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Hunter Consulting was exactly what our organization needed. The firm's vast industry knowledge and real world experience - having been there many times over - proved invaluable to our turnaround efforts.
Executive Director
We didn't have the luxury of selecting the wrong consultants. Hunter Consulting understood exactly what analysis was necessary and began making significant change within weeks.
CFO
The turnaround Mr. Hunter and his staff provided for us was nothing short of miraculous.
CEO
Hunter Consulting found millions of dollars in opportunities we were leaving on the table. Not only did the firm identify real dollars, they assisted in the implementation and roll-out of the new processes necessary to capture these revenues.
Manager, Revenue Cycle
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Labority Services
Until recently, most health systems viewed the laboratory as a 'necessary evil' in providing quality
healthcare. In reality, the laboratory represents a $43+ billion industry, and health systems
are now beginning to view the laboratory not just as a cost center but as a potential profit
center if the already required fixed assets and human capital are properly utilized. The
fact remains, however, that the skill set and time required to become "lean" often must be found
in outside expert assistance.
This is where Hunter Consulting offers distinct value. A significant portion of Hunter Consulting's
laboratory work has been completed for hospitals, health systems, and commercial laboratories under
duress in which rapid improvement has been of utmost necessity. Our history includes service in
operations improvement, outreach business development and implementation, and molecular diagnostic
strategy formulation for some of the nation's largest clinical laboratories.
Laboratory Service Offerings
OPERATIONS ASSESSMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS
Hunter Consulting has the expertise to provide our clients with comprehensive operational
assessments including regulatory compliance reviews, facilities observations, work flow analyses,
test menu offerings, send-out assays, equipment inspection, laboratory leadership including medical
directors and pathologists (including compensation plan), outreach offerings, test menu and volumes
evaluations, fee schedules, and billing and collections analyses, as well as profit and loss reviews
by location where and when possible. These objective assessments are necessary to evaluate organizational
weaknesses that may impact negatively each laboratory's results and future growth strategies.
OUTREACH PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
As hospital laboratories around the country continue to search for opportunities to capitalize
upon their laboratory investments by lowering costs per test, Hunter Consulting can be of enormous
benefit. One of the avenues by which to meet this goal is the expansion of existing laboratory
outreach programs. Hunter Consulting has successfully assisted numerous clinical laboratories in
the creation and development of outreach programs, including strategic planning and execution of
plans. Hunter Consulting has the ability to assess each laboratory's potential comprehensively
and assist in the realization of a successful outreach business through our proven outreach management
solutions.
CORE LABORATORY / CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT
As many health systems begin to grasp the promising dynamics of their laboratories, the option
and challenge of developing a core laboratory becomes an important consideration. Hunter Consulting
experts have been retained to assist in the analysis, development, and implementation of numerous
organizations' core laboratories. In addition, we have assisted in the organizational and fiscal
improvement of several existing and underperforming core entities. Drawing upon our experience
and expertise in the structure and function of clinical and hospital-based laboratories, Hunter
Consulting has been able to provide dramatic and long-lasting changes to troubled and failing organizations.
BILLING AND COLLECTION ASSISTANCE
Today, even the best performing laboratories are leaving revenue on the table due to billing
and collection issues. Hunter Consulting experts have identified frequently missed opportunities
in our clients' laboratory billing and collections systems and assisted organizations in capturing
these opportunities. Because of the dollar amounts laboratory procedures represent- especially
compared to other hospital procedures- compounded with onerous regulatory and payment requirements,
laboratory billing and collections systems need improvement almost universally and sometimes require
outsourcing to laboratory billing specialists. Hunter Consulting is experienced in diagnosing billing
and collection issues and will formulate the strategies necessary to rectify any problems and facilitate
optimal efficiency of the revenue cycle process.
RESTRUCTURING, CONSOLIDATIONS, AND JOINT VENTURES
Recent acquisitions and joint ventures by publicly traded companies as well as venture funds
demonstrate that there is considerable interest in investment in the laboratory sector. Hunter
Consulting has been retained continually to identify and implement approaches that will optimize
our clients' potential for success in these endeavors. Our strategies may be used to evaluate the
potential for successful sale, consolidation, or joint venture, as well as to provide perspective
on any potential risk factors.
LABOR ANALYSIS AND BENCHMARKING
One of the most significant fixed costs for a clinical or hospital-based laboratory is the
labor component. The way in which this valuable commodity is used (or underused) dramatically impacts
the margins and financial health of the laboratory. Hunter Consulting appreciates the critical
importance of the labor component and has developed a number of proprietary tools- using industry
benchmark information- to maximize full-time equivalent (FTE) employees while maintaining high
quality results. These proprietary tools also assist with Pathology staffing and compensation.
Hunter Consulting uses these tools extensively in our operational assessments in order to ensure
impactful results to our clients when advising them upon their particular labor requirements.
MOLECULAR TESTING
Industry analysts predict that molecular testing will continue to grow by over twenty percent
each year. Since repeat esoteric tests are often necessary to diagnose, monitor, and determine
the success of treatment of diseases such as cancer, HIV, hepatitis, and sexually-transmitted infections,
the demand for high-margin molecular tests requiring advanced reagents, sophisticated instruments,
and well-trained technicians is escalating rapidly and increasing profit margins within the segment.
Hunter Consulting has been retained to assist numerous organizations in the assessment and development
of their potential in this rapidly developing field.
INTERIM LABORATORY MANAGEMENT
Hunter Consulting employs industry experts with years of experience in the day-to-day management
of complex laboratory operations. For organizations facing critical gaps in personnel, Hunter Consulting
can provide interim management - even on very short notice - until permanent personnel can be identified,
hired, and trained.
COMPENSATION ANALYSIS
Without question, pathologist compensation is one of the most highly controversial issues
impacting employee satisfaction in laboratories today. On a number of occasions, Hunter Consulting
has been called upon to analyze and assist in the design of compensation and productivity models
for all types of physician specialties. Hunter Consulting offers professionals experienced in developing
creative base salary recommendations, along with those for aligned incentive production and compensation.
FACILITY PLANNING
Hospitals, physicians groups, and other healthcare organizations are facing increasing pressure
to ensure that limited and expensive physical space is used to its highest potential. With this
in mind, Hunter Consulting has lead the successful development, redesign, relocation, expansion,
and contraction of laboratory space for a number of healthcare organizations throughout the country.
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