Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operators Instructions). Your first question comes from the line of Larry Solow of CJS Securities.
Christopher Reading
Hi, Larry.
Lawrence Solow - CJS Securities
Hi, guys, how is it going. Just a question, first of all on the Q4 would it be fair to say that visits would have been nearly flat if we kind of exclude the weather impact and I believe there was also one to two less business days in 2008 versus 2007?
Christopher Reading
In terms of the business days, let me just check here... December--
Lawrance McAfee
There is no question we had more severe weather in the fourth quarter than we had in '07, that was certainly an impact, and we tried to quantify that number.
Lawrence Solow - CJS Securities
Okay. And then--
Christopher Reading
On the business days question Larry, I think had we not had, hadn't this early winter storm, which hit us in the central part of the country where we have some really big partnerships. We did come in at I think at consensus.
Lawrance McAfee
Yeah.
Lawrence Solow - CJS Securities
You're right. And then, it's actually nice to see that your revenue per visit actually went up sequentially despite the environment. Just looking out into 2009 and I don't expect an exact answer, but do you kind of expect in your guidance, does that kind of imply that visits and revenue per patient visit kind of remain kind of where they are at right now or any more color on that?
Christopher Reading
Yeah, I'll give you a little bit color. In terms of visits where they're at, I think visits will continue to grow. I think we will see some potential blunting. Part of the guidance is really related to the uncertainty that we expect just given the progression of the economy.
Lawrence Solow - CJS Securities
Right.
Christopher Reading
We have discussed in the past and past releases that we really hadn't felt any effect. I think we began to feel some effect late in the fourth quarter. We don't know whether that will be stable, or whether there is a potential for that to accelerate. I think that in terms of what we've been working on in preparation for some of these things. I'm pretty sure. I might stop sort of saying I'm certain, but I'm very sure that we'll be able to get some net revenue per visit expansion this year. But there are a number of things the team has been working on hard, and we've gotten traction with those and we've seen some early good or early results. In terms of what the visits will do, what same-store looks like, I'm not sure.
- To read the full transcript on Seeking Alpha, click here »
