MedQuest Signs Joint Venture Agreements with Multiple Health Systems, Emerges as Leading Outpatient Imaging Partner

In today’s healthcare environment with unprecedented pressure on providers to develop cost-effective and accessible diagnostic imaging networks, MedQuest Associates has emerged as a leading outpatient radiology partner for hospitals and health systems. Focusing on the outpatient imaging business exclusively for over 24 years, MedQuest is one of the largest, most experienced and most successful providers in the country, currently managing a network of 45 imaging centers across seven states.

“MedQuest leverages its deep expertise in outpatient imaging to focus on partnerships with hospital and health systems. We have seen strong interest and entered into multiple agreements for our comprehensive services, which are headlined by outpatient imaging management and joint ventures (JV) and referring physician engagement,” stated Bruce Elder, CEO of Atlanta-based MedQuest. “We specialize in delivering quality outpatient imaging at economically sustainable and consumer-friendly rates, which is increasingly important as patients bear a greater share of healthcare costs.”

“MedQuest brings more than two decades of experience to partnering with hospitals and health systems in outpatient imaging,” said Elder. “The capabilities we have developed as one of the leading companies in the industry can deliver better performance, enhanced patient experience and increased market share for our partners.”

To fulfill its goal of serving as a long-term operating partner for a hospital or health system, MedQuest can make a capital commitment and serve as the full turnkey manager of imaging centers, ensuring the highest likelihood of maximum performance for all of the partners. MedQuest also offers its partners flexibility in joint venture structures and equity arrangements.
MedQuest’s recent partnerships and major relationships with health systems include:

  • University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, University of Maryland Diagnostic Imaging Specialists, PA and MedQuest Associates entered into a joint venture to develop and operate a full-modality outpatient diagnostic imaging center in La Plata, Maryland. University of Maryland Charles Regional Imaging recently opened with MedQuest managing the day-to-day operations of the center.
  • North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) has purchased a majority interest in The Imaging Center in Tupelo and partnered with MedQuest as a joint venture partner in the business. MedQuest purchased a minority interest in the center and has assumed management of daily operations.
  • FirstHealth of the Carolinas Inc., MedQuest and its affiliates have partnered to operate FirstHealth Southern Pines Diagnostic Imaging, an existing outpatient diagnostic imaging facility located in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
  • Novant Health, a 15-hospital integrated delivery network, relies on MedQuest to manage its entire portfolio of outpatient imaging centers and mobile imaging assets across North Carolina.

About MedQuest Associates
MedQuest is a leading owner, operator and manager of diagnostic imaging facilities with a network of 45 imaging centers under management. As one of the nation’s most experienced outpatient imaging partners, MedQuest provides comprehensive services, including outpatient imaging management and joint venture (JV), and referring physician engagement. Serving health systems, hospitals and imaging centers nationwide, MedQuest draws upon decades of operational experience and industry knowledge to deliver comprehensive guidance and solutions that increase revenue and optimize operations, while improving quality and the patient experience. MedQuest’s industry-leading proprietary systems and processes create an unrivaled value proposition for its partners. Learn more at www.mqradiology.com.

FirstHealth Partners with MedQuest Associates on Outpatient Imaging Joint Venture

FirstHealth of the Carolinas Inc., MedQuest Associates, Inc. and its affiliates have partnered to operate Southern Pines Diagnostic Imaging, an existing outpatient diagnostic imaging facility in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

As part of the joint venture, FirstHealth and MedQuest, a leading national provider of radiology management services and imaging center joint venture operator, will continue to provide ambulatory diagnostic imaging service offerings at the Southern Pines location. The center will be renamed FirstHealth Southern Pines Diagnostic Imaging.

“The opportunity to become a partner in a high-quality, well-established imaging center and establish a relationship that can support FirstHealth in driving its ambulatory services strategy was very attractive to us,” says David J. Kilarski, CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. “The partnership with MedQuest will allow us to combine strengths in ways that benefit patients, physicians and payers in the community.”

MedQuest believes partnering with leading health systems in a community is the best path in many service areas. “We are thrilled to be partners with FirstHealth, which has a longstanding reputation of delivering excellent care in Pinehurst and its other markets,” says MedQuest CEO Bruce Elder. “All of our goals in the community are enhanced with this partnership, including our ability to engage with local practices, expand access to all patients, and continue the delivery of high-quality diagnostic imaging and patient service.”

About MedQuest
MedQuest is a leading owner, operator and manager of diagnostic imaging facilities and hospital radiology services, with a network of nearly 50 imaging centers and 14 acute care hospital radiology departments under management. As one of the nation’s most experienced outpatient imaging partners, MedQuest also provides comprehensive services, including outpatient imaging management and joint venture (JV), referring physician engagement and service line performance consulting. Serving health systems, hospitals and imaging centers nationwide, MedQuest draws upon decades of operational experience and industry knowledge to deliver comprehensive guidance and solutions that increase revenue and optimize operations, while improving quality and the patient experience. MedQuest’s industry-leading proprietary systems and processes create an unrivaled value proposition for customers. Learn more at www.mqradiology.com.

About FirstHealth
Headquartered in Pinehurst, FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a private, not-for-profit health care network with more than 4,700 employees serving 15 counties in the mid-Carolinas. Licensed for four hospitals with 531 beds and also including facilities for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, a hospice, a home care program, community outreach programs, behavioral services, fitness facilities, primary and convenient care practices, a hospitality house, EMS and critical care transport services, a non-profit insurance plan, a philanthropic foundation and a host of other services, FirstHealth demonstrates a commitment to treating the whole patient and to providing quality health care for the entire community – especially those in need. Among numerous other awards, FirstHealth has been named a Top 100 Hospital and a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Truven Health Analytics and one of the best hospitals in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Reports.