 | ||||
Healthcare Consulting
Practice leader: Eben G. Fetters, FACHEefetters@rpcconsulting.com
512/371-8008
Certificate of Need
Strategic Planning
Product/Service Line Planning
Merger and Acquisition Planning
Market Research and Demand Analysis
Medical Staff/Medical Staff Development Plan
Pricing/Cost Evaluations
Policy Research
Health Data Store Health Data
RPC offers a broad array of consulting services to healthcare organizations. RPC's principals each have 30 years of experience and expertise in healthcare consulting, health law, and healthcare planning and management. Our clients range from hospitals, hospital systems, nursing homes, and physician practices to managed care organizations/health plans and government agencies. We assist our clients in creating a long-term strategy and in developing effective operational plans to implement that strategy.
RPC provides the following services:
Certificate of Need
RPC assists health care providers in completing and reviewing Certificate of Need (CON) applications, and have provided such services in 28 states. In recent years, we have been involved in more than 50 CON projects for both applicants and opponents.
- We have presented expert testimony before regional and state health facilities and commissions in CON hearings in more than 20 states.
- RPC consultants have analyzed the impact of state CON laws in controlling health care costs and the need for continuation of state CON laws, and have testified before legislative committees in several states.
- We have prepared studies regarding the revision of CON rules in Georgia and Florida.
Click here for more information about Certificate of Need »
Strategic Planning
Healthcare organizations are seeking to ensure their future viability in today's rapidly changing environment and boards are asking more questions about future direction and the alignment of decisions with strategy. The advantage belongs to those who understand their strategic options and make the appropriate decisions. RPC's expertise can help guide your organization through a planning process as you develop a vision and strategies and actions to achieve that vision. If you are considering the development of a strategic plan or re-evaluating an existing plan, let our expertise assist you in the process and outcome.
- RPC consultants assisted a 600-bed Catholic hospital in the Southwest with strategic planning.
- RPC consultants managed the strategic planning process for a 400-bed teaching hospital (adult and children's hospital) in the Northeast.
- RPC consultants developed the strategic plan and annual update for a 300-bed teaching hospital in the South.
- RPC consultants were involved in the development of a strategic plan for a public hospital and its system of clinics in a major Texas city.
Product/Service Line Planning
Considering a new service, an extension or a repositioning of an existing service? RPC's expertise can assist your planning process and the development of a business plan with a financial feasibility analysis. We offer broad expertise with the planning process across various healthcare services, such as cardiology, oncology, wome's services, physical rehabilitation, behavioral health, occupational medicine, assisted living and long-term acute care.
- RPC consultants have been involved in the development and planning of both a major heart institute and a major neurological institute in a Southwestern city.
- RPC consultants provided planning support for a children's heart program in a Northeastern city.
- RPC consultants assisted with the development of a cancer center for a Southern city and with planning for a bariatric surgery program, sleep center, PET/Gamma Knife Center and retirement community in another Southern city.
- RPC assisted several clients with planning for psychiatric services, including development of options for psychiatric coverage of emergency and inpatient units.
- RPC assisted in the financial feasibility analysis for a Proton Beam
Therapy at a Southeastern medical school.
Merger and Acquisition Planning
Faced with a merger or acquisition opportunity? RPC's team has experience in the steps, business and regulatory considerations, evaluation points and overall coordination of a merger and acquisition process. We understand the resource requirements and organizational distractions caused by merger and acquisition timelines and decision points. Our team of consultants can also assist you with the integration planning to add a new business into your existing business portfolio.
- RPC consultants have worked with a 600-bed hospital in the Southwest to acquire a competitor hospital system with 900 beds.
- RPC consultants managed a process for a 400-bed Northeastern hospital to join a 1,600-bed hospital system.
- We assisted a 300-bed hospital in the South to acquire a 120-bed competitor hospital.
Healthcare Market Research & Demand Analysis & Forecasting
Considering a new geographical service area or increased penetration of an existing service area? RPC can develop detailed demographic profiles for defined market areas using our decades of experience and varying healthcare demand methodologies. RPC can apply a variety of models to forecast the demand for specific services at the patient encounter, discharge or procedure level of detail.
- RPC has assisted numerous healthcare clients with planning studies to evaluate their current or proposed geographical markets and forecast the volume potential for new or expanded services.
- RPC consultants conducted demand studies for a client in the Southwest that led to the decision to acquire land for a future satellite hospital.
- RPC consultants have done market research and demand analyses for clients in 28 states that have been used to justify the need for new services.
- Demand analyses and market research conducted by RPC for a Southwestern hospital resulted in a decision to expand emergency and trauma services and to develop a cancer center.
- RPC consultants work for a Southern city resulted in decisions to develop a diabetes center and a wound care center based on demand and market penetration analyses.
Medical Staff/Medical Staff Development Plan
Are you concerned about the appropriate age, mix, geographical location and other attributes of your medical staff or major practice groups and their alignment with the direction of your organization? Considering physician recruitment or employment strategies or satellite practice locations? Wondering about competitive threats and loss of revenue to potential or new physician-owned enterprises? RPC's consultants have helped other clients develop their medical staff and will work with you to conduct evaluations of your specific needs and make recommendations vital to the future success of your organization.
- RPC consultants provided medical staff planning assistance to a 300-bed hospital in Texas and developed information for a medical staff development plan used in physician recruitment.
- RPC consultants developed a plan for a 600-bed hospital in the Southwest to strategically position a network of referring physicians.
- We have performed work with a 300-bed hospital in the South on physician alignment strategies related to physician recruitment and joint ventures.
- RPC consultants have worked with hospitals in the Northeast and South on integration strategies involving medical school faculty practice plans.
Pricing/Cost Evaluations
Need more information about the competitiveness of your cost structure and pricing points? RPC has an extensive database that enables us to compare service costs by facility and identify the most efficient providers. RPC can assist you with this valuable benchmarking information, which provides a valuable leverage in contract negotiations.
Policy Research
Do you have concerns about existing healthcare state or federal policy or proposed changes? Ron Luke has been active in the healthcare policy arena, having been appointed by former Texas Governor George W. Bush as an original member of the Texas Health Care Information Council, where he played a major role in the development of the Texas hospital discharge data system; and by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Health and Human Services Council. He has also served as an advisor to committees of the Texas legislature on health insurance mandates and major revisions to the Worker's Compensation Act. Clients have called on us to prepare them for meetings with public officials, and to participate in these meetings. RPC has authored white papers and formal comments on proposed rules and legislation for use by our clients. We have testified on behalf of healthcare clients before legislative committees and agencies.
RPC assists health care providers in completing and reviewing Certificate of Need (CON) applications, and have provided such services in 28 states. In recent years, we have been involved in more than 50 CON projects for both applicants and opponents.
- We have presented expert testimony before regional and state health facilities and commissions in CON hearings in more than 20 states.
- RPC consultants have analyzed the impact of state CON laws in controlling health care costs and the need for continuation of state CON laws, and have testified before legislative committees in several states.
- We have prepared studies regarding the revision of CON rules in Georgia and Florida.
Click here for more information about Certificate of Need »
Strategic Planning
Healthcare organizations are seeking to ensure their future viability in today's rapidly changing environment and boards are asking more questions about future direction and the alignment of decisions with strategy. The advantage belongs to those who understand their strategic options and make the appropriate decisions. RPC's expertise can help guide your organization through a planning process as you develop a vision and strategies and actions to achieve that vision. If you are considering the development of a strategic plan or re-evaluating an existing plan, let our expertise assist you in the process and outcome.
- RPC consultants assisted a 600-bed Catholic hospital in the Southwest with strategic planning.
- RPC consultants managed the strategic planning process for a 400-bed teaching hospital (adult and children's hospital) in the Northeast.
- RPC consultants developed the strategic plan and annual update for a 300-bed teaching hospital in the South.
- RPC consultants were involved in the development of a strategic plan for a public hospital and its system of clinics in a major Texas city.
Product/Service Line Planning
Considering a new service, an extension or a repositioning of an existing service? RPC's expertise can assist your planning process and the development of a business plan with a financial feasibility analysis. We offer broad expertise with the planning process across various healthcare services, such as cardiology, oncology, wome's services, physical rehabilitation, behavioral health, occupational medicine, assisted living and long-term acute care.
- RPC consultants have been involved in the development and planning of both a major heart institute and a major neurological institute in a Southwestern city.
- RPC consultants provided planning support for a children's heart program in a Northeastern city.
- RPC consultants assisted with the development of a cancer center for a Southern city and with planning for a bariatric surgery program, sleep center, PET/Gamma Knife Center and retirement community in another Southern city.
- RPC assisted several clients with planning for psychiatric services, including development of options for psychiatric coverage of emergency and inpatient units.
- RPC assisted in the financial feasibility analysis for a Proton Beam Therapy at a Southeastern medical school.
Merger and Acquisition Planning
Faced with a merger or acquisition opportunity? RPC's team has experience in the steps, business and regulatory considerations, evaluation points and overall coordination of a merger and acquisition process. We understand the resource requirements and organizational distractions caused by merger and acquisition timelines and decision points. Our team of consultants can also assist you with the integration planning to add a new business into your existing business portfolio.
- RPC consultants have worked with a 600-bed hospital in the Southwest to acquire a competitor hospital system with 900 beds.
- RPC consultants managed a process for a 400-bed Northeastern hospital to join a 1,600-bed hospital system.
- We assisted a 300-bed hospital in the South to acquire a 120-bed competitor hospital.
Healthcare Market Research & Demand Analysis & Forecasting
Considering a new geographical service area or increased penetration of an existing service area? RPC can develop detailed demographic profiles for defined market areas using our decades of experience and varying healthcare demand methodologies. RPC can apply a variety of models to forecast the demand for specific services at the patient encounter, discharge or procedure level of detail.
- RPC has assisted numerous healthcare clients with planning studies to evaluate their current or proposed geographical markets and forecast the volume potential for new or expanded services.
- RPC consultants conducted demand studies for a client in the Southwest that led to the decision to acquire land for a future satellite hospital.
- RPC consultants have done market research and demand analyses for clients in 28 states that have been used to justify the need for new services.
- Demand analyses and market research conducted by RPC for a Southwestern hospital resulted in a decision to expand emergency and trauma services and to develop a cancer center.
- RPC consultants work for a Southern city resulted in decisions to develop a diabetes center and a wound care center based on demand and market penetration analyses.
Medical Staff/Medical Staff Development Plan
Are you concerned about the appropriate age, mix, geographical location and other attributes of your medical staff or major practice groups and their alignment with the direction of your organization? Considering physician recruitment or employment strategies or satellite practice locations? Wondering about competitive threats and loss of revenue to potential or new physician-owned enterprises? RPC's consultants have helped other clients develop their medical staff and will work with you to conduct evaluations of your specific needs and make recommendations vital to the future success of your organization.
- RPC consultants provided medical staff planning assistance to a 300-bed hospital in Texas and developed information for a medical staff development plan used in physician recruitment.
- RPC consultants developed a plan for a 600-bed hospital in the Southwest to strategically position a network of referring physicians.
- We have performed work with a 300-bed hospital in the South on physician alignment strategies related to physician recruitment and joint ventures.
- RPC consultants have worked with hospitals in the Northeast and South on integration strategies involving medical school faculty practice plans.
Pricing/Cost Evaluations
Need more information about the competitiveness of your cost structure and pricing points? RPC has an extensive database that enables us to compare service costs by facility and identify the most efficient providers. RPC can assist you with this valuable benchmarking information, which provides a valuable leverage in contract negotiations.
Policy Research
Do you have concerns about existing healthcare state or federal policy or proposed changes? Ron Luke has been active in the healthcare policy arena, having been appointed by former Texas Governor George W. Bush as an original member of the Texas Health Care Information Council, where he played a major role in the development of the Texas hospital discharge data system; and by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Health and Human Services Council. He has also served as an advisor to committees of the Texas legislature on health insurance mandates and major revisions to the Worker's Compensation Act. Clients have called on us to prepare them for meetings with public officials, and to participate in these meetings. RPC has authored white papers and formal comments on proposed rules and legislation for use by our clients. We have testified on behalf of healthcare clients before legislative committees and agencies.