North Houston Anesthesiologists joined San Antonio-based STAR Anesthesia.
Here are five key notes:
1. STAR Anesthesia looks to expand its network of physician-owned medical care with the North Houston Anesthesiologists addition. The NHA physicians and anesthesia professionals have served north Houston for more than 25 years.
2. NHA will keep its name as a division of STAR. The change officially occurred on Feb. 1, 2016.
3. Eighteen physicians make up NHA's team. They cover all surgical procedures along with two certified registered nurse anesthetists and six anesthesiologist assistants.
4. While many of the other anesthesia groups in Houston are selling their practices to large private equity corporations, NHA chose STAR because of the physician-directed model. "They believe as we do that corporate medicine marginalizes the importance of the physician and erodes the service we provide," said NHA's Scott Huie, MD.
5. STAR plans to welcome additional anesthesiologists across Texas in the future. There are more than 200 physicians who have been part of the group over the past 30 years.
"At STAR Anesthesia, we believe that all quality anesthesiologists who want to put forth the time and effort should become stakeholders," said Ralph F. Erian, STAR president. "Seventy-five percent of our physicians are shareholders and many of those who aren't are in the process of becoming partners, Physicians who are more engaged are happier and deliver better care."