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and expense of such systems in their own
offices. It can also potentially attract new
physicians and their cases to the center's ORs,
and in so doing boost the center's glaucoma
and other eye sub-specialty profiles.
4. Easy to add. Ophthalmic laser units are fairly
plug-and-play technology. The FDA-approved
options operate similarly, and their techniques
are by now familiar to the physicians coming
out of residencies. The addition of ophthalmic
lasers to your surgical suites requires certain
safety precautions, such as warning signage
near the point of use and protective eyewear
for support staff. But otherwise it's like acquir-
ing equipment for any other service line. Once
you've run the numbers on the technology's
purchase cost, maintenance expenses and pro-
jected cases needed to break even, your main
concern will be how to schedule surgeons'
requests for OR time and integrate patients into
the flow of the surgical day. OSM
T H I N K I N G O F B U Y I N G …
Mr. Sheppard (steve@medcgroup.com) is a managing principal
for the Medical Consulting Group in Springfield, Mo
