The most common mistake cardiology MSOs make is waiting to automate until after growth exposes problems. By then, central teams are overwhelmed, integration timelines stretch, and leadership is forced into reactive decisions. The strongest cardiology MSOs automate before their next acquisition so new volume lands on a stable, scalable foundation.
Automation is most effective when it’s in place before complexity increases.
Automate Referral Intake and Triage First
Cardiology referrals are high-value and operationally dense.
Before acquiring another practice, MSOs should ensure that inbound referrals are:
- Identified automatically regardless of format
- Parsed for test type, urgency, and clinical context
- Routed to the correct diagnostic or consult workflow
- Followed through until scheduled
This prevents referral leakage from compounding immediately after acquisition.
Automate Prior Authorization Initiation and Tracking
Authorization volume spikes instantly with new cardiology practices.
Automation should be in place to:
- Detect which diagnostics and procedures require approval
- Initiate authorizations as soon as criteria are met
- Track status continuously
- Escalate delays before appointments are impacted
Without this, cancellations and reschedules multiply quickly post-close.
Automate Scheduling Readiness Checks
Scheduling is where many cardiology workflows break.
Before growth, MSOs should automate rules that ensure:
- Authorizations are approved before booking
- Required documentation is present
- Eligibility is verified
- Diagnostic resources are available
This protects imaging utilization and provider productivity.
Automate Documentation Validation for Procedures
Documentation gaps become expensive at scale.
AI should validate:
- Medical necessity support
- CPT/diagnosis alignment
- Required procedural elements
This prevents denials and underpayment as new providers and documentation styles are added.
Automate Claim Monitoring and Follow-Ups
New practices increase claim volume immediately.
Automation should:
- Monitor claims continuously
- Trigger follow-ups at defined intervals
- Escalate high-risk claims early
This protects cash flow during integration.
Establish Real-Time Visibility Before Growth
Leaders should not wait for problems to appear before gaining insight.
Automation should provide real-time visibility into:
- Intake and referral queues
- Authorization turnaround times
- Diagnostic throughput
- Claim aging and denial trends
Visibility allows leadership to intervene early instead of reacting late.
Avoid Starting With Edge Cases
Before acquisition, focus automation on:
- High-volume
- Repeatable
- Time-sensitive workflows
Highly specialized edge cases can follow once the foundation is stable.
The Bottom Line
Cardiology MSOs don’t struggle after acquisitions because growth is too fast — they struggle because systems weren’t ready.
Automating core intake, authorization, scheduling, documentation, and billing workflows before acquiring ensures new volume strengthens the organization instead of stressing it. Growth becomes predictable instead of painful.
