Creating a Regional Resource for Patients in Need

When Dr. Christopher LeSar decided to start over, he knew he wanted to build a practice that would specialize in the prevention of amputation in patients with critical limb ischemia. As the busiest vascular surgeon in Chattanooga, he had the clinical skills needed to achieve his goals, but he didn’t have the business experience to do it on his own.  

Dr. LeSar engaged Accountable Physician Advisors to guide him through the process of launching his new private vascular surgery practice and specialty center for limb preservation.  APA provided comprehensive planning and management services during the start-up, including:

• Early stage planning and business plan development
• Acquisition of start-up capital
• Identification and leasing of the office locations
• Acquisition and financing of major medical equipment
• Staff recruitment and human resources program development
• Development of the IT infrastructure
• EHR implementation
• Payer contracting and revenue cycle management
• Financial management
• Onboarding of permanent practice administrator

In phase one, Dr. LeSar’s new practice was up and fully operational in a temporary location less than 90 days after he retained APA, and the practice was profitable shortly after launch. When the phase two location opened just thirteen months after the new practice commenced operations, Dr. LeSar had already hired three additional providers to join him because the demand for the center’s services was so great.          

The Vascular Institute of Chattanooga is the only center of its kind in the region, with a multidisciplinary staff dedicated to the prevention of amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease.  The 8200 square foot facility has three operating rooms, four ultrasound suites, a patient education center and ample clinic space to support the enterprise as it continues to grow. And with the continued expertise of APA at his side, Dr. LeSar is convinced that the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga is poised to help many of his patients declare victory in their fight to preserve their limb and their health.