New Accelerated Program Addresses Women's Issues

In October, Accelerated Physical Therapy is rolling out a Women's Health Program targeting unique female health conditions.  In describing the new program, Christina M. Christie, PT, CCE,  FAFS, FMR explained "…in conjunction with your physician, we design an individualized program to address the core of the problem to decrease symptoms and assist a woman in achieving her goals to return to normal daily activities…"

Women health specialists will be available at 25 select Accelerated's locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin.

>>Read or View more about the Accelerated Women's Health Program.

MD Now Urgent Care - 30 sites by 2015

Florida's busy urgent care provider, MD Now Urgent Care, is expanding…again.  With the opening of the eleventh location, it has become the largest independent non-hospital Urgent Care company in South Florida.

The company was established in 2004 and has grown rapidly offering residents of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties an alternative to a local crowded and costly hospital ER.  The recent opening of its Plantation, FL location fuels its growth plans.  According to MD Now CEO, Dr. Peter Lamelas, company plans include "upwards of 30 Urgent Care Centers throughout South Florida by 2015".

Read more about this growing urgent care provider.

Physiotherapy Associates Hits Bankruptcy Road

Physiotherapy Associates, the Exton, PA based rehabilitation service provider company, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  Accounting concerns along with a $325M debt load are reportedly at the core of the bankruptcy.  Physiotherapy operates 575 outpatient rehab and O&P clinics in 34 states.

The firm was a 2012 acquisition by Court Square Capital Partners - part of a trend toward increased PE investments in healthcare over the past few years.  Physiotherapy Associates is NOT headed down the bankruptcy road alone.  Rotech Healthcare, a home medical equipment company and Rural/Metro Corp., a provider of ambulance services hit the path earlier this year.  >>Read more

Source:  wsj.com

ATI Sails into the Southeast

ATI, one of the country's leading physical rehabilitation companies, again moved outside its Midwest base.  The recent acquisition of North River Physical Therapy extends its coverage into the Southeast US.  ATI brings on board eight Chattanooga, TN-area locations which includes a northern Georgia location.  According to ATI, Senior VP, Jason Hafner, the former owners of North River will stay on and continue "steering the ship…"

With the North River acquisition, ATI tops 275 locations in ten states.   It is the largest operator of comprehensive outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation clinics unified under one name. >>Read more

PE healthcare deals ▼ 65%

The healthcare sector has been lackluster when it comes to its share of PE deals in 2013, according to Thomson Reuters data. 

Check out 2013 vs. 2012 activity (Jan 1 - Sept 11):
2013:  268 deals valued at $5B
2012:  292 deals valued at $14.26B

A principal at The Riverside Company, Joseph Ibrahim, offers a differing perspective on this year's healthcare deal activity.  That is, middle-market M&A activity has not experienced a significant decline.  In fact, Ibrahim reveals "…[In terms of healthcare M&A], it was one of the strongest June, July and August [periods]."
 
Ibrahim's middle-market industry insight suggests there is a "backlog of deals that will come to market".   Certainly, that activity would demonstrate continued strength in this healthcare segment.  >>Read more

What triggered the overall healthcare PE deal slowdown in 2013?  Was it Obamacare uncertainty, "hangover effect"  from 2012, or...?  Let us know your thoughts.

Source:  PE Hub

21 Ways to Be a Better Leader…

Les McKeown has been around the proverbial block…with 40 companies and a few books under his belt, he knows about success.  McKeown's latest book, "The Synergist:  How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success" suggests he also knows about effective leadership skills.

Inc. offered up McKeown's quick (and really logical) list of Do's and Don'ts for being a better leader.  Several are noted below:  

• Ask "What can I do for you?"
• Distrust what you trust.
• Ask more than you tell.
• Be present.
• Be nice.

Click here to check out the rest of the list.  As the intro states…it's not rocket science!  What else would you add to the list?

Source:  Inc.