Surgical Partnerships in NYC: What They Are and How They Work

As a healthcare provider, you likely already know that surgery is a team effort. Health systems rely on collaboration and multi-specialty physician practices to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. A surgery partner might be just what you need to advance your services to the next level.

When it comes to simplifying your practice’s operations, you have options. You can go with a management company, staffing agency, or shared medical practice. However, surgical partnerships are often the best tools, resulting in high-quality care for both patients and hardworking professionals.

Learn more about the benefits of shared surgical services and how to find the best surgical partnership in NYC.

What Surgical Partnerships Look Like

Physician partners have always been around, and surgery partners are similar in many ways. However, surgical partnerships focus more on renting operating rooms, access to skilled surgical support staff, and environments with professional accreditation for patient safety and quality of care.

Operating Room Rental

Owning a medical center that’s fully prepped and ready for surgical cases is far from easy or affordable. That’s why these are usually joint ventures taken on by large healthcare systems instead of individual providers.

If you’re an independently practicing board-certified surgeon, operating room rental makes more sense from both business and patient care standpoints. In a surgical partnership, you can use both inpatient and outpatient operating spaces for surgical care.

Surgical Tools and Equipment

Medical equipment must meet strict sterilization and operational standards. When you rent an operating room from a surgical partner, you gain access to the surgical tools you need to complete your case.

Existing OR staff will sterilize the room and equipment before a scheduled procedure, which cuts down on your total prep time and gets patients out of surgery much faster. Surgery partners are great time-savers in healthcare systems.

Surgery Support Staff

A good surgical partner will offer a full OR staff and may even include pre- and post-op nursing care as part of the OR rental package. Post-operative care is crucial for pain management and fast recovery.

Support staff can make or break a surgery case with the quality of care they provide. Surgical facilities with a full, knowledgeable staff are worth their weight in gold, especially for independent practitioners who are just starting out or don’t want lots of admin duties.

Lower Costs for Surgeons and Patients

Thanks to the collaboration involved in a surgery partnership, operating costs go down significantly, which translates to more affordable patient surgical care.

You cut out a lot of the overhead costs by partnering with established surgical hospitals and healthcare systems. With more freedom and flexibility in your business budget, you can then offer competitive rates for procedures in your market.

What to Look For in a Quality Surgery Partner

No matter your reasons for seeking a surgical partnership, you should make sure you’re partnering with the right organization.

The surgical environment you choose will directly influence your patients’ quality of care, comfort, and health outcomes. You want their experiences with all surgical healthcare services under your name to be outstanding.

There are several key factors to consider when choosing a surgery partner.

AAAHC Accreditation

Accreditation matters when selecting your shared operating suite. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care holds accredited operating rooms to high standards. These expectations encompass patient care, comfort, safety, and surgical efficiency.

Look for a partner that has received accreditation for several years in a row. Keep in mind that ambulatory surgery centers and office-based surgery suites receive different (but equal) accreditations.

A Proven Track Record of Quality Care

It doesn’t matter which specialty you work in. Orthopedics, pediatrics, neurosurgery, general surgery, laparoscopic procedures, and cosmetic surgery all share similar standards for quality care.

You want your surgical partner to have a long history of providing top-quality, efficient patient care before entering into an agreement with them.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions when speaking with a representative from your potential partner organization. Ask how they handle negative outcomes and what emergency protocols are in place to prevent them. Inquire about the training programs and continuing education they put their staff through.

Look at online metrics and quality control indicators to find out whether this is a worthwhile partner for your work.

Flexible Scheduling

Your case volume may vary by day, week, or month. It’s essential to find a partner that can accommodate your schedule. The more flexibility they offer, the easier it will be to meet your patients’ needs and avoid inconveniences.

Some surgery partners have existing partnerships with other organizations and physicians, which can limit OR availability. Disclose your typical case volume up front so you can make sure it’s a good match for both partners.

The Benefits of Surgical Partnerships for Patients and Providers

Most patients don’t get a look into what goes on in the financial and administrative side of healthcare. This doesn’t mean those operations don’t affect patient care. In fact, your administrative decisions usually do trickle down to either improve or damage your relationships with patients as a healthcare provider.

Surgery partnerships give you the best of all worlds. Maximize the benefits of doctors/surgical partnerships and watch how your practice improves, both internally and for your patients.

Cost Savings for Outpatient and Minimally Invasive Procedures

If you primarily perform cosmetic services or aesthetic work, chances are you don’t need your own operating suite. The costs would far outweigh the benefits of running one yourself, even if you have a high case volume.

Instead, you can rent an OR from a surgical partner you trust and complete your minimally invasive cases at a lower cost. You can then funnel these cost savings into other aspects of your patient care philosophy, like concierge services and distinct amenities that improve your reputation.

Surgical Efficiency

Surgical partnerships increase the efficiency of your practice and cut down on operating delays. Fully-equipped ORs will be ready for you when you start each case, thanks to the on-site medical staff.

Increasing your surgical efficiency is a worthwhile investment in your practice. Patients can enjoy fast, quality care that gets them back to their daily lives sooner and skip long waiting lists for cosmetic surgery. You can turn over more outpatient procedures and increase your revenue. It’s a win-win scenario for all involved!

Discreet Locations for High-Profile Patients

If you’re looking for a surgical partnership in NYC, chances are you serve at least some high-status patients in your caseload. These patients often value discreet practices that don’t compromise their privacy or public image.

Partnering with another practice to operate in more discreet locations gives these patients peace of mind, making them more likely to return for future services. 

Word-of-mouth recommendations go far in the cosmetic surgical world, so providing top-quality care for high-profile patients can give you a hefty financial return in the long run.

Added Knowledge and Expertise

Collaborating with an experienced, accredited practice creates learning opportunities for you as a professional. Surgical partnerships blend the philosophies and expertise of both parties to establish high-quality patient care and the best surgical practices.

Along with knowledgeable practitioners, you also get the support of your partner’s surgical staff. Support staff often have several years of experience and education, which you can work with and use to benefit your patients and enhance your techniques.

Many surgical partnerships create long-lasting professional relationships. If you ever have a question or need a second pair of eyes on a case, your surgery partner will be there to advise you. Your case outcomes then improve, and you boost your reputation as a reputable surgeon.

Outsourced Administrative Duties

Administrative tasks are stressful and take time away from direct patient care. That’s why many healthcare professionals partner with other organizations and teams in the first place. Having a partner to manage the admin side of surgery frees up a lot of your time and energy that you can spend on your cases instead.

For example, in surgical partnerships, the owner of the operating suite often takes care of patient intake, discharge, post-operative pain management and care, and other “reception duties.”

If administrative work isn’t for you, consider a surgical partnership. Not only are you paying less money for a high-quality operating space, but you’re also paying less of your time toward these tasks.

Who Should Consider a Surgery Partnership?

Is a surgical partner the missing piece to your new or established practice? Many types of surgeons and physicians can benefit from surgical partnerships, even in very different specialties and circumstances.

You should consider partnering up if:

• You’re a board-certified surgeon

• You’re just starting out in independent practice

• You have high overhead costs that are drowning your business

• You don’t qualify for surgical suite ownership

• You dislike the admin side of healthcare

• You need a discreet operating location for concierge patients

• You want to decrease case turnover times

• You have a fluctuating case volume

All of these are grounds for a surgical partnership, especially in high-traffic areas like New York City.

New Look New Life: Your New Surgical Partnership in NYC

The New Look New Life team of doctors is here to support your surgical practice! We have a fully-equipped and well-staffed operating suite in New York City available for rent. Our operating spaces have a proven track record, with over nine years of AAAHC accreditation and thousands of positive patient outcomes.

Partner with New Look New Life today!