Kory Razaghi Healthcare Consulting
Demand for healthcare consultants has increased over the past five years due to significant regulatory changes, technological innovations, financial pressures and market dynamics. According to Irving Levin Associates’ Hospital Acquisition Report, hospital deal volume increased 14 percent annually from 2009 through 2013. Moreover, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act expanded access to healthcare to millions of Americans, driving growth in the overall healthcare sector and increasing demand for specialty consulting services. However, budgets remained tight for many healthcare organizations due to the changes in reimbursement and regulatory environments.
Over the next five years, industry is expected to continue its upward trajectory yielding a significant opportunity in the evolution of the U.S. health system from volume- to value-based care. This transition is spurred by widespread efforts to control/reduce costs, improve outcomes, and obtain more value for money spent. In addition, both vertical consolidation (health systems acquiring physician practices, ambulatory centers, diagnostic centers, home care services, and durable medical equipment and wellness companies) and horizontal consolidation (hospitals acquiring other hospitals) has been increasing, despite heightened regulatory scrutiny.This transformation is providing ample opportunities for professionals with specialized skill sets that can support organizations as they prepare for this evolution.
Two particular areas of Specialization that will be in high demand in the current environment include:
Transaction Advisory – with the volume of mergers and acquisitions combined with the growing complexity of deals and the evolving deal processes in the healthcare space provides ample opportunity for consulting firms that can provide specialized service offerings. Professionals with healthcare transaction expertise and access to capital markets can play an important role for their clients as they seek to navigate through the financing process.
Operational Advisory– It is critical for hospital operations to be integrated with the organization’s strategy and financial performance and must run at peak performance in order to achieve the key objectives in order to survive in value-based world.Professionals with experience at the C-suite executives, department directors, and business office and systems improvement consultants who have a strong record of significant improvements in rural, urban hospitals and healthcare systems will be in high demand. Expertise in assessing and improving operations and reducing costs to support new payment and coordinated care delivery models will be of particular interest.
As the healthcare organizations transition to value-based care environments, experts with extensive industry experience can play an important role in evaluating current performance, applying best practice methodologies, identifying improvement opportunities to drive the evolution of hospital operations.
Aptus Advisors Inc, a healthcare consultancy, managed by Kory Razaghi, provides Capital Strategy & Capital Projects Consulting, and operational turnaround services to healthcare organizations including community, children’s, government/public, and critical access hospitals, as well as healthcare sector focused private equity firms.
Learn more about Mr. Razaghi visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kory-razaghi-51620b