ROBERT LERMA, BS, MS, MBA, CASC

*** ******** ***** *** ******* Texas 78225 713-***-**** ad4v5i@r.postjobfree.com

HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

Accomplished Healthcare Operations Executive offering expertise in facility development, start-ups, leadership, turnaround operations, finance, procurement, benchmarking and problem-solving. Develop overall strategic plans required for short- and long-term success. Translate business vision and strategy into clear operational goals, objectives, and tactics. Develop and prepare annual business plans and budgets to ensure business goals and quality targets are achieved. Develop and foster strong working relationships and communicate at all levels of the organization. Coordinate administrative and financial functions, including productivity, practice efficiency enhancements, clinical quality, patient safety/experience, and total cost of care. Engage in risk management and regulatory initiatives. Supported the integration of acquisitions and mergers.

OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE 1998 - 2023

Coronado Surgery Center – Las Vegas, NV March 2022 - Present

Regional Administrator

Responsible for the administrative oversight of a multi-specialty ASC performing primarily joint replacements, general orthopedic surgery, general surgery, pain, and podiatry procedures. The center is performing approximately 150 cases per month.

Completed the state survey.

Reinstituted the Leapfrog survey allowing the center to compare center metrics nationally with other ASC’s.

Reduced overtime by 15% resulting in monthly savings of $5,000.

Reorganized the nursing and business office to establish performance goals.

Implemented EMR converting center from paper charting to electronic charting saving 3 hours of labor hours between the business office and the nursing department.

Queensridge Surgery Center - Las Vegas, NV March 2022 – Present Regional Administrator

Developed a 4 OR De Novo multi-specialty surgery ASC in addition to a cardiac catheter lab within the same surgery center. The center was state licensed in June 2023 and obtained the deemed status survey for AAAHC and Medicare in December 2023. The center is now performing cardiology, total joints, general orthopedics, pain management, and general surgery cases. Commercial contracts and Medicare payors are now in effect.

Wellness Ambulatory Surgery Center – McKinney, TX July 2021 – March 2022 Administrator

Responsible for physician recruitment and facility oversight of a 15,000 4 OR, 1 procedure room ASC performing 250 cases per month for multi-specialty procedures.

Upon arrival, successfully wrote a plan of corrections leading to a three-year accreditation for AAAHC.

Set up a price matrix model to use for negotiating pricing with vendors, saving $12,000 on implants.

Routine partnership visits to motivate/encourage partners to support center and drove up case volume by 50 extra cases per month resulting in approximately $175,000 to EBITDA.

Blue Springs Surgery Center - Orange City, FL May 2020 – July 2021

Administrator Assumed responsibility for administrative oversight of an 18,000 sq. ft. three room OR and procedure room ambulatory surgery center. The center performs 300 cases per month that includes: general orthopedics, spine, pain management, ENT, podiatry, GI, ophthalmology, and general surgery.

Led State Survey for facility resulting in licensing for three years.

Revamped facility policy and procedures up to current standards for State and AAAHC.

Recouped $26,000 of 1 year-old accounts receivables.

Spicewood Surgery Center De Novo Project - Austin, TX March 2018 – May 2020 Project Manager – Administrator

Direct involvement with design/build with construction company and architect, operational and administrative oversight of a 5,000 sq. ft. two room operating the surgery center for pain management.

Policy and Procedures Development

State Licensing

Accreditation – AAAHC February and Medicare Certification

Staffing Recruitment– directors and facility staff

Physician Recruitment

Budgeting – Case Costing

Memorial MRI and Diagnostic Centers De Novo - Houston, TX. June 2016 – March 2018 Administrator

Delivered expertise in project management with integration with the architect and general contractor to develop and then manage a 16K square foot, multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery center.

●Medical equipment and supply procurement

●Recruited physicians and staff, developed policies and procedures.

●Initiated Medicare certification with an AAAHC deemed status survey, and all other licenses and certifications.

US Pain and Spine Hospital Surgical Institute - Houston, TX. 2016

Project Management Administrator

Developed JCAHO hospital and procedures to prepare for an upcoming survey in December of 2016.

Development of budgeting for toxicology and the reference lab, resulting in $60K in monthly revenue

Recruited an orthopedic surgeon and plastic surgeon to the hospital with a projected $200K in annual revenue.

US Pain and Spine Surgical Outpatient Surgery Center Institute Houston, TX. 2016

Project Management Administrator

●Delivered administrative oversight for the ambulatory surgery center, preparing the center for application and survey for AAAHC accreditation within the next year.

●Developed a business case strategy for physician recruitment to add at least 30 more staff per month.

●Reduced scheduling cancellations by 33% or 50 cases each month, resulting in approximately $40K of additional

●revenue for pain management cases.

Texas Medical Management – Providence Hospital of North Houston, TX. 2015

Project Management Administrator

Oversight for the construction of a 16-bed surgical hospital in coordination with the General Contractor and Architect.

Recruited CNO and completed hospital policies and procedures.

Led onboarding for IT, software installation, and equipment procurement.

Imperial Surgery Center Houston, TX. 2015

Project Manager Administrator

Delivered short term project management oversight for the ambulatory surgery center in addition to providing revenue cycle supervision.

●Recruited an orthopedist to perform letters of protection cases for personal injury actions, resulting in an additional $100K of expected revenue with the final amount determined upon case settlement.

●Successfully Completed Medicare Application 855B to secure in-network contracts.

Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Medical Center Houston, TX. 2011 - 2014 Chief Operating Officer

Organizational leadership for the ambulatory surgery center, the ER, orthopedic practice management, marketing and physical therapy.

●Recruited the director of nursing for the ER department, increasing patients from 6.2 to 8.6 per day, and a net monthly revenue increase of $98K.

●Reduced appointment cancellations and renegotiated physician practice contracts resulting in $3,000 monthly net revenue.

●Increased physical therapy visits from an average of 12 to 16 daily, resulting in $16K in monthly net revenue.

●Consolidated three business offices into a central office while reducing staffing by two full-time employees, netting an annual cost savings of $120K.

●Provided revenue cycle management to increase collections by $65K monthly with A/R days reduced from 72 to 51 days.

Sadler Clinic Surgery Center - The Woodlands, TX. 2008 - 2011

Administrator

●Physician recruitment - three orthopedic surgeons resulting in $50,000 per month.

●Led a successful certification AAAHC survey, resulting in a three-year accreditation.

●Reduced payroll expenses by converting to a 32-hour work week, saving $15,000.

Foundation Surgery Affiliates - Sherman - TX 2006 - 2008

HOSPITAL CEO – Heritage Park Surgical Hospital & ASC

●Converted a freestanding ASC to an HOPD while coordinating the building and opening a new 16-bed hospital in eight months. Assisted in filing the application for a deemed status survey for Medicare.

●Achieved a successful DNV hospital survey with a three-year accreditation.

●Recruited two spine surgeons with a monthly revenue of $100K for the hospital.

Foundation Surgery Affiliates - Houston, Tx 1998 - 2006

Administrator - Doctors Surgical Center - Houston TX / Huntsville Surgery Center - Huntsville TX.

●Provided administrative oversight for a 4 OR, 4 Procedure Room centers performing 400 cases per month each.

●Recruited 2 ENT and 2 Orthopedic Surgeons increasing revenue by $200k per month.

●Led team to two successful AAAHC surveys with a score of 95%.

SSINAL WORK HISTORY.

EARLY CAREER SUMMARY

Compass LTAC Hospital of San Antonio TX.

American Transitional Hospital of Southeast Arizona Tucson AZ.

Regional Chief Executive Officer

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Worth, TX.

Opened hospital with administrative team and as the Director of Case Management and Utilization Review

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION COURSE

University of Texas, Austin, TX

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION

University of Dallas, Irving, TX

MASTER OF SCIENCE – VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELING ADMINISTRATION

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE – VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELING

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

CERTIFICATIONS: Board Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator (CASC)

AFFILIATIONS: American College of Healthcare Executives

Contact this candidate