Arkansas Specialty Care Centers*

In the mid-1990s several Arkansas physicians began to take a close look at their marketplace, their practices and their personal lives with an eye toward a merger.

What evolved was Arkansas Specialty Care Centers at 600 S. McKinley St. in Little Rock, established in 1998.

“Without revealing anyone’s particular age, these physicians were at a point in their lives that they wanted to recognize the priorities of their lives, including their practice, their family life and their contribution to the community,” said CEO Alicia Cooper.

After financing the start-up with assets from existing clinics and medium-term bank loans, ASCC’s revenue in that first year amounted to just under $1 million.

By 2002 – with 22 physicians including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians, physical and rehabilitation specialists, and pain medicine specialists – company revenue had increased to $29 million.

“Our growth is a result of bringing together recognized physicians throughout the state,” Cooper said, adding that some patients drive long distances to come to the clinic.

“About 62 percent of our patients come from outside a 50-mile radius of our office,” she said.

Patient satisfaction and quality improvement are of key importance to ASCC’s success, Cooper said. “The patient questionnaire is a critical part of our business plan,” she said. “It deals with everything from the staff service to phone accessibility and appointment waiting time. If there’s a problem, we will go in and change things.”

Last year, the clinic upgraded its phone system after receiving feedback suggesting that the old system was confusing. The clinic also strives to keep appointment waiting time down to less than three weeks. Cooper says the clinic plans to add four to six physicians to the staff in the next 12-18 months.