Synergy Health Partners: Ambulatory Surgery Center Optimization and Revenue Growth Strategy

When Synergy Health Partners (SHP), a 31-provider orthopedic and spine care practice in the greater Detroit area, faced operational challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and regulatory changes, they sought a strategic partner to revitalize their Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and improve financial performance. OneAccord provided the leadership and expertise to drive significant improvements in utilization, staffing efficiency, and revenue growth.

The Challenge

SHP had built a stellar reputation over decades but encountered difficulties due to:

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
Changes in auto insurance regulations capping payments to healthcare providers
Underutilized ASCs with utilization rates at 46%
High staff-per-case ratios averaging 24.6

In the fall of 2023, SHP appointed a new CEO with extensive experience in physician practice management to lead a turnaround effort. Recognizing the need for specialized operational expertise, SHP engaged OneAccord to serve as interim COO, focusing on restructuring the ASCs and implementing strategic initiatives

Our Approach

OneAccord concentrated on understanding and enhancing the critical metrics that drive ASC performance. Collaborating with SHP’s executive team, physicians, and ASC staff, the focus was on:

Optimizing utilization and staffing of the ASCs
Renegotiating key supplier contracts
Initiating a new pharmaceutical dispensing service line
Reenergizing marketing efforts to reconnect with former patients

Over an intensive eight-week period, OneAccord implemented a “clean sheet” approach to redesign scheduling processes, leading to:

Reducing available surgery days to match demand
Decreasing the number of staff needed per case
Establishing block times for each surgeon on surgery days

The Outcome

The strategic initiatives led to remarkable improvements:

ASC Utilization: Increased from 46% to 62%
Staff Per Case: Reduced from 24.6 to 13.4
Financial Performance: Achieved a 25% increase in trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue and an 86% increase in TTM EBITDA

These outcomes not only enhanced operational efficiency but also positioned SHP for sustainable growth and profitability.

From the Client

“Working with OneAccord was a transformative experience for Synergy Health Partners. Under their Partner’s leadership, we restructured our ASCs, significantly improving our utilization from 46% to 62% and reducing our staff per case from 24.6 to 13.4. SHP’s strategic initiatives, including OA’s leadership associated with optimizing our ASC operational metrics and revamping our scheduling processes, led to a remarkable 25% increase in our trailing twelve-month revenue and an 86% increase in TTM EBITDA. OneAccord’s efforts have set a new standard for executive leadership within our organization. We highly recommend OneAccord’s services for any healthcare practice seeking to achieve substantial operational improvements and financial success.”

— Synergy Health Partners

Why This Case Matters

Synergy Health Partners’ experience demonstrates the impact of strategic operational restructuring in healthcare settings. By focusing on key performance metrics and implementing targeted initiatives, healthcare practices can achieve significant improvements in efficiency, staff satisfaction, and financial performance.