthesia providers seeking a capital rich partner for practice infrastructure investments.  USAP’s business model includes IT systems investment to drive provider workflow efficiencies and management of perioperative care processes.  Equity ownership in the organization will be offered to physician partners. >>Read more  

SMART for Referral-based Businesses?

Leveraging a wave of interest in iPhones, iPads and Android devices (85% of doctors own them), a Las Vegas hospice jumped into the technology pool with an app for health care organizations. Developed and marketed by Nathan Adelson Hospice, the iRefer DR app enables a health care provider to send a referral directly to a recipient.  While initially developed for use by the hospice, the organization now markets a customized app for referral-based businesses in health care.  Customizable features include:  Company logo and “About”, “News”, “FAQ” and “Patient Information” tabs.

So, it’s one more for the Apple Store...   >>Read more

Impact of Retail Clinics on PCPs

A recently published study by the RAND Corporation examined whether a trip to one of the growing number of retail clinics would disrupt doctor-patient relationships.  
The results were mixed:

• Those visiting retail clinics were less likely to return to their primary care physician.
• Yet, no evidence revealed that retail clinic visits disrupted preventative medical care or diabetes management (key measurement of quality of care).

Rachel O. Reid, a study co-author noted,

"Retail clinics are still in their infancy and over time we may or may not observe a more negative impact of retail clinics on preventive care or continuity of medical care."

The study included a review of Aetna insurance claims from 2007-2009.  Patients visiting a retail clinic with an acute condition in 2008 were identified.  Researchers compared the retail clinic patient's pattern of care with those who visited a primary care physician for an acute condition during the same timeframe.   >>Read more

Self-insurance: Option for Small Firms?

While self-insurance has been the go-to option for large companies* - not so for small employers.  However, is there a market shift adrift?  In a recent blog post in Healthcare Finance News, Robert Laszewski keeps the discussion going.  He suggests that the movement by smaller employers to self-insurance is “on the cusp of becoming a market trend.”  With ACA implementation on the horizon, this isn’t a new topic.  In a 2011 report, the RAND Corporation outlined influential factors in an employer's decision to self-insure.  >>Read more

* 96% of workers in firms of 5,000+ covered by self-insured plans

Physical Therapist on 2012 Best Jobs List

CNNMoney’s recently published 2012 Best Jobs in America list includes 9 health care jobs in the top 50. The Physical Therapist title ranks ahead of other health care practitioners at #8.  The projected 10-year job growth rate for the profession is an impressive 39%.

Factors considered for the recent ranking include job growth, median salary and size of the field. Other health care titles among the Best Jobs Top 50 include: 

10.  Occupational Therapist

12.  Optometrist

16.  Physician Assistant

27.  Dentist

41.  Nurse Anesthetist

46.  Registered Nurse

47.  Family Physician

49.  Home Care Nurse

NextCare on a Roll in Southwest

October was an outstanding month for NextCare Urgent Care, one of the nation’s largest privately-owned providers of urgent care.  With the acquisition of Access Medical Centers, 9 clinics located in Oklahoma and Texas were brought under the NextCare banner.  Facilities in the Phoenix and Houston areas were also part of last month’s buying spree.

CEO John Julian recently announced a significant recapitalization with BMO Capital Markets positioning NextCare for rapid and continued expansion.

NextCare now operates 69 offices in 7 states including Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.