How has SCAs acquisition strategy changed since becoming independent of HealthSouth?
Andrew Hayek: We fully separated from HealthSouth in mid-2007. Since then, we have launched a new culture, based on patient care and serving our physicians. We have recruited more than a dozen new senior leaders, and we have achieved growth in revenue and profitability for our centers. Much of this improvement has been based on developing best practices in key areas — clinical, volume growth, supplies, labor and billing — and sharing those best practices systematically across our centers. We also have built the capability to be an acquirer of single-site surgery centers and multi-site companies. We have built our team and have the financial resources to support our efforts — we generate free cash flow, we have more than $100 million of available liquidity and we have a supportive capital partner. Joe Clark: Currently, we’re on track to bring on about one new center a month in 2010. Q: Are you finding more ASCs are interested in being acquired than in the past? AH: Given the political e
