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Unity Medical Center

Forging the future of healthcare

As a Wipfli client of over 10 years, Unity Medical Center trusts the firm’s ability to provide detailed and accurate financial analysis. And its trust was reaffirmed yet again — when Unity expressed interest in acquiring Intuitive’s da Vinci robotic surgical system, Wipfli’s feasibility study enabled CEO Alan O’Neil to attain board approval.

The Challenge

Unity Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital serving a region of over 10,000 residents in North Dakota. Its commitment to enhancing patient care with a state-of-the-art surgery department has put it on the map, leading to enhanced relationships with the University of North Dakota and nearby residency programs. But what Unity didn’t have was a robotic surgical system — a tool that surgeons are increasingly trained on. In order to attract a general surgeon and retain its patients locally, Unity wanted to acquire Intuitive’s da Vinci robotic surgical system.

The Solution

However, such a large capital investment required approval from Unity’s board of directors. It also needed proper due diligence and analysis. Unity turned to Wipfli to perform a feasibility study and pro forma, which would lay out the full financial implications of acquiring the da Vinci system, including marketed revenue opportunities and Medicare reimbursement.

I knew with Wipfli we would get a very accurate and detailed analysis we could depend on. I am continually impressed with Wipfli’s industry knowledge and how well they communicate, present and share their findings.
Alan O’Neil, CEO, Unity Medical Center

The results

As a result of Wipfli’s analysis, O’Neil was able to meet with the board with confidence and attain their approval to acquire the da Vinci robotic surgical system. Unity has recruited a general surgeon and received excellent feedback from patients on their surgery experience. Da Vinci has been shown to shorten patient recovery times, reduce complications and reduce readmittance rates. As the first CAH in North Dakota with a da Vinci, Unity will be able to use it as a marketing tool to increase patient volume, as well as a recruitment tool to attract more staff and residents. Most importantly to Unity, however, da Vinci is a long-term investment in patient safety and the region it serves.

Services Engaged

Healthcare consulting
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