NEWS

PHA Launches National Campaign to Protect Physician Ownership

Physician Hospitals of America (PHA), the national association representing the interests of the physician hospital industry, is appealing to the public to help stop the threatened shut down of America’s physician-owned hospitals.

The appeal comes in a series of advertisements released throughout the states and in national media that were prompted by threatened action by Senator Max Baucus, (D-Mont.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

“Baucus, acting on behalf of ‘big box’ hospitals, has sought to effectively shut down physician- run hospitals despite evidence that patients receive better, safer care and are less likely to die,” states a PHA press release.

The physicians refute a number of attacks that have been made against them and other physician- run hospitals either by or on behalf of the American Hospital Association (AHA).

“The AHA represents ‘big box’ hospitals that are typically run by non-physicians. The AHA has steadfastly refused to provide Congress with detailed patient outcome statistics in open hearings so that apples-to-apples comparisons can be made with physician-run hospitals,” the press release reads.

“Instead of focusing on issues related to patient care, outcomes and true cost comparisons, AHA administrators and their congressional surrogates have attacked the integrity of physicians who refuse to put their patients at risk in ‘big box’ hospitals.”

The PHA campaign has spread across Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, West Virginia, New Mexico, and in Roll Call magazine on Capitol Hill. PHA plans to continue the campaign through the end of the session and will implement a long-term public relations strategy.

“PHA believes that the time is right to make a very strong stand against the anti-physician ownership rhetoric constantly espoused by the American Hospital Association and other opponents,” asserts Molly Sandvig, PHA executive director. “It is only appropriate that the public be made aware of the positive choice in care that we all stand to lose should our opponents in Congress successfully pass language such as Section 651 of the former CHAMP Act.”

ASC Association Appoints Board Members

On January 1, AAASC and FASA merged to become one organization: the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, or the ASC Association. The new ASC Association’s board of directors will include 10 members from the existing FASA/Foundation for Ambulatory Surgery in America boards, five members of AAASC’s existing board and two members appointed from neither board.

The new ASC Association’s board will be led by chair Alsie Sydness- Fitzgerald, CASC, current chairelect of FASA. David Shapiro, MD, currently a member of the AAASC board of directors, is chair-elect of the new ASC Association board and will take office as chair at the conclusion of Sydness-Fitzgerald’s term. Current AAASC president Joseph Banno, MD, and current FASA chair Allen Hecht will both serve as immediate past chairs. Other members of the ASC Association board include Nap Gary, secretary; Jerry Henderson, CASC, treasurer; Joe Clark, Greg Cunniff, David George, MD; Michael Guarino, Sandra Jones, CASC; Keith Metz, MD; Brent Lambert, MD; John Schario and Donna St. Louis.

Also, the education and research arm of the ASC community is now the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation. That board will include five members from the existing FASA/Foundation boards and three from the existing AAASC board. David Shapiro, MD, will serve as the chair of the Foundation’s board of directors. The other members will be Ann Geier, CASC; Dick Hanley, Jovanna Lee, CASC; Sarah Martin, Margaret Orman, Debra Stinchcomb, CASC; and Arnaldo Valedon, MD.

The new organization will be headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

Georgia General Surgery CON Modified

The Georgia Department of Community Health’s Board unanimously approved with no objections a certificate of need (CON) amendment that redefines general surgery as a single specialty in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting and updates the definition of multispecialty ambulatory surgery service. The amendment became effective Jan. 1.

“I think this is an extremely positive move in the right direction and I think it is reflective of a lot of hard work on the part of the commission in trying to sort out some very complex issues in Georgia,” says Robert James Cimasi, MHA, ASA, CBA, AVA CM&AA, CMP, president of Health Capital Consultants. “This is a significant victory for the patients and their families in the state of Georgia in terms of providing broader access, of higher quality of care and service, and aligning physicians to be in control of the environments in which they treat their patients.”

Cimasi says that it has “been proven again and again that it (CON laws) does not save costs. It hurts access,” and, he warns, “It ain’t over until it’s over.”

“There probably will be a contentious issue moving forward, and we expect there will probably be continued efforts to overturn this, but going forward the legislature has the road map to follow now to try to achieve what we are all trying to achieve which is the highest quality of healthcare delivery at the lowest appropriate cost.”

In addition, the board voted and approved a resolution that requests the General Assembly create legislation requiring all exempted owners and operators of ASCs that provide charitable care to document and report their utilization data to the state.

For more information, visit www.surgicenteronline.com. 

Paramus Surgical Center Clinches Second Award

Paramus Surgical Center, a freestanding surgical center located in Paramus, N.J., has been recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Outpatient Services Program for a second consecutive year. This distinction acknowledges a “strong commitment” by Paramus Surgical Center to provide an “Outstanding Outpatient Center Experience.”

The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying patients who had recently received outpatient services from Paramus Surgical Center. Patients were asked to give feedback on their recent outpatient visit, which was compared to results from the national benchmark established by the annual J.D. Power and Associates National Outpatient Service Performance Study.

“Our outpatient services research program provides a credible benchmark to assess a surgical center’s performance in serving patients and sets targets for improved patient care,” says David Stefan, executive director of the healthcare division of J.D. Power and Associates. “Paramus Surgical Center has achieved an elite status in qualifying as a distinguished outpatient service organization by providing their outpatients with exceptionally positive outpatient experiences for two consecutive years.”

The telephone-based research conducted among 300 patients focuses on five key drivers of patient satisfaction. These drivers, which were identified in the national study, are: dignity and respect; speed and efficiency; comfort; information and communication; and emotional support.

Paramus Surgical Center exceeds the national benchmark study score for overall outpatient facility satisfaction by a considerable margin. The facility performs well in providing patients with a comfortable experience, particularly with regard to convenient parking as well as the comfort of the registration waiting room.

In addition, Paramus Surgical Center performs notably well in overall speed and efficiency, particularly with the speed and efficiency of the registration process and discharge staff. Patients were asked to rate their level of trust and confidence in the facility after their outpatient visit. More than two in three patients indicate they have “more” or “much more” trust and confidence in Paramus Surgical Center after their most recent visit.

“This outpatient services distinction is an impactful way for hospitals and freestanding centers to differentiate themselves from others in their service area while at the same time motivating higher levels of patient care and service,” says Stefan. “The program also affords outpatient programs a chance to recognize their caregivers, physicians and administrative staff for a job well done.”

Non-government, acute care hospitals and freestanding surgical centers throughout the nation are eligible for recognition under the J.D. Power and Associates distinction program for inpatient services, emergency department services, and outpatient services. Distinction is valid for one year, after which the hospital or center may reapply for this recognition.

NEWS GROWTH 

Proposal Sent for New ASC for URMC

The University of Rochester Medical Center’s Strong Memorial Hospital submitted an application to New York State’s Department of Health to open and operate an off-site ambulatory surgical center (ASC). If approved, the 52,000-square-foot facility would house 10 operating rooms (ORs) and two procedure rooms. A $13 million investment is necessary to outfit the ASC with state-of-the-art surgical equipment, according to URMC officials.

The proposal received the unanimous backing from both the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency and the Community Technology Assessment Advisory Board. According to Strong Memorial Hospital CEO Steven I. Goldstein, Strong Memorial’s 33 ORs run at capacity each day, making it increasingly difficult to accommodate both its inpatient and outpatient cases.

NewHope Bariatrics Opens New Weight Loss Surgery Center in Kansas City

NewHope Bariatrics is opening its second ASC in Overland Park, Kansas. The center will focus on the treatment of obesity through adjustable gastric banding. The center’s director is Stephen Malley, MD, a leading bariatric surgeon who has performed more than 750 LAPBAND ® System procedures and serves as a LAP-BAND surgical proctor for Allergan, Inc., the product’s manufacturer.

The NewHope Bariatrics Surgery Center will offer a comprehensive program beginning with extensive education, pre-surgical consultation and financial counseling, and continuing through aftercare programs focused on long-term clinical support and access to a community of patients and healthcare professionals.

For more information, visit www.newhopebariatrics.com. 

New Healthcare Campus for Bethlehem Township in Illinois

St. Luke’s Riverside Medical Center broke ground in September 2007. The planned first phase includes a 400,000-square-foot outpatient clinic and cancer center scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. The first phase also includes construction of an ASC, an urgent care center, two medical office buildings, state-of-the-art imaging equipment and a diagnostic pavilion — all estimated at more than $100 million. The second phase will include a hospital and an education center. Hospital spokeswoman Susan Schantz did not disclose the total cost to develop all 202 acres.

St. Luke officials say that the facility will be the region’s first “green” healthcare campus using environmentally friendly building materials, energy-efficient lighting and temperature control, and grounds free from artificial fertilizers and pesticides. A 900,000-square-foot mall is proposed for the other side of Route 33 from the new campus.

OrthoIndy and the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital Announce Groundbreaking of New Facility

OrthoIndy and the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital broke ground in October in Brownsburg, Ind. for its new 38,000-square-foot, $15 million state-of-the-art facility. The new facility, OrthoIndy West, will include 18 exam rooms, two operating rooms (ORs), physical therapy and a MRI. The facility is scheduled to open in the fall.

For more information, visit www.orthoindy.com. 

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