A key priority for United Musculoskeletal Partners for the remainder of the year and headed into 2025 is patient access, specifically in the state of Georgia.
UMP is continuing to grow in its regional markets and recently appointed David McIntosh CEO for its presence in Georgia.
UMP CEO Alex Bateman shared how the MSO is strategizing to increase patient access in the state.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for style.
Question: What strategies is UMP’s Georgia market looking into to grow patient access? What’s the biggest challenge and how are you addressing it?
Alex Bateman: Patients' expectations around convenience and access have significantly shifted over the last several years as healthcare has become increasingly consumer driven. Patients no longer will wait 10 to 14 days to see a musculoskeletal specialist and expect a similar level of convenience in healthcare as they do in other services they receive.
To meet that expectation, UMP and our partners are implementing initiatives centered around increasing access. In Georgia, we now offer same-day and next day appointments in 12 different clinic locations that cover the Atlanta metro area. Patients can now walk-in to any of these locations or call our office and be scheduled within 24 hours.
Additionally, most patients utilize mobile apps for everyday services, such as grocery delivery, transportation and finance. Unfortunately, healthcare has been somewhat behind in this space. As part of our focus on access, we recently partnered with HURT!, which is an app that provides asynchronous care via text or video call with an MSK provider at no cost to the patient. This allows patients to receive high-quality care from the comfort of their home while also saving them time and money.
Q: How are these strategies being tailored and deployed in your other markets?
AB: Although each market is unique, there are some ubiquitous things, and patient access is one of them. We launched the HURT! app earlier this year in Atlanta and we have already seen success and high patient satisfaction. As a result, we are now in the process of rolling it out in Texas and Colorado, where we expect to recognize similar success. At the same time, we are working with all of our partners on initiatives focused on increasing patient access within the clinics.
Q: What are your biggest operational and financial challenges this year? How are you tackling them?
AB: The headwinds that our partners have faced are not unique to their market and are the same challenges most MSK practices are facing. Inflation, increased administrative burden and lower reimbursements have exerted additional downward pressure on our performance.
Fortunately, UMP leaders at the MSO level and market level have approached these challenges with innovative solutions that continue to allow our partners to grow. As we approach the fourth quarter of this year, we have already seen positive growth indicators that are positioning our partners for a strong second half of the year.
Q: UMP comprises more than 400 providers and over 50 locations. How do you plan to grow over the next two to three years? Where are the biggest opportunities?
AB: Our plan is centered around organic growth in our current markets. Our leadership is highly focused on adding additional clinic locations, recruiting highly skilled surgeons and supporting our existing physician groups and health systems.
At the same time, we continue to evaluate opportunities to expand the UMP model and may be entering additional markets in 2025.