Ambulatory Systems Development: Ron Barkley

Ron Barkley, JD

Ron Barkley, JD, Proncipal brings extensive experience in healthcare to W/ASD, which complements the strengths of the other Principals.

Mr. Barkley was one of four executives engaged to –round out” the senior management team of MedFirst, Inc. This was a pre-IPO physician practice management and support services company with annual revenues of $75 million. Ron joined MedFirst as a consequence of the acquisition of his firm, HealthQuest Affiliates, Inc., by the company in March 1996. MedFirst subsequently obtained $20.00 million in private equity funding from Goldman Sachs. Ron's scope of responsibility at MedFirst was twofold: (i) MSO joint venture development (transaction structure, due diligence, negotiations, documentation & operations implementation) and (ii) general corporate legal affairs. During his tenure with the company, Mr. Barkley was responsible for successfully concluding the company's MSO joint venture transactions in Chicago (MSO Great Lakes, Inc.); Miami (MSO South Florida, Inc.) and New York (acquisition of MSO-US, Inc. and re-structuring of MSO Manhattan and MSO New York, LLCs).

In late 1997, the company altered its direction away from its original physician practice management orientation in favor of a product-oriented strategy, which resulted in Mr. Barkley's departure from the company. Ron's background includes the following experiences in the healthcare industry.

President & Chief Executive Officer of HEALTHQUEST AFFILIATES, INC. and VENTURE AFFILIATES, INC.,Los Angeles, California-- July 1990 to March 1996 Ron was founder and principal of Venture Affiliates, Inc., a healthcare consulting firm specializing in business development and capital advisory matters, particularly physician network , MSO and integrated delivery system development. In March 1996, Mr. Barkley was joined by his colleague Thomas Griffin, M.D. who, together with Mr. Barkley, formed HealthQuest Affiliates, Inc. in order to expand the core services of physician group practice and network development, clinical and operational implementation and on-going network management. Among its accomplishments, HealthQuest formed three separate primary care-oriented physician networks in Alexandria, Arlington and Reston, Virginia and advised senior management of Columbia/HCA regarding Columbia's practice acquisition and MSO activities nationwide. At the time of its acquisition by MedFirst in March 1996, HealthQuest had annual revenues in excess of $2.5 million.

Ron co-founded and was Publisher, and Managing Partner of INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE REPORT, Los Angeles, California--August 1992 to December 1997. Integrated Healthcare Report, is a trade journal which has a national circulation of over 3,000 subscribers and which is recognized as a resource for leaders in integrated healthcare delivery systems. Also the authnual Capital Survey of Emerging Healthcare Organizations, which is co-sponsored by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and Ziegler Securities. Mr. Barkley sold his interest in the Integrated Healthcare Report to one of the other partners, but maintains a continuing role as a Contributing Editor.

Ron also served as Executive Vice President of THE LINC GROUP, Chicago and Los Angeles from September 1986 to July 1990.Mr. Barkley was responsible for LINC's healthcare consulting, capital advisory and investment banking services in the Western United States and for the firm's equity syndication services nationwide. Ron structured, organized and funded some 25 complex joint ventures and hospital-physician affiliations, among them imaging centers, surgery centers, medical office building partnerships and medical staff partnerships which acquired equity interests in their respective hospitals.

Ron served as Vice President & General Counsel of NATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, INC., Woodland Hills, California from October 1982 to April 1986. Mr. Barkley was responsible for the company's corporate development, joint venture and general corporate legal activities. The firm specialized in physician-hospital joint venture development and management, typically as a principal in the transactions. During his tenure, Ron was responsible for structuring and syndicating some 15 joint ventures involving imaging centers, cardiac cath labs and mobile imaging services.

He also served as Managing Director of UNIHEALTH AMERICA (formerly HealthWest), Northridge, California from November 1980 to October 1982. Mr. Barkley was the Managing Director of the Clinishare Division of this integrated healthcare system responsible for the initial development , start-up and ongoing management of a number of ambulatory care service lines, including mobile diagnostic & imaging services, home respiratory & durable medical equipment services, rehabilitation centers and occupational medicine clinics. At the time of Mr. Barkley's departure from UniHealth, the Clinishare companies were generating in excess of $8 million annual revenues.

Ron holds the following degrees: Juris Doctor (J.D.), SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY and CALIFORNIA COLLEGE of LAW,Graduated 1981. Admitted to State Bar of California 1982. Master of Science (M.S.), Healthcare Administration, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY at NORTHRIDGE,Graduated 1976. Thesis: –The Hospital Consolidated Clinical Laboratory Model.” Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Physiology MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, Graduated 1970.

Professional Affiliations: State Bar of California (No. 108199); National Health Lawyers Association (NHLA); Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)