News
Dallas Business Journal
By Bill Hethcock
April 27, 2012
First Choice Emergency Room has a new CEO and is launching a more than $100 million growth plan that includes six new facilities across Texas as well as the company’s first out-of-state project by the end of the year.
The Flower Mound-based freestanding emergency room company’s growth push is being backed by private equity firm Sterling Partners, which has taken a majority stake in First Choice. Chicago-based Sterling put about $59 million of equity into the business, said Dan Hosler, a Sterling principal and a North Texas native.
On April 16, First Choice announced the appointment of Thomas S. Hall as CEO. Rick Covert, First Choice’s prior CEO and founder, will continue to be active in day-to-day operations and remain on the company’s board of directors.
Hall joins First Choice from NovaMed Inc., where he had served as chairman, president and CEO since 2005. At NovaMed, Hall transformed the company from a single-specialty surgery center operator into one with multiple specialties.
Covert co-founded First Choice in 2002 in Flower Mound with Dr. Jack Novak, an emergency room physician. Under Covert and Novak’s leadership, the company has grown to 13 locations in Texas: four in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, eight in the Houston area and one in Austin. The company has about 400 employees, including about 80 at the headquarters in Flower Mound.
By the end of the year, First Choice plans to add two locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, two in the Houston area and two in or near Austin, Hall said. He declined to provide specific locations.
First Choice typically leases its ER clinics and looks for hard corners in high-traffic areas, Hall said.
Concept in its infancy
The company’s larger goal is to have 80 to 100 facilities in several states within five years, he said. Each one will employ about 25 people, including board-certified emergency department physicians, nurses, radiology technicians, ultrasound technicians, front-office workers and others, he said.
“The whole concept of freestanding emergency rooms is going to be a very large part of the health care industry going forward,” Hall said. “It’s just in its infancy today. This is an opportunity to be part of actually growing and molding and developing this part of the industry.”
Freestanding emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day and have the same medical personnel and diagnostic equipment available at hospital-based emergency rooms.
Wait times at First Choice facilities are typically less than five minutes, compared with hours in many hospital ERs, Hall said. Patients are typically in and out in less than an hour even if they need X-rays, CT scans or other tests, he said.
The state started licensing freestanding emergency rooms June 1, 2010, said Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for Texas Department of State Health Services. There were 16 freestanding emergency medical care facilities licensed as of Sept. 1, 2010, and there are 41 licensed facilities now, she said.
The state started licensing the facilities so patients needing emergency care would know what type of care is available from the centers, Hosler said. Freestanding emergency rooms offer more services and are open more hours than after-hours clinics and urgent-care clinics, and they can handle more serious cases, he said.
The number of freestanding ERs is on the rise because they provide faster care and a more comfortable experience for patients, said Dr. Toby Hamilton, CEO of Emerus Hospital Partners, which is based in The Woodlands and has freestanding ERs in McKinney and Aubrey.
In addition to the $59 million in equity, Chicago-based Sterling has reserved $50 million to $60 million more to fund First Choice’s growth, Hosler said.
Sterling likes the patient-centric focus at First Choice and the fact that it’s part of the trend of extending acute care outside the hospital to places where people live and work, he said. The private equity firm focuses on founder-owned or founder-operated businesses, he said.
“We were able to lay out a vision for a business that could be much larger, treat more patients and grow outside the state of Texas,” Hosler said. “The consumer demand around being able to access emergency care outside the hospital is strong.”
Additional Executive Leadership Support Coming with Three Seasoned Board Member Appointments
Plano, TX – April 16, 2012 – First Choice Emergency Room (“First Choice”), the largest freestanding emergency room network in Texas and a leading company in its industry, today announced the appointment of Thomas Hall as chief executive officer. First Choice’s founder, Rick Covert, will continue to be active in day-to-day operations and will remain on the Company’s board of directors. Additionally, Stephen Farber, Ron Taylor and Jeff Vender have been appointed as new First Choice board members.
Mr. Covert co-founded First Choice in 2002 in Flower Mound, Texas. Under his leadership the company has grown to 13 locations throughout the state and has emerged as one of the best operators in the marketplace.
Mr. Hall joins First Choice from NovaMed, Inc. where he had served as chairman, president and chief executive officer since 2005. During his tenure at NovaMed, Mr. Hall tripled EBITDA and transformed the company from a single specialty surgery center operator into a multi-specialty surgery center operator.
“After an extensive search to find my successor with valuable guidance from Sterling Partners, we feel confident that Tom is the right step forward for First Choice,” said Mr. Covert. “He has experience in scaling a business in a multi-unit healthcare construct across multiple states while preserving company culture. On behalf of everyone at First Choice, we are thrilled to have Tom on board.”
“First Choice has a legacy of providing patients with an efficient alternative to conventional hospital-based emergency services while delivering the highest standard of care with superior customer service,” said Mr. Hall. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with Rick and other incredibly talented entrepreneurs serving on our board to ensure that our customers will receive the high quality of service they deserve from First Choice.”
Among the new leadership is Stephen Farber, joining First Choice’s Board of Directors as Audit Chair. He is currently the chairman of the board for Connance, Inc., a healthcare solutions provider that he co-founded in 2007. Also appointed to the board are Ron Taylor, co-founder, retired chief executive officer and current senior advisor and board director for DeVry Inc. and Jeff Vender, renowned healthcare industry consultant and chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and director of Critical Care Services at NorthShore University HealthSystem.
“Sterling has worked very closely with existing management to identify Tom Hall; he is the ideal candidate to lead the company to its next generation of growth,” said Danny Rosenberg, Managing Director at Sterling Partners, the Chicago-based private equity firm that made its initial investment in First Choice in September 2011. “Tom is well-positioned to lead with guidance from Rick, Stephen, Ron and Jeff, each who bring a wealth of talent and operational expertise to First Choice and its board.”
About First Choice Emergency Room
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board-certified emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With eight locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ERs.
Stay up to date on First Choice Emergency Room on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).
Freestanding ER Continues First-Class Customer Service with change to 24 Hours
First Choice Emergency Room, the largest freestanding emergency room network in Texas, is pleased to announce that its Murphy, Texas, location northeast of the Dallas metro area, is extending its hours of service. The ER, which is known for delivering no-wait patient service, will now be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other First Choice Emergency Room facilities have already made the switch to 24-hour care, bringing the total number of 24-hour facilities to eight.
“We’re excited to extend the hours of the Murphy location,” said Rick Covert, chief executive officer of First Choice Emergency Room. “It reflects our mission to bring state-of-the-art emergency rooms to our communities and deliver world-class customer service and medical care that exceeds expectations 24/7.”
There are thirteen freestanding ERs across Texas in the First Choice Emergency Room network. The first of these opened nearly a decade ago, but the concept of a freestanding ER is still quite new. For patients seeking a fully equipped, freestanding ER, First Choice Emergency Room is a great choice.
First Choice Emergency Room provides Murphy residents with a better emergency room experience. Our freestanding ERs are staffed with a team of experienced ER doctors, nurses and radiologists dedicated to working together and using state-of-the-art equipment–digital x-rays, ultra-sounds and CT scanners—to quickly diagnose medical issues so they can focus their attention on treating patients with the personalized care they deserve.
Thanks to the extended hours of service, patients can now receive the medical care they need and the service they deserve, day or night. The address of the Murphy, Texas, ER: 211 E FM 544, Suite 401, Murphy, TX 75094. Contact the facility at (972) 826-4400.
ABOUT FIRST CHOICE EMERGENCY ROOM:
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board-certified emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With eight locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ERs.
For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).
Freestanding Emergency Room Continues First-Class Customer Service with Extension of Hours to 24 Hours.
League City, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2012
First Choice Emergency Room, the largest freestanding emergency room network in Texas, is pleased to announce that its South Shore
"We’re thrilled to be extending the hours of this freestanding emergency room. It reflects the need of the community for our state-of-the-art emergency rooms which enable us to deliver world-class customer service and medical care...24/7."
Harbour location in League City is extending its hours of service. The ER, which is known for delivering no-wait patient service, will now be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“We’re thrilled to be extending the hours of this freestanding emergency room,” said Rick Covert, chief executive officer of First Choice Emergency Room. “It reflects the need of the community for our state-of-the-art emergency rooms which enable us to deliver world-class customer service and medical care that exceeds our customer’s expectations, 24/7.”
There are twelve freestanding emergency rooms across Texas in the First Choice network. The first of these opened nearly a decade ago, but the concept of a freestanding emergency room is still quite new. However, for patients seeking a fully equipped, freestanding ER with more advanced medical diagnostic equipment than neighborhood urgent care centers, First Choice Emergency Room should be their first choice.
Everything one might expect from a hospital emergency room can be found in a First Choice Emergency Room, except for the wait. Digital x-rays, CT scanners, board-certified doctors, and extensively trained nurses are all found at each First Choice freestanding emergency room facility.
Thanks to the extended hours of service, patients can now receive the medical care they need, and the personal attention they deserve day or night. The address of the South Shore Harbour ER is 3033 Marina Bay Drive, Ste 100, League City, TX 77573. Contact the facility at (281) 549-9400 or visit: http://www.fcer.com/locations/houston-map/south-shore-harbour/
ABOUT FIRST CHOICE EMERGENCY ROOM:
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board-certified emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With seven locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ERs.
For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).
New freestanding ER will operate twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
First Choice Emergency Room, the leading operator of freestanding emergency rooms in the state of Texas, today announced the opening of its newest location in the Greater Houston area.
Opening on Friday, February 24, the new 24-hour emergency room is located in Kingwood, just west of Woodland Hills on Northpark Drive.
“We’re really proud to be opening our eighth location in Houston,” said Rick Covert, CEO of First Choice Emergency Room. “Houston continues to grow and we are growing with it.”
The company also operates ERs in Humble, Spring, Cypress, The Woodlands, Pearland, League City and on Louetta Road in Houston, as well as four locations in Dallas and one in Georgetown.
Founded in 2002, First Choice Emergency Room is at the forefront of a fast-growing segment of the healthcare industry: freestanding neighborhood emergency rooms.
First Choice Emergency Room offers a standard of care equal to that found in traditional ERs, but without the crowds and long wait times. All of the company’s ERs feature sophisticated diagnostic equipment and on-site laboratories.
“Our staff is trained in the highest level of emergency care,” Covert said. “All of the company’s physicians are board-certified emergency physicians, and all of the nurses are trained in emergency care. It’s the high level of medical care you should expect, but with one important difference from a traditional ER – at First Choice Emergency Room we provide the personal attention we believe patients deserve.”
First Choice Emergency Room operates the largest network of freestanding ERs in the state of Texas. The company has been named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for the past two years and to DFW’s Top 100 Privately Held Business’ for the past six years.
The new Kingwood facility’s address is: 2158 Northpark Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339. For more information, visit the Kingwood page at http://www.fcer.com/locations/houston-map/kingwood/
About First Choice Emergency Room:
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board-certified emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With seven locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ERs.
For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778)
Our Flower Mound location is now open 24 hours – daily! We are very excited to be able to offer 24 hour service to our family in Flower Mound. This was our very first emergency room to open way back in 2002!! Have you or your family members been seen at this location?
http://www.fcer.com/locations/dallas-map/flower-mound/
New ER from First Choice Emergency Room will operate 24/7, 365 days a year.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 06, 2011 – First Choice Emergency Room, the leading operator of freestanding emergency rooms in the state of Texas, today announced the opening of its newest location in the greater Houston area.
Opening on Friday, December 16, the new 24-hour emergency room is located in Cypress, Texas, at the southeast corner of Barker Cypress and Tuckerton Road.
The location serves residents of Cypress and northwest Houston, including the neighborhoods of Copperfield and Barker Cypress.
“We’re thrilled to be opening this facility,” said Rick Covert, Chief Executive Officer of First Choice Emergency Room. “It really does reflect a further evolution in the state of the art in emergency rooms and in focus on world class customer service while providing medical care that exceeds expectations.”
First Choice Emergency Room offers a level of emergency care equal to that seen in hospital ERs, but without the wait times. Patients are seen within minutes of arrival and are examined with advanced diagnostic equipment, such as CT scanners and digital X-rays. First Choice Emergency Room’s staff is also fully trained to provide the highest level of emergency care. All of the company’s physicians are board-certified, emergency medicine physicians, and all of its nurses are trained in emergency care.
“Our goal is to take the ER out of the hospital and put it closer to your home,” Covert said. “That means you get real emergency care, quicker, when it can make the most difference in outcomes.”
The facility’s address is 9740 Barker Cypress Rd., Suite 108, Cypress, TX. For more information, visit the Barker Cypress ER page at http://www.fcer.com/locations/houston-map/barker-cypress/.
For more information, locations and hours, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).
About First Choice Emergency Room
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board certified, emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With seven locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without delay as commonly experienced in hospital ER’s.
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) November 18, 2011
First Choice Emergency Room, the leading provider of freestanding emergency rooms with 12 Texas locations, announced that it is receiving a significant investment from Sterling Partners, a private equity firm with $5 billion in assets under management and a track record for growing innovative healthcare companies.
The partnership with Sterling validates First Choice’s pioneering business model – a unique approach to emergency medicine that takes the ER out of the hospital, cuts down on patient wait times, and puts high-quality treatment closer to neighborhoods. First Choice’s facilities are equipped to serve major and minor emergency needs for both adult and pediatric patients. First Choice has already achieved rapid success competing against traditional hospital emergency rooms, and Sterling’s investment will spur the next stage of First Choice’s growth.
“We are extremely excited about our new partnership with First Choice,” said Danny Rosenberg, a Managing Director at Sterling Partners. “We see boundless potential for the business and have been impressed with the quality of the management team and organization. Our focus is on investing in healthcare businesses that matter to patients, provide the highest quality care and service, and address inherent challenges in our current system. First Choice fits that bill.”
Rick Covert, CEO of First Choice Emergency Rooms, added: “We believe Sterling is the right partner for First Choice, as we share common objectives. They are truly differentiated in the private equity community and will be integral in delivering on our continued commitment to improving access to top-notch emergency medical care in your neighborhood while improving the ER service environment.”
First Choice Emergency Room, founded in North Texas in 2002, was recently named to the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States, marking the second year in a row they have been included in that prestigious list. The company was also recognized as one of the top 100 fastest-growing privately-held companies in the Dallas area by the Southern Methodist University Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship in each of the past six years.
About Sterling Partners
Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. They’ve been around since 1983 and have invested billions of dollars, but that’s not what really defines their business. Sterling’s purpose is INSPIRED GROWTH®, which describes a differentiated approach to buying inspired businesses and growing them in inspired ways. Sterling invests growth capital in small and mid-market businesses in industries with positive, long-term trends – such as healthcare, education and business services. Through offices in Chicago, Baltimore, and Miami, they provide valuable support to portfolio company management teams through a deep and dedicated team of operations and functional experts. Sterling believes in an unrelenting commitment to ideas and ideals, to people and partnerships that drive long-term success. Visit http://www.sterlingpartners.com or reach out to a team member to learn more.
About First Choice Emergency Room
First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical services for adult and pediatric emergencies, both major and minor. First Choice Emergency Room facilities are innovative, freestanding, fully equipped emergency rooms. All physicians are board certified, emergency physicians, and all FCER nurses are emergency trained. With seven locations in the Houston area, four in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and one in the Austin area, patients receive high-quality treatment without the delays commonly experienced in hospital ERs.
For more information, visit http://www.FCER.com or call toll-free 866-99-FIRST (34778).
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Fever, the First Choice ER Dog is leading the pack to stamp out hunger in our community this holiday season. Fever and First Choice Emergency Room want to ensure everyone has a hot meal for the holidays. First Choice Emergency Room will be taking donations of canned and non perishable items at each one of the seven First Choice locations in the Houston area beginning November 21st, 2011 from 10am to 10pm. Donations can be made at the Atascocita and Woodlands site 24/7. All donations will be collected on December 22nd for distribution to the Houston Food Bank.
Fever says that all canned goods are welcome, as well as dried pastas, beans, grains, and boxed items. Please do not donate items that are expired or perishable.
Fever the ER Dog and First Choice ER would like everyone to have a wonderful holiday!
First Choice ER is working with the Plano Christmas Cops this year and are accepting donations through December 9th at our Plano location (Park & Preston) between 10am and 10pm, 7 days/week.
The items being requested are non-perishable food items, toys, and jackets. This will benefit families in need in the Plano area.
Please email Kristyn.Eldridge@FCER.com with any questions.
About the Plano Christmas Cops
Christmas Cops is a program operated by Plano Police employees to assist Plano families in need during the Christmas Season. Collection boxes are placed at numerous local businesses, fire stations, libraries, and city facilities to collect toys, food, new coats, and miscellaneous household items. Shortly before Christmas, our Officers and Santa’s Helpers make deliveries to these families.
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