SPOTLIGHT ON TECHNOLOGY & TECHNIQUE

Easing the burdens of owning equipment

ForTec Medical lets practices lease high-end technology; it’s a low-risk solution to improve patient care.

By Zack Tertel, Senior Editor

Your surgery center prides itself on offering the latest technology to your patients. However, you can’t justify purchasing every piece of costly equipment due to your patient volume. For some practices, leasing equipment on an as-needed basis is a potential, thoughtful option.

Jeffrey Starkey, MD, a surgeon at NEOVision Group in Barberton, Ohio, has used ForTec Medical’s mobile technology to assist with selective laser trabeculoplasties, LASIK surgery and, most recently, femtosecond laser cataract surgery. “I was comfortable with the idea of roll-on, roll-off — letting someone else take the risk of purchasing the equipment and being able to use new technology without the economic outlay or risk involved.”

ForTec Medical (www.mobilecatalys.com) mobilizes surgical equipment for surgery centers and practices on an as-needed basis, serving medical specialties beyond ophthalmology, including urology, podiatry and plastic surgery.

LESS RESPONSIBILITY

Vasilis Makris, MD, of Makris Vision Group, in Muncie, Ind., has partnered with ForTec Medical for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery for almost six months. He says the decision to purchase a femtosecond laser comes down to volume. Performing a couple hundred femtosecond laser surgeries each year does not justify owning, he says, making it more reasonable to lease.

Along with reducing the cost of owning equipment, ForTec also handles repairs and software and hardware updates. Dr. Makris also appreciates that he can avoid the pressure of justifying a monthly payment each time he sees a cataract patient. “I talk to the patient and tell them what I would choose, and if they can afford it that’s great. If they can’t, they’ll still have a great result. I don’t have the pressure to produce. I can utilize the latest and the best, provide state-of-the-art care, and I don’t have to worry about [any] financial implications of [any] purchase.”

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

Dr. Starkey, who primarily uses ForTec Medical to lease femtosecond lasers, says he uses the company’s services about two to three times a month: he schedules 12 to 16 surgeries on those days. Also, his practice contacts ForTec to schedule the equipment drop-off about a month or two in advance to ensure the device’s availability.

The company requires a minimum number of scheduled procedures to lease its equipment — for femtosecond laser, ForTec requires eight sessions per day — but it allows a bit of leniency if unforeseen issues prevent the practice from reaching the required threshold, Dr. Starkey says.

Dr. Makris says scheduling is a nonissue — his practices makes an appointment with ForTec every few weeks or once a month, depending on volume. “It’s pretty straightforward. We just set a date, and when I talk to patients who I think are candidates, I tell my surgical coordinator and she schedules them on the day we’ll have the laser.”

The primary difference between normal surgery scheduling and ForTec scheduling is more about the logistics of one piece of equipment vs. another, such as femtosecond laser vs. manual cataract surgery than anything else. Dr. Makris says femto cases take about 20 minutes per patient compared to eight to 10 minutes for a manual procedure. Also, consider whether you are familiar with the technology.

“If you are backlogged and have a ton of cases you need to get done, the laser is going to slow you down quite a bit initially and [then just a] little bit as you get more experience,” Dr. Makris says.

PREPARING FOR THE EQUIPMENT

ForTec delivers the equipment the day before use, and the company’s technicians prepare and set up the equipment to ensure the practice can begin using it first thing the next morning. At this time, the technician also conducts any necessary training for the physician to prepare for the next day’s cases. “You have a staff that knows exactly what they’re doing, and, especially in the beginning, that’s a huge help,” Dr. Makris says.

Rather than using the practice’s techs, ForTec’s technician also assists with each case. Those interviewed say they are comfortable with this approach because ForTec’s technicians are well trained and experienced. They also appreciate that the company makes an effort to provide the same technicians for each appointment, thus increasing the level of comfort and familiarity with that tech.

“I have had the same technician several times, except when there have been scheduling problems,” Dr. Makris says. “They are easy to work with, and it really hasn’t been an issue.”

FROM LEASING TO OWNING

Even for those who consider purchasing the equipment, leasing through ForTec Medical can be a first step in the process. Potential buyers can use the lease as a trial period to gain exposure and experience with the device without a steep financial commitment. Says Dr. Starkey: “[ForTec Medical] knows that’s part of what’s going to happen if someone gets results with that piece of equipment and they’re doing enough jobs to justify buying their own.” OM