Medical practice consultants that work with physicians who are considering selling or merging their practices almost often discover that these transactions are the most significant financial events in the doctor's life. The final disposition of a practice that the physician created is frequently identified as one of the most significant emotional experiences in the doctor's life.
Expert in the field of medical mergers and acquisitions A single, simple premise, articulated by James Paterek, serves as the foundation for the successful sale or merger of a medical practice:
Before you attempt to close a sale, be sure your practice is in good shape. Before you ever consider selling or merging your firm, you should address staff issues, vendor relations, and liability concerns. It is essential for sellers to be thoroughly aware and well organized in order to avoid any type of delay, surprise, or mistake that could result in embarrassment or even the loss of a sale. Accepting future owners of the practice with the same compassion that the founders would wish for themselves is a good indicator of successful and easy interpersonal interactions that will lead to the conclusion of the transaction.
For physicians who are considering retiring from their practice, James Paterek reminds them that getting organized is similar to sticking to the accepted standard of practice. Simply put, it is the best thing to do in and of itself. It demonstrates concern for the buyer or new partners, as well as for the company's employees. It is the foundation for a successful sale or merger transaction.
What are the considerations that physicians should take into account before selling or transferring their practices?
The timing of the sale is critical. Take into consideration the time of the sale. Many physicians do not wait until they are ready to retire before selling their practices. They sell their practices in the middle of their careers, when the value of their assets is at its peak, in order to alter the way they practice medicine.
Transferring the practice before the conclusion of the physician's career means that the new owners will have access to more professional resources and administrative support than they would otherwise have. Doctors in their mid-career have a lot of influence with payers, have a greater chance of receiving internal referrals from new owners, and have a better chance of striking a balance between their personal and professional lives.
It is critical to clearly define the objectives of the transaction. It is critical for sellers to understand exactly what they want to receive out of the sale, not only in terms of cash but also in terms of continuous practice possibilities after the sale. These assists sellers in identifying the most appropriate purchasers for their businesses.
The buyer of a medical practice may be a newly graduated physician who is looking to establish his or her first office. A small group of specialists, a mid-sized group looking for additional patients, a major specialty group entering a new market, or a hospital or healthcare system are all examples of buyers in the healthcare industry. Even though the buyer's objectives have an impact on what the market will bear, a more crucial estimate is the fair market value of the practice.
Patient relationships are extremely useful in and of themselves James Paterek advises you to give the gift of your good reputation. Having a positive reputation is really valuable. You take your reputation with you when you leave your practice; but, the expectations of your patients are left behind. Buyers place a high value on the goodwill of patients, staff, vendors, and members of the greater community in general. There are no generally accepted accounting practices for determining the monetary value of this type of goodwill, but the value of your practice is only increased if you leave rules and operating procedures in place that encourage the new owners to benefit from the same goodwill that you have created.
Because there are so many other intangibles that contribute to the fair market worth of your practice, you should not be concerned. In terms of goodwill, the American Medical Association lists the following factors: location, payer mix, collections rate, and growth rates in the patent pool. Sellers and purchasers can arrive at prices based on empirical evidence and reasonable expectations of future profits with the assistance of a financial expert—and not every attorney, CPA, or MBA has expertise in assessing goodwill—with the help of a financial expert.
A successful outcome is dependent on the selection of the appropriate specialist. Millbrook Support Services, Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and allied healthcare staffing services to government agencies, specifically the Department of Veterans Affairs. James L. Paterek is the Chief Operating Officer of Millbrook Support Services, Inc. James Paterek is also the founder and CEO of Paterek & Company, a private consulting firm specializing in the Human Capital sector, which includes staffing, outsourcing, and consulting businesses. James Paterek has over 20 years of experience in the industry.