Fondren Orthopedic Group, a physician-owned orthopedic practice serving the Houston area, is opening its first ASC. And according to COO Joshua Smith, the driving force behind it is simple: increased caseloads of patients want care closer to home, on their terms.
Mr. Smith said the decision to build an ASC was not about chasing a trend.
“It really comes down to accommodating our patients in their community,” he said. “There are a lot of benefits to bringing an ambulatory surgery center closer to home for these patients.” Cost and convenience, he said, are the two factors patients care about most, and both point toward the ASC model.
That demand is also being shaped by a broader shift toward site neutrality, which Mr. Smith said is making it easier and more affordable for patients to have certain orthopedic procedures done outside a traditional hospital setting. He also said Texas’ physician-friendly regulatory environment made the move more feasible, adding that the lack of red tape frees physicians to focus on what patients need rather than administrative hurdles.
Mr. Smith attributed part of Fondren’s growth to the value of physician ownership. He said that growth relies on keeping decision-making in the hands of the people closest to patients.
“The people who are driving and making decisions in a physician-owned model are the people who are sitting in the exam rooms directly with the patient,” he said. “They understand what’s important to the patient.”
The new ASC will provide general orthopedics, sports medicine and pain procedures, with physicians evaluating whether spine, total joints and physical medicine and rehabilitation make sense to add later.
Underlying all of it, Mr. Smith pointed to two forces increasing demand across the region: an aging population driving projected growth in total joint procedures, and Houston’s continued population boom. Fondren’s location in Kingwood, Texas is separately moving to a larger space this November to keep up.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
