Ep. 47 Navigating Private Practice in Cardiology with Dr. Jon George

Can independent private practice offer greater efficiency, better patient care, and a more balanced physician lifestyle? On this episode of the BackTable Cardiology Podcast, host Dr. Hady Lichaa talks with Dr. Jon George about his journey from academic cath lab leadership to launching an ambulatory surgery center and thriving as a solo practitioner. They discuss the business, regulatory, and clinical realities of building a modern private practice in today’s changing healthcare environment. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:51 - Private Practice Landscape 05:17 - Pendulum Swing to Independent Practice 10:04 - Making the Move to Solo Practice 15:24 - Training and Research Beyond Hospitals 17:55 - MBA and Business Skills 20:02 - Building a Broad Practice 23:35 - Income, Ownership, and Mindset Shifts 27:28 - Administrative Load and Management Help 32:35 - Launching the ASC Cath Lab 38:24 - Boosting Efficiency, Lifestyle, and Preventing Burnout 43:17 - Advice for Fellows 48:15 - Call Coverage and Negotiation 49:52 - Closing Reflections and Takeaways --- More about this episode Dr. George shares how his frustrations with hospital financial transparency, procedural limitations, and the pandemic’s impact on patient willingness to come to hospitals motivated his transition to a solo practice in 2020. He explains why only about 30 percent of U.S. cardiologists remain independent, highlighting the shift toward lower-cost outpatient sites, recent CMS approvals for more ASC procedures, and state differences in certificate-of-need laws. Dr. George discusses strategies for scaling through hospital affiliations, negotiating teaching and research support, and partnering with management companies to streamline operations. He also describes building a state-of-the-art cath lab and imaging center, improving efficiency and physician lifestyle, and offers a practical five-question framework for clinicians considering the move to private practice. --- Resources ReVaMP Heart and Vascular Institute https://www.revascmed.com/ University of Cincinnati Ohio College of Medicine https://med.uc.edu/ University Hospitals Case Medical Center https://www.uhhospitals.org/locations/uh-cleveland-medical-center Temple University Hospital https://www.templehealth.org/locations/temple-university-hospital --- BackTable Cardiology is the go-to podcast for interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other healthcare professionals that manage cardiovascular conditions. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app