Ithaca Journal spoke with Angela Leonard, RN, BSN, CNOR, of SurgiCare Center in Ithaca, N.Y., about the ASC's successes over the years. Ithaca-based Cayuga Medical Center owns the ASC. Ms. Leonard has been with the ASC since its inception in 1997 and currently manages pre-admission testing for both the ASC's and Cayuga Medical Center's surgical patients.
She said the surgery center's operations run smoothly since the ASC offers elective procedures to "primarily healthy patients." Hospitals and other settings often have emergency cases that disrupt the schedule, which is not an issue at Surgicare.
Additionally, all staff members are willing to help in any way they can, according to Ms. Leonard. This willingness to help bolsters the surgery's center safety and efficiency. Patient and physician satisfaction are high due to factors such as skilled staff, high compliance with infection protocols and surgeons trusting their staff members.
Ms. Leonard said, "If a surgeon needs a particular piece of equipment, we buy it. This increases surgeon satisfaction and makes us more efficient because they have what they need. And our surgeons know we'll take good care of their patients."