Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and industry veterans, Kristen Bratberg and John Rizzo, have formed U.S. Anesthesia Partners, a single-specialty physician services organization focused on anesthesia and perioperative care.
U.S. Anesthesia Partners (“USAP”) will identify and partner with groups of anesthesiologists who seek a strategic partner with the capital resources and expertise to invest in their practice support infrastructure, and position them for continued success and growth within their markets. A key element of USAP’s business model is to invest in IT systems that will drive efficiencies in provider workflow and the management of perioperative care processes. Mr. Bratberg serves as USAP’s Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Rizzo is President and Chief Development Officer. The new platform is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale (www.usanesthesiapartners.com).
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Kris and John, who bring a proven track record of growing and managing physician services businesses. We look forward to supporting USAP in their efforts to build a leading physician-centric management company for anesthesia practices,” said Brian Regan, a General Partner at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.
Welsh Carson is focused exclusively on investments in business, information and healthcare services. Since its founding in 1979, Welsh Carson has organized 15 limited partnerships with total capital of over $20 billion. The firm is currently investing through its latest fund, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe XI, L.P., and is based in New York, NY (www.welshcarson.com).
“USAP’s strategy is based on bringing together high quality groups of anesthesia providers and their physician leaders, a proven business leadership team and a leading financial sponsor with deep capital resources and healthcare industry expertise,” said Mr. Bratberg. “These are the required components to build a lasting physician services organization within anesthesia. USAP represents a new and unique strategic partner for independent groups because it is focused on anesthesia, and we offer equity ownership in USAP to our physician partners.”
Mr. Bratberg has over twenty years of experience working within the healthcare services industry. Since 1995, he has played key roles in building and managing national, single specialty physician services organizations including Sound Physicians, a hospitalist physician services organization, where he was a founder and Chairman and remains a Director, as well as Pediatrix Medical Group (now MedNax), where he served as President and CEO. Under Mr. Bratberg’s tenure, Pediatrix grew to be the nation’s leading provider of neonatal physician services. While at Pediatrix, he also led the effort to build Obstetrix Medical Group from a startup to become the leading provider of maternal-fetal physician services.
Mr. Rizzo has held senior executive roles in several large organizations, where he has led the growth and acquisition efforts, including Senior Vice President, Business Development of MedNax. During his tenure, MedNax acquired over 90 physician practice groups, including the platform practices that formed American Anesthesiology, while investing nearly $1 billion in capital. Most recently, Mr. Rizzo served as Senior Vice President, International for Davita, an integrated dialysis services provider, where he led the company’s international expansion efforts. Mr. Rizzo also served as a senior executive and key contributor in building AutoNation into one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers.
“We look forward to working closely with WCAS to evaluate partnership opportunities in the $20 billion market of anesthesia practices operating throughout the U.S.,” said Mr. Rizzo.
© 2012 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 11-19-12
