would be better off financially with its own laser. However, he points
out, he'd then be responsible for managing the issues associated with
keeping the laser up and running: space for the platform to sit, a full-
time technician to help run it, maintenance fees and equipment
upgrades.
"It's just easier for us to outsource and let the company worry
about all those things," says Dr. Koch. "At the end of the day, you
make the money, they make money and we have no headaches at
all. It's a smooth-running system, one we're comfortable with and
happy to continue."
Dr. Starkey accumulates patients interested in undergoing laser pro-
cedures and stacks the cases over 2 or 3 consecutive days each
month. He performs about 15 eyes a day, or about 30 to 45 monthly.
His outsourcing firm also comes in the night before scheduled cases
to set up the laser and ensure it's in good working order. Dr. Starkey
says he's never had to cancel cases because of faulty equipment and
touts the process as "turnkey" and "worry-free."
Dr. Starkey believes he could now afford to invest in his own laser,
but the cataract cases wouldn't be as profitable as they are now — at
least during the initial years of paying off the laser. Of course, after he
owned the unit he'd earn more per case. Still, he hesitates to bite the
bullet and make the purchase, saying, "It's working so well now and I
have zero hassles, so I'm in no hurry to change that any time soon. I'm
willing to make investments, but I sleep better at night this way."
Plus, what if the laser platform you invest in nears obsolescence by
the time you own it outright? By partnering with outsourcing compa-
nies, you can be sure you'll always be working with the latest avail-
able technology.
Conventional approach
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