Faster Scheduling and Lower Costs: The Advantages of Private Practice

Have you ever needed to make a doctor’s appointment or schedule a consultation and been told the first available appointment is months away?

This is common when you’re dealing with a medical office that’s part of a corporate or insurance-affiliated system. They’re big, they’re busy, and you’re just a number on their ledger.

At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, board-certified general surgeon Dr. John Bollins and our team reject that model of practicing medicine, which is why we established our own private practice in 2021.

We’re not beholden to any corporate entity, which means we can focus our attention on what really matters – you, the patient. Here’s what you can expect.

What is private practice?

A private practice is one that’s completely owned and operated by physicians rather than a hospital, health system, insurance company, or other entity. A recent AMA Physician Practice Benchmark Survey showed that 49.1% of doctors in the United States who work directly with patients are in practices wholly owned by physicians.

Such practices have the benefits of built-in on-call coverage, more working capital, less stress, and the freedom to have more time for what’s really important – doctor-patient interaction.

How do patients benefit?

When you deal with a practice like Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, you can expect a number of things. 

First, you’ll be able to get an appointment within a reasonable time frame. That’s because we limit the number of overall patients we handle, so we can spend time with the patients we already have. We can even schedule urgent appointments if you need one.

Second, because we don’t overbook or double-book our appointment slots, you won’t spend all day in the waiting room. You can expect to be seen within a short time of your appointment and receive all the care you need while you’re in the office.

Third, because we’re not a factor in some larger company’s bottom line, you can expect lower healthcare costs than with a hospital or corporate-affiliated practice.

And, if you need a procedure, you can expect lower costs at the facility, as well. That’s because we take your budget as well as your medical needs into account when recommending a particular surgery center or hospital. We’re not beholden to any one institution.

If you’re looking for a general surgery practice that cares for its patients in all aspects of their medical care, Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota is the place you want to be. To schedule a consultation with our office, call us in Hibbing, Duluth, or Hermantown, Minnesota, or book your appointment online.

We proudly accept Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, HealthPartners, Humana, UCare, and Medica.