Small Business Spotlight: Hot Markets in a Cool Economy

ATLANTA, March 30, 2009 — Though companies all over the world are cutting back, some Georgia small businesses are gaining ground during the down economy.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development's Regional Small Business & Innovation team is working with clients who are adding staff.

Diane Bell, chief operation officer for AvidaMed in Griffin, said her company's services as a billing provider for medical practices have been increasingly in demand. AvidaMed works with doctor's offices in fields including cardiology and nephrology to handle complex billing procedures and keep abreast of federal regulations.

'Because of regulatory changes, like HIPAA and the increasing demand for electronic medical record systems, physicians are outsourcing billing as opposed to in-house billers,' Bell said. 'Physicians have found this to be a more profitable approach to practicing medicine in today's market.'

The company recently hired two clerical positions and is continuing to expand, Bell said. She has been working with GDEcD regional project manager Twina Feliciano.

'I've been doing medical billing for 20 years and recently merged with my partner in Massachusetts to form AvidaMed,' Bell said. 'I will be joining the Spalding County Chamber of Commerce and have been going to entrepreneurship seminars. It's working out well.' Bell's partner is Peter LeMay, CEO of AvidaMed.

For more information about AvidaMed, visit www.avidamed.com.

To learn more about GDEcD's Regional Small Business & Innovation program, please visit http://www.georgia.org/business-resources/small-business-resource-directory/ or contact Danetha Belk at [email protected].

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.