Physicians Endoscopy and four gastroenterologist partners have officially opened the Greater Gaston Endoscopy Center in Gastonia, N.C. Here are five things to know about the new endoscopy center.
1. GGEC received certificate of need approval in 2011. The center hosted its first cases on Feb. 10. Prior to the center's opening, Gaston County was the largest county in the state without a freestanding endoscopy center.
2. The center is a partnership between Physicians Endoscopy and physicians Sam Drake, MD; Bill Watkins, MD; Neville Forbes, MD; and Austin Osemeka, MD.
3. Dr. Drake and Dr. Watkins serve as co-medical directors of the 6,325-square-foot facility. The center has two procedure rooms.
4. "Opening the center is about providing better access to care for our local patients. This partnership allowed us to become more of a functioning group rather than four individual physicians. With the help of Physicians Endoscopy to organize, coordinate and execute a strategy in this joint venture relationship, GGEC will be able to provide cost effective procedures for patients that would have otherwise been prohibitive," said Dr. Drake.
5. "We believe that this facility will be a shining example of how endoscopic care will be delivered in our ever changing healthcare delivery system," said Physicians Endoscopy CEO Barry Tanner.