4 Things to Know About Filling Leadership Postions

An Interview with Greg Zoch, Managing Director of Kaye/Bassman International

From Becker's ASC Review
Written by Stephanie Wasek 
Thursday, 29 January 2009

It's probably no secret to anybody who owns and operates an ASC that surgical volumes are being affected by these challenging economic times. At best, things probably won't improve until the third or fourth quarter of this year, once the economy starts to stabilize and patients meet their yearly deductibles. Accordingly, the need for astute managers in the ASC sector is greater than ever, says Greg Zoch, an equity partner with executive search firm Kaye/Bassman, who focuses on identifying, attracting and landing top talent for ASCs and specialty hospitals.
Here are four of his observations

1. A good administrator is important in the best of times but is crucial in tough times. "The demand for top clinical and business leadership is as great or even greater now and it’s still just as difficult to land the really high-quality individuals who can have the kind of impact needed in this economy," he says. Plus, regardless of case volumes, facilities still need clinical directors, administrators and VPs of operations to run efficiently.

2. The bar is even higher. "I think people are raising the bar for what they really want because they recognize that today’s challenges of inventory control, payor and vendor contracting, financial oversight, staff management, etcetera, are even more critical functions when less revenue is coming in the door," says Mr. Zoch. "Finding the most talented individuals during the most challenging economic times is absolutely crucial to success. Their efforts could mean the difference between making or losing a whole lot of money. Finding and retaining top performers now is ultimately a huge advantage because, once business turns around, those who used this time to top-grade talent and ensure operational and clinical efficiencies will gain exponentially."

While he cautions clients to perform due diligence on each candidate, he also warns them to move quickly when presented the opportunity to hire strong talent. This is not only because the candidate will be sought by others, but also for the next reason.

3. Candidates, like all of us, are seeking stability. In times of economic upheaval, rather than seek out new opportunities, candidates tend to retreat in an attempt to find stability and avoid missteps. Even if they are in a less-than-ideal situation currently, they tend to be overly cautious. This further complicates landing the best candidate.

"It's human nature to believe 'Better the devil I know than the devil I don't,'" says Mr. Zoch. "No one wants to make a move and find out they made a mistake during a time of uncertainty."

4. Landing the best talent might require assistance. "In today’s economic and emotional climate when people are hunkered down and worried about career missteps, you might need someone who can get their attention. A third party can often buffer the sense of risk that top pros might naturally feel when considering a change." he says. "By and large, what we do for our clients is along the lines of a talent scout. We know a lot of people, and, in many cases, we know what's going on in their lives and what might make them more receptive to change. A clear message delivered by a trusted professional can tremendously facilitate the process and ultimately helps our clients find and hire great talent. And let’s face it, most top talent rarely, if ever, reads employment want-ads and can only be reached by a proactive approach. That’s what we do."

Greg Zoch ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ) is a partner with Kaye/Bassman and focuses on executive search for ASCs and specialty hospitals. Greg has helped many of the industry’s largest players by finding top talent at the facility and corporate level. Learn more by contacting Kaye/Bassman at 972.931.5242.