Creating a Rural Plastic Surgery Practice: Social and Financial Impacts

In the United States, 25 million people are without reasonable access to a plastic surgeon. Previous studies have demonstrated that rural populations have limitations to healthcare, and these limitations result in poor quality of life and poor outcomes. New research points to the importance of rural plastic surgery, but still lacks clarity of what the creation and development of a rural plastic surgery practice may entail. Our aim with this study was to discover both the surgical compilation and financial impact of a single rural plastic surgeon’s practice. We reviewed the first 1.5 years of a single surgeon’s plastic surgery practice from its beginnings in a rural community at a critical access hospital with no previous plastic surgery presence. During the study period, the surgeon completed 2062 clinic visits and 305 surgeries. The practice involved approximately 70% hand surgery and the remaining general plastic surgery. The practice generated approximately $8 million in charges and $3.5 million in collections. Collections were broken down by $2.6 million in surgical procedures, $560,000 from clinical practice, and $330,000 from downstream revenue. A rural plastic surgeon’s practice may have noted positive impacts on medical care and financial bottom lines in rural communities.