Name: Summit Ambulatory Surgical Centers — 14 ASCs throughout Central Maryland
Opened: First ASC opened in 1992 at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore City
Annual case volume: 36,000 cases
Specialties: Urology
Number of physician-investors/physician-users: 30 physician-investors/51 physician-users (46 urologists; 4 radiation oncologists; 1 uropathologist)
Corporate partner: Chesapeake Urology Associates
What makes it great: Summit Ambulatory Surgical Centers is the 14-ASC arm of Chesapeake Urology Associates, the largest urologic practice in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Its leadership is a "who's who" list of urologists in the region: The organization's CEO is Sanford J. Siegel, MD, director of Summit ASCs is Brad Lerner, MD, who also serves as chief of urology at Union Memorial Hospital, and eight other urologists serve as chiefs of urology in Baltimore-area hospitals. These leaders not only provide some of the finest patient care in the country, they take very good care of their employees, according to Erica Maytas, RN, Kathy Lyons, RN, Janette Class, RN, and Sue Spurlock, RN, regional nursing directors, and Stacy Zemencik, director of nursing, for Summit ASC.
Chesapeake Urology has just a six percent turnover rate, well below industry averages. This is not surprising when the list of benefits alone would keep most employees satisfied with their jobs. Benefits include medical, prescription, dental and vision plans; company-paid life insurance; voluntary employee and dependent life insurance; flexible spending account; travel assist and will preparation programs; wellness program/gym membership program; retirement plan including employer profit sharing contribution; and a tuition reimbursement program.
The employment perks don't end there. Employees who pitch ideas which are integrated into operations receive rewards. Offices which exceed patient expectations earn special breakfasts. Employees receive awards for milestone anniversaries with the organization. There's an annual Christmas bonus program and ongoing training and development for staff. Employees also have the opportunity to share input directly with the CEO during monthly lunches with Dr. Siegel and 20 staff members. Employees can also help each other through a paid-time off donation program which allows staff members to give their PTO days to other employees who need paid days off for catastrophic events such as major surgery.
The organization's theme is "Our People Make Us the Best," and the many efforts undertaken at Summit ASC and Chesapeake Urology with an emphasis on employee satisfaction go a long way to ensuring staff members are eager to give their best to the organization and its patients.