Anesthesiologists introduce Enhance Healthcare to provide peri-operative solutions

As more hospitals seek to align with physicians in response to health care reform, a pair of South Florida board-certified anesthesiologists has launched Enhance Healthcare, a national consulting practice that designs innovative peri-operative solutions for hospitals and anesthesiologists.

As seasoned entrepreneurs with extensive experience in medical group management and hospital consulting, Howard Greenfield, MD and Robert Stiefel, MD are uniquely credentialed to effectively advise hospital administrations in navigating complex, interdependent relationships with anesthesiologists. Prior to starting Enhance Healthcare, Dr. Greenfield was a founding partner in Sheridan Healthcare and Dr. Stiefel was a co-founder of both an anesthesia practice management/billing company as well as a national consulting company advising hospitals on anesthesia contracting and operating room efficiency.

A recently published report by Deloitte asserts that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a major factor driving physicians and hospitals into closer alignment. As healthcare costs increase, insurance reimbursements decrease and the need for capital expenditures such as information technology continue to rise, physicians and hospitals are both challenged by current economic conditions. "Our backgrounds as clinicians, practice managers and our nationwide consulting experience make it possible for us to understand the situation from the perspective of physician and hospital administrator. That experience enables us to help both parties forge mutually beneficial alliances that ultimately lead to improved OR performance," explained Dr. Greenfield.

Dr. Stiefel added, "As healthcare reform drives the need for greater integration, hospitals and physicians understand the need for greater collaboration. Recognizing anesthesiologists' contribution to safe surgical care, more hospitals are exploring the potential to achieve closer integration through employment arrangements. Until now, hospitals have not had expert resources to help optimize the performance of such models."