The Facilities

Who’s Who in the Ambulatory Surgery Industry

The Facilities

Surgery Center of Pinehurst

Michael Lipomi, MSHA, immediate past president of the American Surgical Hospital Association, is leaving one center and joining another. The new facility that he will administer, the Surgery Center of Pinehurst, N.C., “is a wonderful, state-of-the-art surgery center,” he says. “It is a joint venture between surgeons, the hospital, and Nueterra Healthcare. It is a marriage made in heaven. You have all the necessary components for a high-quality, efficient, service-oriented facility.”

The facility has excellent physician leadership, with a board of directors that takes a very active role in the operation. “I come from a philosophy that physicians should control the operations, because they’re making the clinical decisions. They know better than anyone what is needed in a facility. Nueterra brings in the broader perspective because they’ve seen a lot of things and know what works and what is efficient, in terms of staffing ratios, billing, collecting, supplies, etc. The hospital located across the street gives great clinical and operational input. When you combine those three elements, it becomes ‘the perfect storm.’” he adds. “This facility has only been open since the first of the year, but already performs a large number of cases. It has four operating rooms running, and two more that we hope to open soon. We have a very highly trained staff, and like I said, the facility has all the latest equipment, so it’s a really exciting opportunity for me to help fine tune the operations.”

Stanislaus Surgical Hospital

Lipomi is wrapping up 21 years as CEO of Stanislaus Surgical Hospital in Modesto, Calif. This exceptional multi-specialty surgical hospital began as a small physician owned ambulatory surgery center. “What makes that important is that the focus from Day One was on physician leadership, service to patients, surgeons and staff, efficiencies, and quality of care,” says Lipomi. “From the very first day the facility opened, the emphasis was in the right place.”

Although the center is located in a very competitive market — and two blocks from a large tertiary center — the facility has been able to compete because of its high level of service. “Our motto is ‘Only the exceptional is acceptable.’” The staff is highly trained in every department, and people take ownership of their responsibilities at every level. In addition to its own eight operating rooms and 23 beds, the surgical hospital also has a surgery center that operates an outpatient department off-campus with two operating rooms. There are more than 200 physicians on staff, performing more than 1,200 cases per month.

Digestive Health & Endoscopy Center

The Digestive Health & Endoscopy Center of Pittsburgh, Pa., has put a high premium on the advancement of patient safety through accreditation. According to the medical director, M. Samir Ayasso, MD, accreditation is a vital part of the center’s operating philosophy. The endoscopy center previously held a three-year accreditation with one of the other accrediting associations, but felt that their accreditation process did not sufficiently meet its specific needs for its specialty. “Accreditation standards should provide adequate instruction for the facility to develop and maintain a program that provides quality care to patients. We felt the former accreditation program did not provide the guidance we wanted and the process became time-consuming and stressful, so we were reviewing other options,” said Ayasso.

After reviewing standards of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the facility realized this was the right fit for them. This had special significance because many of AAAASF’s standards are also requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Health for licensure as a Class B ambulatory surgical facility.

“We are a single-specialty that performs only gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the AAAASF standards easily apply to our facility, especially with regards to infection control, equipment safety and administration of conscious sedation,” adds Ayasso. “The inspection was relevant to gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and allowed us to concentrate on related issues, thus providing superior care to our patients.”

Touro Surgical Center

The three-OR Touro Ambulatory Surgery Center in New Orleans, La., carries the distinction of being the first ambulatory center to reopen after the devastating hurricane last year. “With the support of a great administration, we did reopen our unit,” says Jennie Pinnac, RN, director. “I have a wonderful staff -- we all pulled together to do a total renovation in our unit. We changed the floors, purchased new scrub sinks, OR tables, and equipment, and did it within six weeks.”

The surgical center, which is owned by Touro Hospital and considered to be a “department,” is located across the street from the main hospital facility and was not on the list of most important things after Hurricane Katrina. “They first opened the units of greatest need: the ER, ICU, and main OR,” she explains. But immediately after the storm, when Pinnac called the anesthesiologist/medical director from Houston, the initial word was that the unit would not be reopened. But soon thereafter, the vice president of the hospital saw the need for additional surgery space and decided to reopen the ASC. Some staff members did not return, but because other local hospitals were destroyed, Pinnac was able to hire the cream of the crop from those former competitors to fill out her staff.

In the first month, they anticipated performing only 40 cases, but actually did 78. That volume has increased each month, to 130 on average. “After the recovery, as much as it had damaged everyone, we were thankful that we had a job, and such a great job,” she says.

Physicians Surgical Center

The Physicians Surgical Center of Lebanon, Penn., which opened in August 2005, has become a leader in its locale. The three-OR, one procedure room center has already exceeded volume projections in service and profits. The staff members are key to the ASC’s success; it’s such a pleasant place to work that patients even get involved, dancing with the recovery room staff or carrying a new stuffed animal or plastic snake out the door, says administrator Monica Ziegler. The facility has already become a resource for other new centers and has had on-site learning sessions for other facilities. The center has excelled enough to be added to the very short list of ambulatory facilities allowed to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomies in Pennsylvania. The center is located within a strip mall that also includes a drugstore, a grocery store, and an office supply store, so patients can go next door and have their prescriptions filled right away. The facility has been designed so that one forgets the strip mall setting immediately upon entry. “At first we thought it would be a hindrance, but we discovered that we have all the parking in the world, and the patients find it convenient as well,” she adds.

Gresham Station Surgery Center

Gresham Station Surgery Center in Gresham, Ore., is anything but ordinary. The multi-specialty ASC, which has four ORs and two procedure rooms, offers procedures for orthopedics, urology, gynecology, pain management, plastic and general surgery, but the similarities to other ASCs stops there. The center opened in April 2005 and quickly, the staff realized that they wanted to make the clinical areas look more friendly and relaxing. Instead of numbering the bays in the recovery area, the staff decided to name them after tropical locations. Wall stencils and other décor make the patients feel that they’re waking up in the Caribbean — Tahiti, Cancun, Bora Bora, or Jamaica are all options. “Many of our repeat pain patients will wake-up and ask, ‘Where am I vacationing today?’” says Kerry O’Leary, RN, MBA, administrator. Staff members get along so well that they often meet up at the facility on Saturdays for quilting. “In twenty-plus years in the industry, this particular group of people are some of the best I’ve ever met,” she adds.

The Surgery Center of Athens, LLC

What sets the Surgery Center of Athens apart from all the rest is its “Dream Team,” according to Lisa W. Harrison, administrator and leader of the “Team.”

The Surgery Center of Athens, LLC, is owned by ASCOA and 10 physician owners. Approximately 230 to 260 cases are performed each month at this multi-specialty, two OR/one procedure room facility that is AAAHC-accredited, and member of the Tennessee state ASC association and of FASA.

“We are extremely proud of the diverse, highly-trained, experienced, and committed members of the ‘Team,’” she says. “Every individual working at the center was hand picked. We have a young lady that greets everyone entering the building; I actually call her ‘Sunshine’ because she is just the perfect greeter. Every member of the ‘Dream Team’ works very hard and as a group you will find none better. The level of care delivered here is superior in every aspect.

“It is a pleasure to come to work; we really are like family. We work cohesively — each individual providing exceptional care in a professional and efficient manner to every patient and their families — and many of us have actually grown up with our surgeons. We love them and are proud of their professional accomplishments, and I think that makes a dramatic statement in itself to anyone that comes to the center.”

But no staff is effective without a strong leader. According to employee Brenda Wankan, Harrison, who was voted “Best Nurse in McMinn County” in 2005, is “a willing and extremely capable teacher.”

“The consummate role model, Lisa always leads by example,” Wankan explains. “Her never wavering personal and professional integrity inspires staff to strive consistently for excellence.”

North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center

Running two decades strong, the North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center is a seven OR, 24 treatment room, 26,000-square-foot multi-specialty center. This joint venture model between North Mississippi Medical Center and physician owners just celebrated its 20-year anniversary on June 2. After 15 years in its original facility, the center moved to its new center five years ago. Surgeons have broken in their new digs well, sporting an impressive 5,971 procedures performed at the ASC during 2005.

Four of the center’s 50 employees were on the original staff — including Irene Mabry, Ann Stanford, Johnnie Mimms, and Connie Robbins. In addition, eight of the original physicians are still performing surgery or administering anesthesia at the center; they include: Drs. Jim Cooper, Malcolm McAuley, Harold Hudson, Joseph Chappell, Tom Wesson, Matt Wesson, Clyde Phillips, and Alex Bibighaus.

So what’s the secret to such longevity? “The experience and dedication of the staff and physicians we have working together to make sure our patients get the best care possible is what makes our surgery center successful,” says administrator Scott Edwards.

Marysville Surgical Center

Marysville Surgical Center is a multi-specialty ASC and the culmination of joint venture between 15 area surgeons, Union County Hospital Association, and management company Nueterra Healthcare. Specialties offered by the center’s 29 active physicians and two CRNAs include GI endoscopy, general surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, pain management, otolaryngology, and anesthesiology. Fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and employing 20 full-time and contingent staff members, the center opened in September 2004 and quickly gained popularity and growth, boasting over 95 percent patient satisfaction and clinical excellence in outpatient surgical services.

MSC provides big town service with a small town touch, and prides itself on its patients receiving personalized care, delivered by courteous staff members. The business office functions are also top notch, as evidenced by the 30 days in accounts receivables, and the 8 percent reduction in 2006 medical supply costs produced by the center’s cost savings committee.

One of the best things about Marysville Surgical Center, according to administrator Jo Ellen Braden, RN, is “physician empowerment in action.”

“Our surgery center demonstrates what can happen when dedicated physicians, genuinely concerned about providing optimal care to their patients, align with responsible, savvy business partners and efficiently provide a quality product. Marysville Surgical Center sets the bar in this area for fiscally responsible, excellent, quality care.”

Marysville Surgical Center is a member of the Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

Stonegate Surgery Center

This all-in-one pain management haven, Austin Pain Associates Medical Center, is a definitive model of the future. What began as Dr. Robert Wills’ pioneer insight is now a tri-entity medical campus serving a once underserved area in South Austin. The 5,500 square foot, three OR, Stonegate Surgery Center is nestled within the compounds of a 3,000-squarefoot physical therapy facility -- consisting in part of one large treatment room, a gym, and 10 exam rooms -- and an adjacent 8,500-square-foot physician office suite.

The trio of facilities employs about 70 employees combined, 25 of which work exclusively at Stonegate. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this model is its Restore FX chronic pain program. Patients dealing with chronic pain come to the program, set up as a daily job from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and work with therapists for daily doses of both physical and mental therapy. Each day wraps up with a visit with onsite job counselors, and “graduates” of the program are eventually placed in positions within the community that fit their newfound abilities. The program boasts a 90 percent back to work ratio.

“We provide a great service to the community,” says Jared Leger, director of surgical services at Stonegate Surgery Center. “Being part of a large system … the doctors’ offices, physical therapy, and the surgery center … we call it a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. You get everything done in the same complex.”

The center recently completed its AAAHC survey for accreditation, and continues to thrive under its management company, Arise Healthcare. “Arise Healthcare has been an instrumental partner in this project, from feasibility to ongoing management,” Leger adds.

Physician Surgery Center

The Physician Surgery Center of Rolla, Mo., is certainly deserving of recognition, says Ruth Shaw, RN. “The surgery center has provided this area of Missouri with much needed one-on-one care and a family-oriented surgical experience,” she adds. “What makes our surgery center unique is the teamwork and camaraderie that each member of the staff contributes. We just have a good time here.

“This really isn’t a job -- it’s a hobby, and we all really enjoy working with the families and teaching the families. We’ve even had patients go so far as to say they won’t go to any hospitals; instead, they’ll come back to us.” The surgery center, which has two ORs, still averages 125 to 160 cases a month.