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Fertility Practice Management

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63 - Is it Time to Reduce Your Staff? Managing Furloughs, Layoffs, and Financial Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Determining when, how, and why you should consider staff reductions can be challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic, making these decisions can be even harder.

On this special episode of Inside Reproductive Health, I spoke with Sara Mooney, Director of Administration at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and Marianne Kreiner, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shady Grove Fertility. Together, we lay out some details of the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program, and answer questions from fertility leaders in clinics across the country.

We are all in this together. If you need help navigating your business through this pandemic and want to know how to prepare your clinic when it is over, sign up for our Communications and Marketing Toolkit.

To get started on a marketing plan for your company, complete the Goal and Competitive Diagnostic at FertilityBridge.com.

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62 - Navigating Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic, an Interview with Jill Gordon and Sarah Swank

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The outbreak of COVID-19 is changing the world, in both the present and in the future. In these uncertain times, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are looking to implement new technologies to continue to provide services, while limiting their face-to-face interaction. But implementing HIPAA-approved telehealth applications in a short amount of time can prove to be a challenge. Thankfully, the federal government is lifting rules and reevaluating their regulations to allow healthcare companies to use other tools to reach their patients in these difficult times. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Jill Gordon and Sarah Swank, lawyers in the healthcare division of Nixon Peabody. They navigate the changes to HIPAA regulations in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and how clinics can appropriately implement telehealth to help their patients through their journeys without seeing them in office.

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60 - Private Practice or Academics? Finding the Right Path for any Fertility Doctor, An Interview with Eve Feinberg

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Selecting the right path in fertility is hard. Each type of practice: private, network, or academic, each has its own pros and cons and it’s easy to get lost in the details of each. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin spoke with Dr. Eve Feinberg, Medical Director at Northwestern Fertility and Associate Professor at Northwestern University. Dr. Feinberg shares her story of leaving private practice as a full equity partner to pursue her love of teaching and mentoring fellows by entering academia. She share her thoughts on the benefits of working in each and offers advice to anyone looking to switch their current trajectory.

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59 - Retaining Patient and Physician Focus While Growing a Clinic, An Interview with Michael Alper

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Boston IVF, one of the largest IVF centers in the nation and one of the first free-standing clinics in the country. What started as an independent clinic grew into one with a well-respected academic affiliation, and now has partnered with a worldwide hospital group. Through it all, their mission remained the same: bring state of the art technology to a patient-centered outpatient clinic. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, I talk to one of the founders of Boston IVF, Dr. Michael Alper. Dr. Alper shares the history of Boston IVF, but more importantly how they grew into what they are today. His story teaches important lessons to any doctor-owned clinic curious about academic affiliations or partnering with outside equity groups.

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58 - From Fellow to Partner: Advice for New Associates and Growing Practices, An Interview with Lowell Ku

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Large practice networks and groups with private equity backing are becoming more and more attractive to new REIs coming out of fellowship. Is there still a draw for new doctors to join smaller, independently-owned practices? On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Dr. Lowell Ku, Senior Partner and Medical Director at Dallas IVF. Dr. Ku left fellowship with a plan to join academia, but was quickly drawn into being his own boss at a small privately-owned clinic. Dr. Ku shares his story about why he chose this path and offers his advice to new fellows who are searching for answers to determine their own path in the fertility world.

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54 - Improving Patient Experience by Building an Empowered Team, An Interview with Dr. Peter Klatsky

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There’s a challenge in finding the balance between keeping both your staff and patients happy. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin gets Dr. Peter Klatsky’s take on managing everyone’s satisfaction while providing a new standard of care. Working with his partners at Spring Fertility in California, their goal is to provide their patients a level of service that isn’t seen anywhere else, all while keeping their employees happy and in for the long haul.

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52 - The Independent REI Practice: A Business Model That’s Fading or Relevant? Dr. John Nichols

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Privately-owned, private equity-backed, academic medicine, independent practice...each type of clinic comes with its own set of pros and cons, but are all of them going to be around forever? On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Dr. John Nichols. Dr. Nichols left his job in academic medicine to open his own private-practice, Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group (PREG) in Greenville, South Carolina. They discuss Dr. Nichols’ journey, his thoughts on the benefits of independent practices, and whether or not these clinics will continue to be relevant in the ever-changing fertility world.

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48 - David Wolf, Do Regulatory Restrictions Hinder or Help Innovation in the Fertility Field?

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“...I think fighting consolidation is not going to be a winning strategy in the long run. That being said, I think there's still lots of room for creative, innovative, entrepreneurial operators whether they’re at the clinic level or the supplier level and... as the field gets bigger and gets more interesting from a public capital markets perspective, there's going to be a lot more opportunity for funding those exciting innovations.”

Consolidation, IPO, publicly-owned...all words that weren’t a part of the fertility world vocabulary 10 years ago. Now, they are becoming more and more common, which can be both exciting and nerve-wracking to entrepreneurs in the field. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin Jones, founder of Fertility Bridge, talks to David Wolf, President and CEO of Hamilton Thorne. They discuss the implications of consolidation coming into the fertility world as well as the pros and cons of both publicly- and privately-owned clinics and suppliers.

Click here to learn more about David Wolf and Hamilton Thorne.

To get started on a marketing plan for your company, complete the Goal and Competitive Diagnostic at FertilityBridge.com.

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46 - Can Innovative Practice Culture Drive Patient Satisfaction? An Interview with Dr. Alan Copperman

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Building and growing an IVF practice can have numerous benefits for both the owners and the patients they serve. But growth can sometimes lead to loss of patient-focused care. On this episode, Griffin Jones, CEO of Fertility Bridge and host of Inside Reproductive Health, talks to Dr. Alan Copperman, Co-Founder and Medical Director of RMA of New York, one of the nation’s largest IVF centers. Together, they discuss how RMA of New York was able to retain their patient-focused culture while exponentially growing the practice. Their approach to delegating important tasks, understanding the “new” patient, and finding the right, compassionate employees has greatly contributed to their success today.

To learn more about Dr. Copperman and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, visit their website at https://www.rmany.com/.

Visit fertilitybridge.com to learn more about what Griffin and his team can do for your fertility clinic and take the first step in building your marketing system with the Goal and Competitive Diagnostic.

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45 - From Patient to Fertility Entrepreneur, An Interview with TJ Farnsworth

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While outcomes are so important in the field of fertility, the patient journey can easily be lost. After going through his own journey, TJ Farnsworth founded Inception Fertility, a group of fertility practices across the country hoping to provide positive experiences for their patients. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin and TJ discuss the culture of Inception Fertility and how empowering your employees to be champions for your patients can have a meaningful impact on their experience. TJ also shares his thoughts on increasing collaboration between fertility clinics across the country and how that can mean success for everyone.

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Why IVF Doctors Leave Their Practice: The Reasons Every REI Fellow and Practice Owner Should Know

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Physicians with the letters, REI, after their names don’t come cheap.

“Any Fellows you can introduce us to?” I’m often asked at PCRS and ASRM (the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meetings, for those not in the field).

“Third years?” I demur, “Nope, they’re all signed. Second years? What month is it? Nope, they’re signed too. I know some first years. Want to talk to them?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” the hiring physicians usually concede.

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41 - Are Young REIs Entrepreneurial? One REI Fellow’s Vision for the Field, Eduardo Hariton, MD, MBA

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The business of medicine is complicated and more often than not, the concept is split and managed by two people with different backgrounds and education. But what if they merged? On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Dr. Eduardo Hariton, a clinical fellow at the University of California in San Francisco. While attending Harvard Medical School, Dr. Hariton also attended Harvard Business School, simultaneously earning his MBA. Griffin and Dr. Hariton discuss the merging of business and medicine and how new REIs can gain business skills while still focusing on what is important: the patient.

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36 - Maintaining Clinic Culture Amidst Continental Growth: Is It Possible? An Interview with Michael Levy, MD

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Deciding to expand your practice, either by acquisition or starting new, is an exciting time. But, adding new staff, physicians, and equity partners can come with a handful of problems. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin Jones, CEO of Fertility Bridge, talks to Dr. Michael Levy, IVF Director and President of Shady Grove Fertility. Shady Grove Fertility is the largest fertility group in America and has over 25 equity partners and almost 1000 employees. Griffin and Dr. Levy discuss the implication of having such a large staff base and just how they manage it, all while keeping the patient at the forefront of their culture.

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34 - How At Risk Are You as a Physician? Mitigating Liability In Your Practice: An Interview with Dr. Steven Katz

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A malpractice case can be the end of an REI practice, and with IVF errors often making it into the news, the pressure to be perfect is high. Thankfully, technology aimed to reduce errors has grown. On this episode, Griffin talks to Dr. Stephen Katz, CEO and Founder of REI Protect, a company formed to provide risk management services and coverage for REI practices across the country. They discuss what can go wrong in an office or IVF lab, and, more importantly, how to protect your practice from errors.

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32 - Marianne Kreiner - Remote Jobs Are on the Rise: Can REI Clinics Follow Suit Successfully

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Working from home has become more and more prevalent across all industries and is starting to catch on in the field of fertility. But how can working from home be beneficial and successful for both employee and employer? On this episode, Griffin Jones talks to Marianne Kreiner, Chief Human Resources Office at Shady Grove Fertility. Together, they discuss how implementing telecommuting in your office can boost employee retention, the importance of building culture with those who work from home, and how to appropriately set up telecommuting employees while following labor regulations.

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29 - What is shifting the entrepreneurial landscape for incoming REIs? Rhonda Zwingerman, MD

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In this episode, Griffin hosts Dr. Rhonda Zwingerman, a fellow OB-GYN and REI at the Royal Surgeons of Canada and an assistant professor of OB-GYN at the University of Toronto. Jones and Dr. Zwingerman talk about the factors shifting the entrepreneurial landscape for incoming REIs including the funding of fertility treatments, the recruiting of REIs, and the risks involved. Tune in to find out more!

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27 - Setting the Vision for Your Practice with Intentional Culture. An Interview with Angie Beltsos, MD

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In this episode, Griffin Jones hosts Dr. Angeline Beltsos, CEO and Medical Director of Vios Fertility Institute as well as the founder of Midwest Reproductive Symposium International (MRSi). In the competitive climate of large fertility networks, Dr. Beltsos’ independent fertility center, Vios Fertility, has thrived, largely in part to implementing an intentional culture of transparency. Dr. Beltos discusses how Vios is built on three important pillars: an unparalleled patient experience, early scientific adaptation, and robust and dynamic culture that starts at the head of the team and trickles down.

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25 - Buy-in: Necessary for Successful Implementation of an EMR System? An Interview with Nicole Koczanowicz

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In this episode, Griffin Jones hosts Nicole Koczanowicz, the Vice President of Artisan Medical Solutions. Koczanowicz’s focus on adoption and adaptation of Artisan’s EMR program to every practice has set Artisan apart. Jones and Koczanowicz have an honest conversation about the delicate dance between a practice fully adopting a necessary change, to the EMR team adapting to the individual needs and workflow of each practice. After all, Wall Street and Silicon Valley both want your patients, but there is a plan, if you are willing to take action.

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24 - Defined Expectations: Are They Key to a 5-Star Experience for REI Patients? An Interview with Lisa Duran

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In this episode, host Griffin Jones chats with Lisa Duran, the Chief Experience Officer for the Inception Fertility Network. Duran’s extensive experience in team-focused patient experience programs has led her to help clinics implement programs that impact the way patients and staff alike respond to the clinic. Jones and Duran discuss the changes in the field and how clinics can differentiate by creating a truly customized experience for patients.

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23 - Reducing Third-Party Legal Risk in an Era of Limited Anonymity. An Interview with Melissa Brissman

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In this episode, host Griffin Jones speaks to Melissa Brissman, an experienced attorney specializing in reproductive law. In addition to practicing law with a focus on reproduction for the last 21 years, Brissman also acted as her own attorney as she had twin sons and a daughter via gestational carrier. An advisor to a variety of organizations and an experienced keynote speaker, Brissman was the 2017 Advocacy Award recipient from Path to Parenthood. Today, Jones and Brissman discuss the differences between a contract and consent, the changes coming to fruition thanks to recent laws, and more.