ASC Strategies. ASC Strategies is a privately-held ASC consulting company that works with hospitals, physicians and other professionals to help them develop and successfully operate surgery centers. Lead by ASC veterans Joan Dentler and Jessica Nantz, ASC Strategies specializes in conducting ASC assessments to review all aspects of existing center operations and identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and quality of care. In addition, ASC Strategies assists clients with ongoing operational oversight, CEO services, financial forecasting, strategic planning, as well as project feasibility, development and accreditation/licensing preparation. www.ascstrategies.com
Cirrus Healthcare. Cirrus has greatly expanded its growth and development over the past few years. The company is led by CEO Tim Parris, president John Thomas and general counsel Linda Moore. It also has a gifted CFO in Wayne Sparks. It has several hospitals and surgery centers in operation and continues to pursue growth. www.cirrushealth.com
The C/N Group. Founded in 1980 by Ravi Chopra, The C/N Group participates in the development, operation and ownership of outpatient healthcare facilities, including ASCs, diagnostic imaging centers and multi-specialty clinics. Family-owned and -operated, the company employs more than 200 people at its various facilities. Self-funded by members of the executive management team, including Rum Chopra and Raj Chopra, the firm has grown significantly over the last few years. www.thecng.com
Community Health Systems. CHS is an operator of 110 hospitals in 29 states. The Company had $7.2 Billion in revenues in 2007. CHS, with the acquisition of Triad, has grown into a sizable operator of ASCs. While principally a hospital company, it also has increased leadership, such as Tim Bogardus, in the ASC arena. www.chs.net
Congero Development. This company, which was traditionally a developer, has extensively grown to provide management and development services to surgical centers and other types of healthcare facilities. Led by Bruce Wallace and Kathy Wallace, the company has tremendous references and reviews on their services. Bruce Wallace, CEO, remains bullish about ambulatory surgical centers and about medical real estate in general. Congero is a minority owner in its centers and helps with the syndication and all aspects of the operating company. It also brings a tremendous amount of real estate experience to the company. www.congerodev.com
Covenant Surgical Partners. Nashville, Tenn.-based Covenant Surgical Partners is led by Michael Koban, Jr., chairman of the board of directors, and Richard Jacques, president and CEO. It acquires and operates single and limited specialty surgery centers in partnership with physicians. Mr. Koban has more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive in hospital management while Mr. Jacques has more than 15 years in the ASC industry, including holding positions at Surgical Health Group and AmSurg. Marnix E. Heersink, MD, is covenant’s vice chairman of the board of directors and chief medical officer, and is a founder and a member of the Southern Alabama Surgery Center. www.covenantsurgicalpartners.com
Elite Surgical Affiliates. Elite Surgical Affiliates, based out of Houston, manages and co-owns ambulatory surgical facilities with surgeons. It was founded by Lori Ramirez, CEO, who has more than 12 years experience in surgical development, operations and management. She has successfully partnered with more than 350 surgeons, played a critical role in recruiting more than 100 new surgeons and has been successful in restructuring and turning around failing partnerships. Elite Surgical Affiliates has a number of facilities under development, including two orthopedic and pain management joint ventures and a spine hospital. www.elitesurgicalaffiliates.com
Facilities Development & Management. FDM is led by Ed Hetrick, president and CEO, and Ellen Johnson, vice president and COO. The company, a terrific growth story, was founded in 1992. It provides consultative, developmental and managerial services for ASCs nationwide. Since its founding in 1992 by Mr. Hetrick, the company has developed close to 50 ASCs. FDM also partners in de novo centers with physicians and hospitals, and also re-syndicates existing ASCs. www.facdevmgt.com
Foundation Surgery Affiliates. This company, with nearly 20 facilities, was founded in 1996 by Thomas A. Michaud, a pioneer in the ASC industry, who continues to oversee significant expansion in ASCs and hospitals. The company operates centers in many states, and many of these centers are very successful. It has branched out into the business of bariatrics (weight-wise), CBO services, ancillary physician services and training and the operation of hospitals. www.foundationsurgery.com
Global Surgical Partners. GSP operates nine multi-specialty ASCs in two states. The company’s centers’ activities are decentralized, but the administrators are employed by GSP, which takes a very hands-on approach financially and clinically. Headed up by J.A. Ziskind and Ken Arvin, GSP enters into long-term management agreements and acquires minority interests in its centers. www.globalsurgicalpartners.com
