OBL / ASC Business Pearls

In this episode, vascular surgeon Dr. Jim Melton and interventional radiologist Dr. Blake Parsons join our host Dr. Aaron Fritts to discuss how they set up the vision and structure of their Outpatient-Based Lab/Ambulatory Surgery Center (OBL/ASC).

Dr. Melton begins by describing how he saw a need to make the surgery experience more patient-centered, which ultimately led him to co-found CardioVascular Health Clinic in 2015. He highlights the importance of staffing his clinic with talented individuals and strategies for retaining talent. Dr. Melton also describes how the practice navigates partnerships, pay structures, and expenses.

Dr. Parsons shares his advice for marketing OBLs to referring physicians. This includes staying in touch with local providers, keeping them updated on their patients, and hosting educational events. He also covers their clinic’s process of updating and changing technology, which involves team meetings and potential vendor negotiation. Additionally, we cover virtual strategies for communicating with sales representatives during the COVID era.

Overall, the doctors emphasize that the OBL path is risky, but it can turn out to be very rewarding for both patients and providers.