Savran Benson LLP is a firm based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., just outside Philadelphia. Although it has a multi-faceted practice that includes financial accounting, tax consulting and compliance, real estate, business advisory, marital dispute resolution, even Quickbooks consulting, it is most well known for its services in the health care sector.

That's because the partner in charge of the health care division is Steven Savran, who focuses on assisting physicians and other health care providers in identifying practice deficiencies and creating practical solutions.

"Actually, our entire staff has extensive experience in practice mergers, acquisitions, withdrawals, and profit allocations dealing with health care," says Savran. "In that regard, we provide timely income tax and retirement planning services in addition to the required tax and accounting compliance services."

Savran works with private, closely held businesses and health care professionals as a consultant and in a traditional accounting and tax role, and has written and lectured on health care topics at conferences and client seminars throughout the region.

Finding the Foothold

How did this specialty develop? "About the time I had opened my practice in 1987," Savran recalls, "I had been referred to an oncology practice some 40 minutes from my office and that led to referrals of other practices in surrounding communities, and suddenly I had multiple practices within the medical area."

As this specialty evolved, Savran had a firm of only seven people, and found that this type of client was tailor-made for the size of his firm and his own background and interest.

"We are more a tax firm than an auditing firm, and health care clients have a tax flavor to them," he points out. "Most of the accounting issues in medical practices aren't terribly fancy, but they need practice management and tax advice and that suits a firm like ours. It also doesn't require a lot of manpower to provide comprehensive service."

Savran also points out that the firm was so well acquainted with tax issues, it seemed a natural progression to actively pursue clients in this industry.

"We have evolved into a lot of consulting in our relationships," he reports. "In fact, we would be asked to participate in discussions relating to bringing in new associates, acquisitions, withdrawals, and mergers, and as a result I often became the point person for developing the terms of physician agreements rather than immediately passing the client off to the attorney."

He says that the firm's development in this industry comes from three sources. First, there are referrals from existing medical clients.

"That's the most significant. Second, there are several law firms that practice exclusively in the health care arena and we are a referral source for them. Third, where opportunity presents I write and speak on topics relevant to physicians such as my most recent article on collection matters," he says.

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