Here are 10 ambulatory surgery centers with charity care programs.
If you have questions, comments or additions for this list, please contact Laura at lmiller@beckershealthcare.com.
New York GI Center (Bronx, N.Y.). New York GI Center is a single-specialty GI ASC in Bronx, N.Y. The center opened in March 2007 and has since earned AAAHC and Medicare accreditation, and implemented electronic medical records. Twelve physicians practice at New York GI. The center contains five ORs and performs approximately 10,800 cases a year, according to NYGI president James. C. DiLorenzo, MD. He said the center's initiatives for 2012 included an expansion, which involved enhanced facilities for staff and patients and two additional ORs. He also says the center plans to expand its charity care initiative and participate in GI QuIC. A joint venture between private practice physicians and a major academic medical center, NYGI contains "safety-based technology," such as 100 percent disposable endoscopic accessories, end tidal CO2 monitoring and a video laryngoscope for emergency intubations, according to Dr. DiLorenzo.
Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center (Richmond, Va.). This surgery center has a Charity Discount Policy designed for uninsured and underinsured patients who don't qualify for other governmental medical assistance programs. The ASC will also direct patients who qualify to other sources of medical assistance at the state and local level. Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center includes three operating rooms and AAAHC accreditation. It offers ACL surgery, rotator cuff repair, open and closed fracture reduction, meniscectomy and other orthopedic procedures. Affiliated with HCA Virginia Health System, the surgery center's mission is to "provide high quality and cost-effective orthopedic care to the community with an emphasis on service to our patients, patient's families, physicians and employees."
Northern Virginia Eye Surgery Center (Fairfax, Va.). The center opened in May 2008 but it took 20 years of struggle to get approval of this ASC under Virginia's strict certificate of need process. William Rich, MD, and other investors had to document scheduling difficulties at local hospitals and commit to performing charity care. In its first year, the one-OR ASC hosted 2,400 surgeries. Thirteen doctors in two groups use the facility, performing cataract surgery, DSAEK corneal transplant surgery, penetrating keroplasties (PKPs), YAG operations and occasionally blepharoplasties. Dr. Rich ascribes the ASC's success to "committed, efficient docs using the same kind of equipment and lenses." In the future he plans to increase efficiency and fill the Friday schedule.
Willis Eye Institute (Philadelphia). Established in 1932, the Willis Eye Institute is a non-profit specialty institution focused on eye care. It opened a new outpatient facility in June 2002 to deliver ophthalmic care. Willis Eye has held a Free Public Eye Screening program every spring since 1980 where medical staff volunteer their time. Each year, the program provides more than $450,000 of free care to low income patients. The facility is accredited by AAAHC and includes a residency program for eight physicians every year. The Institute is affiliated with Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and serves as Jefferson's Department of Ophthalmology.
Sony Point Surgery Center (Richmond, Va.). Medical staff at Stony Point Surgery Center volunteer time, services and financial aid through its Charity Care Program to make healthcare more accessible for patients in need. The ASC provided more than $1.1 million in charity care in 2010 through nonprofit programs Access Now and CrossOver Ministry. Access Now provides eye treatments and surgeries free of charge to patients in the Richmond metropolitan area while CrossOver Ministry benefits uninsured patients. The physicians also donate their time and services to a local free clinic throughout the year. The AAAHC-accredited center includes ENT, ophthalmology, podiatry, interventional spine and orthopedics, among other specialties.
SurgiCare of Manhattan. As part of its mission to serve all persons regardless of any factors, including their ability to pay, SurgiCare of Manhattan has a charitable care and community outreach program to provide free or reduced cost care for military personnel, veterans and underprivileged children. The surgery center is accredited by The Joint Commission and has received the Apex Patient Satisfaction Award in 2011/2012. The freestanding multispecialty center is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital and includes orthopedics, spine, pain management and ENT.
Eye Surgery Center of Winchester (Va.). The surgeons and staff at The Eye Surgery Center of Winchester have a plan to provide charitable care at their facility at a "volume that is in the top levels of healthcare facilities in the region," according to the ASC's website. Services at the ASC include cataract, corneal, oculoplastic, glaucoma and general ophthalmology procedures. The surgeon center includes five physicians, led by medical director Frank Reuling, MD.
First State Surgery Center (Newark, Del.). The staff members at First State Surgery Center proactively contact social services agencies, community centers and schools throughout the year to connect with uninsured or under insured patients who would be candidates for outpatient orthopedic surgery. The center is also constantly seeking additional charitable organizations to serve the community. Surgeons from the center provide charity care through several community organizations. The physicians of First State Orthopaedics offer care at the ASC and serve as physician-professors at the University of Delaware.
Parham Surgery Center (Henrico, Va.). Parham Surgery Center, a member of the HCA Virginia Health System, offers an Uninsured Discount Program designed for patients who don't qualify for Medicare or other discount programs at the center. The center also offers a discount for uninsured patients, and a financial counselor will review the patient's financial obligation prior to surgery. Surgery center staff members also assist patients to direct them to state and local programs for additional funding. The ASC is affiliated with Henrico Doctors' Hospital and includes general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, pain management, urology, ENT and plastic surgery.
Colonial Heights (Va.) Surgery Center. Uninsured and underinsured patients who don't qualify for governmental assistance programs are eligible for the Charity Discount at Colonial Heights Surgery Center. The ASC also has an Uninsured Discount and services to direct patients to local and state medical assistance to pay for their care. A financial counselor is available to assist these patients through the payment process. The ASC is affiliated with John Randolph Medical Center and part of the HCA Virginia Health System. Services include gastroenterology, general surgery, pain management, orthopedic surgery, ENT, podiatry and urology. The ASC has two large operating rooms and two procedure rooms.
Reston (Va.) Surgery Center. A Charity Discount Policy is available for patients at Reston Surgery Center who qualify for assistance. These patients are uninsured and don't qualify for other government assistance. The ASC also includes an Uninsured Discount Program and staff are available to direct underserved patients to appropriate financial assistance programs. Reston Surgery Center participates in HCA's national quality improvement measures program, and national ASCA programs. The ASC is affiliated with Reston Hospital and provides orthopedics, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology and urology, among other services.
Hastings (Neb.) Surgical Center. Hastings Surgical Center is a freestanding outpatient surgery center located roughly 150 miles west of Omaha and managed by Overland Park, Kan.-based Nueterra Healthcare. Team-based care delivery is emphasized at Hastings Surgical Center, and the collaboration extends to employees' involvement in numerous community service activities throughout the year. The center's employees also provide charity care in the community and raise awareness for various health issues on a regular basis. When new hires are brought into the center, they are assigned a mentor or supervisor to assist with assimilation and professional development.
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If you have questions, comments or additions for this list, please contact Laura at lmiller@beckershealthcare.com.
New York GI Center (Bronx, N.Y.). New York GI Center is a single-specialty GI ASC in Bronx, N.Y. The center opened in March 2007 and has since earned AAAHC and Medicare accreditation, and implemented electronic medical records. Twelve physicians practice at New York GI. The center contains five ORs and performs approximately 10,800 cases a year, according to NYGI president James. C. DiLorenzo, MD. He said the center's initiatives for 2012 included an expansion, which involved enhanced facilities for staff and patients and two additional ORs. He also says the center plans to expand its charity care initiative and participate in GI QuIC. A joint venture between private practice physicians and a major academic medical center, NYGI contains "safety-based technology," such as 100 percent disposable endoscopic accessories, end tidal CO2 monitoring and a video laryngoscope for emergency intubations, according to Dr. DiLorenzo.
Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center (Richmond, Va.). This surgery center has a Charity Discount Policy designed for uninsured and underinsured patients who don't qualify for other governmental medical assistance programs. The ASC will also direct patients who qualify to other sources of medical assistance at the state and local level. Boulders Ambulatory Surgery Center includes three operating rooms and AAAHC accreditation. It offers ACL surgery, rotator cuff repair, open and closed fracture reduction, meniscectomy and other orthopedic procedures. Affiliated with HCA Virginia Health System, the surgery center's mission is to "provide high quality and cost-effective orthopedic care to the community with an emphasis on service to our patients, patient's families, physicians and employees."
Northern Virginia Eye Surgery Center (Fairfax, Va.). The center opened in May 2008 but it took 20 years of struggle to get approval of this ASC under Virginia's strict certificate of need process. William Rich, MD, and other investors had to document scheduling difficulties at local hospitals and commit to performing charity care. In its first year, the one-OR ASC hosted 2,400 surgeries. Thirteen doctors in two groups use the facility, performing cataract surgery, DSAEK corneal transplant surgery, penetrating keroplasties (PKPs), YAG operations and occasionally blepharoplasties. Dr. Rich ascribes the ASC's success to "committed, efficient docs using the same kind of equipment and lenses." In the future he plans to increase efficiency and fill the Friday schedule.
Willis Eye Institute (Philadelphia). Established in 1932, the Willis Eye Institute is a non-profit specialty institution focused on eye care. It opened a new outpatient facility in June 2002 to deliver ophthalmic care. Willis Eye has held a Free Public Eye Screening program every spring since 1980 where medical staff volunteer their time. Each year, the program provides more than $450,000 of free care to low income patients. The facility is accredited by AAAHC and includes a residency program for eight physicians every year. The Institute is affiliated with Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and serves as Jefferson's Department of Ophthalmology.
Sony Point Surgery Center (Richmond, Va.). Medical staff at Stony Point Surgery Center volunteer time, services and financial aid through its Charity Care Program to make healthcare more accessible for patients in need. The ASC provided more than $1.1 million in charity care in 2010 through nonprofit programs Access Now and CrossOver Ministry. Access Now provides eye treatments and surgeries free of charge to patients in the Richmond metropolitan area while CrossOver Ministry benefits uninsured patients. The physicians also donate their time and services to a local free clinic throughout the year. The AAAHC-accredited center includes ENT, ophthalmology, podiatry, interventional spine and orthopedics, among other specialties.
SurgiCare of Manhattan. As part of its mission to serve all persons regardless of any factors, including their ability to pay, SurgiCare of Manhattan has a charitable care and community outreach program to provide free or reduced cost care for military personnel, veterans and underprivileged children. The surgery center is accredited by The Joint Commission and has received the Apex Patient Satisfaction Award in 2011/2012. The freestanding multispecialty center is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital and includes orthopedics, spine, pain management and ENT.
Eye Surgery Center of Winchester (Va.). The surgeons and staff at The Eye Surgery Center of Winchester have a plan to provide charitable care at their facility at a "volume that is in the top levels of healthcare facilities in the region," according to the ASC's website. Services at the ASC include cataract, corneal, oculoplastic, glaucoma and general ophthalmology procedures. The surgeon center includes five physicians, led by medical director Frank Reuling, MD.
First State Surgery Center (Newark, Del.). The staff members at First State Surgery Center proactively contact social services agencies, community centers and schools throughout the year to connect with uninsured or under insured patients who would be candidates for outpatient orthopedic surgery. The center is also constantly seeking additional charitable organizations to serve the community. Surgeons from the center provide charity care through several community organizations. The physicians of First State Orthopaedics offer care at the ASC and serve as physician-professors at the University of Delaware.
Parham Surgery Center (Henrico, Va.). Parham Surgery Center, a member of the HCA Virginia Health System, offers an Uninsured Discount Program designed for patients who don't qualify for Medicare or other discount programs at the center. The center also offers a discount for uninsured patients, and a financial counselor will review the patient's financial obligation prior to surgery. Surgery center staff members also assist patients to direct them to state and local programs for additional funding. The ASC is affiliated with Henrico Doctors' Hospital and includes general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, pain management, urology, ENT and plastic surgery.
Colonial Heights (Va.) Surgery Center. Uninsured and underinsured patients who don't qualify for governmental assistance programs are eligible for the Charity Discount at Colonial Heights Surgery Center. The ASC also has an Uninsured Discount and services to direct patients to local and state medical assistance to pay for their care. A financial counselor is available to assist these patients through the payment process. The ASC is affiliated with John Randolph Medical Center and part of the HCA Virginia Health System. Services include gastroenterology, general surgery, pain management, orthopedic surgery, ENT, podiatry and urology. The ASC has two large operating rooms and two procedure rooms.
Reston (Va.) Surgery Center. A Charity Discount Policy is available for patients at Reston Surgery Center who qualify for assistance. These patients are uninsured and don't qualify for other government assistance. The ASC also includes an Uninsured Discount Program and staff are available to direct underserved patients to appropriate financial assistance programs. Reston Surgery Center participates in HCA's national quality improvement measures program, and national ASCA programs. The ASC is affiliated with Reston Hospital and provides orthopedics, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology and urology, among other services.
Hastings (Neb.) Surgical Center. Hastings Surgical Center is a freestanding outpatient surgery center located roughly 150 miles west of Omaha and managed by Overland Park, Kan.-based Nueterra Healthcare. Team-based care delivery is emphasized at Hastings Surgical Center, and the collaboration extends to employees' involvement in numerous community service activities throughout the year. The center's employees also provide charity care in the community and raise awareness for various health issues on a regular basis. When new hires are brought into the center, they are assigned a mentor or supervisor to assist with assimilation and professional development.
More Articles on Surgery Centers:
5 Areas That Trip Up ASCs During Accreditation Evaluations
5 Tips to Negotiate More Beneficial ASC Payor Contracts for Ophthalmology
12 Statistics on ASC Administrator Salaries