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Does Your Practice Need a Strategic Checkup?

The healthcare landscape is continuously changing. This evolving environment brings many challenges to healthcare organizations, particularly independent physician practices.

Spectrum Management Services Company (SMSC) has an experienced leadership team with deep knowledge of healthcare market trends and activities.

“I personally have more than 30 years of experience in physician practice management, healthcare economics, health policy, strategic planning, governance, managed care contracting, revenue cycle management, and healthcare informatics,” notes David Landry, CEO of SMSC. 

As a private practice, working with a leader or a team of leaders with this depth of expertise is critical to your success. Our experience offers the ideal foundation upon which your organization’s mission can build successfully. “It’s important for your practice’s leader to keep the mission and vision of the company in the forefront of the growth strategy,” adds David.

Here’s what to look for if you’re ready for leadership with strategic vision.

1. A strategic leader will consider both short-term and long-term challenges.

A wide range of local, regional, and national challenges can affect physician practices. These include such things as legislative changes, compliance issues, local or regional market dynamics, and even patient preferences.

The challenging part is that some of the impacts of these changes are obvious and immediately felt, whereas others are less apparent and erode a practice’s livelihood over time — sometimes without detection. This is why it is critical to maintain a strategic mindset.

When a change occurs or is on the horizon, it is very easy to fall into the trap of being reactionary with a sharp focus on the immediate issue. This can prevent you from considering the longer-term implications, as well as other aspects that may be affecting the success of the practice and the attenuating environmental issues.

“Similarly, even in times when things are seemingly going well it is imperative to continue to evaluate the environment and changes in the regulatory or market dynamics,” explains David. “This will help you to be prepared for the inevitable changes that are a hallmark of the healthcare industry.”

2. Strategic leaders keep their finger on the pulse of healthcare industry trends.

Awareness is key.

“I have worked with hundreds of physician practices across the United States over the past 30 years,” notes David. “The most successful practices are able to adopt and implement business, operational, and financial strategies that incorporate a wide variety of inputs.”

3. Strategic leaders develop a financial strategy that secures & diversifies revenue opportunities.

To improve a practice’s strategic plan, we need to look at both sides of the ledger. While expense management is an important part of maintaining the organization’s financial health, cost cutting in and of itself is not strategic.

“New ways for a company to bring in revenue are always possible. Your leadership should be consistently identifying these to continue marked growth and success in your organization,” explains David.

Securing and diversifying revenue opportunities in conjunction with ensuring the effectiveness of organizational spending will create a platform for long-term success.

Along the way, careful reporting and analyzing of data is key, because it is your only quantitative assessment of growth. Reviewing data not only allows you to spot markers of success, but also enables you to determine any needed adjustments in the strategy.  

4. SMSC has a track record of success in helping clients improve revenue, achieve growth, & operate more efficiently.

SMSC has worked with clients across the country. While each organization is unique, there are universal issues they all face. We have experience in assisting clients with a myriad of challenges, and a demonstrated track record of success in helping them improve revenue, achieve growth, and operate more efficiently.

“I have worked with many types of physician groups over my 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership,” notes David, “and this work brings me a great deal of professional satisfaction. I enjoy many aspects of working with our clients but probably the thing that excites me most is building relationships.”

He adds, “As the CEO of SMSC, I look to the wide variety of expertise that is readily available within our organization. I’ve invested in the people of this company, and they are the most important piece of our own growth strategy. I believe that they will be the key to your success as well. When you partner with SMSC you have access to me and to our other practice leaders.”

Whether it’s navigating a new opportunity, negotiating with a hospital or payer, or expanding a service line, in the end building sustainable long-term partnerships is what makes us all successful.

Regardless of the issues facing your practice, please consider

SMSC as a partner that can assist you in reaching your goals as an organization. We look forward to speaking to you about the vision of your organization.

To contact David Landry directly, email him here

Find out more about SMSC’s Executive Management & Practice Leadership here.

SMSC offers a full suite of practice management services either collectively or on an a la carte basis:

Credentialing & Payor EnrollmentMarketing, Communications & Analysis
Executive Management & Practice LeadershipPayor Contracting
Financial Strategy & SupportPhysician Recruitment
Fractional Executives & LeadershipQuality, Risk & Patient Experience
Human Resources & Employee DevelopmentRCM & Billing Services
Information Technology Revenue Integrity

The Strategic Advantage of Hiring Fractional Executives for Your Healthcare Practice

In the rapidly evolving world of healthcare, managing a practice efficiently while staying ahead of industry trends and changes can be a daunting task. Healthcare practices often face the challenge of needing high-level executive leadership without the full-time commitment or expense. This is where the concept of fractional executives comes into play, offering a strategic solution that blends expertise with flexibility.

What are Fractional Executives?

Fractional executives are highly experienced professionals who provide their expertise on a part-time basis. Unlike traditional full-time executives, these professionals may work for multiple organizations, dedicating a fraction of their time to each. This arrangement is particularly beneficial for roles such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), or Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Why Hire a Fractional Executive?

There are many reasons an organization might hire a fractional executive. In some cases, fractional executives can fill an interim need while searching for a full-time hire. For many small- to mid-size practices, hiring a full-time executive may not be financially feasible, or even necessary, so fractional executives can provide an excellent complement to an existing administrative team. 

1. Cost-effectiveness

One of the most significant advantages of hiring a fractional executive is cost effectiveness. A fractional executive provides your practice with experienced leadership, but the cost and time effort are customized to your organization’s budget and needs.

2. Expertise and Experience

Fractional executives bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from working with multiple organizations. Sometimes these executives are focused on a single specialty or have experience with multiple specialties. The diversity of their experience can be invaluable, offering fresh perspectives and innovative solutions that a practice may not have considered. A fractional executive can introduce best practices and strategies that have proven successful elsewhere.

3. Flexibility and Scalability

A fractional executive can provide the necessary leadership during critical growth phases, strategic pivots, or challenging times without the long-term commitment. This flexibility allows practices to scale their executive involvement up or down based on current needs.

4. Objective Insight

An external fractional executive can offer an unbiased, objective perspective on the practice’s operations. This external viewpoint can be crucial for identifying areas of improvement, driving change, and ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the organization.

5. Focus on Core Competencies

By delegating executive responsibilities to a fractional hire, physicians and/or healthcare practice administration can focus on their core competencies. This allows medical professionals to concentrate on patient care, knowing that the strategic and operational aspects of the business are in capable hands.

6. Speed and Agility

Fractional executives are typically seasoned professionals who can hit the ground running. Their experience enables them to quickly assess situations, make informed decisions, and implement strategies efficiently. This agility can be crucial in the fast-paced healthcare environment where timely decision-making is often essential.

Fractional Executive Examples

Consider a healthcare practice that wishes to improve the performance of some of its service lines. The practice needs strategic guidance to manage growth but does not need and cannot afford a full-time executive. Hiring a fractional COO or CRO with a proven track record in improving operations and increasing practice revenue can help the practice successfully achieve its objectives. In this example, the fractional executive might be engaged with the practice for a fixed period of time to tackle acute issues, or on an ongoing basis to provide long-term support.

Another example is a small clinic with the objective to enhance its financial health. A fractional CFO can step in to streamline financial operations, implement effective budgeting processes, and identify cost-saving opportunities. Once the clinic’s financial health stabilizes, the fractional CFO can transition out, having provided immense value without the long-term financial commitment.

SMSC provides a comprehensive suite of practice management services that helps build and sustain successful, thriving clinical organizations. We have expert teams that provide fractional executive services as well as support in areas such as physician recruitment, credentialing and other medical staff services, payor contracting, financial strategy, marketing, and more.