Here are 12 ambulatory surgery center leaders that are advocating on behalf of the industry at both the state and national level. If you would like to recommend another surgery center leader for this list, contact Anuja at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com.
Lisa Austin, RN. Ms. Austin serves as vice president of operations at Lakewood, Colo.-based Pinnacle III and president of Englewood-based Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. She provides clients with expertise in facility administration, budget development, regulatory compliance, staff recruitment and retention and equipment procurement. She advocates for ASCs at the state and national level in her role as president of CASCA. She also previously served as co-chair of CASCA’s Public Policy Symposium, Government Relations Committee and Emergency Preparedness Conference.
Robert Carrera. Mr. Carrera is president and CEO of Lakewood, Colo.-based Pinnacle III. He has spent the last 15 years developing and managing ASCs, physical/occupational rehabilitation centers and diagnostic imaging facilities. He has expertise in operational and financial controls and management as well as business development. He is one of the founding members of Englewood-based Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. Mr. Carrera has actively advocated for ASCs and has been involved in pain management legislation at the state level.
Daniel Connolly. Mr. Connolly serves as vice president of payer contracting at Lakewood, Colo.-based Pinnacle III. He performs all aspects of managed care contracting including contract negotiations, analysis, implementation, and compliance monitoring for ambulatory surgery centers. His advocacy efforts include working on behalf of ASCs at state level via the Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's Government Affairs Committee. Mr. Connolly has worked in the healthcare industry for 20 years, both on the ancillary provider and payer sides.
Steve Corl. Mr. Corl is the administrator/DON at Mackinaw Surgery Center in Saginaw Mich., a 16,000 square-foot, multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center. The surgery center includes four operating rooms and three procedure rooms. Mr. Corl is a member of the Michigan Ambulatory Surgery Association board, which works closely with local representatives in the Michigan government. The MASA leaders are soon taking a trip to Washington D.C., where they will be advocating to effectively influence policy makers.
Joseph DeMarco. Mr. DeMarco is the administrator of Jefferson Surgical Center at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. The ASC was developed by Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Rothman Institute and Nueterra. It includes four operating rooms and one procedure room. According to Mr. DeMarco team building requires open communication and consistency in dealing with daily challenges.
Rosalie Einspahr, MSN/FNP. Ms. Einspahr serves as director of operations at Lakewood, Colo.-based Pinnacle III, where she heads operations for Boulder (Colo.) Surgery Center. Prior to joining Pinnacle III, Ms. Einspahr served as COO of Spine One and a Director of Operations for HealthSouth & SCA. She is past president of Englewood-based Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. She advocates on behalf of ambulatory surgery centers at the state level by participating in the CASCA/ASCA Washington DC fly-in and as a CASCA board member.
Tracy Hoeft-Hoffman, RN, MSN, MBA, CASC. Ms. Hoeft-Hoffman is the administrator at Fremont (Neb.) Surgical Center, a multi-specialty surgery center that offers anesthesia, pain management, ENT, orthopedics, podiatry and OB/GYN services. She previously served as an administrator at Hastings (Neb.) Surgery Center. Ms. Hoeft-Hoffman advocates for her ambulatory surgery center at both state and federal level. Through her efforts, she also got Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman to tour the ASC.
Milla Jones. Ms. Jones serves as vice president of government relations for United Surgical Partners International. She has nearly 40 years of healthcare experience and previously worked for Baylor Health Care System in Dallas. Her current responsibilities include coordinating and managing state and federal advocacy efforts for USPI and its partners. She is an active member of the Texas ASC Society board and with many other state ASC associations.
Beth LaBouyer, RN, BSN, CNOR. Since 2004, Ms. LaBouyer has served as the executive director of the California Ambulatory Surgery Association. Before then, she served on the CASA Board of Directors. With more than 340 members, CASA, is an active association, advocating on behalf of ASCs with the California Legislature, CMS Services and the major health plans. Ms. LaBouyer is a registered nurse and has worked in the surgery environment for more than 25 years.
Michael J. Patterson, FACHE. Mr. Patterson is president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Health in Davenport, Iowa, which comprises two surgery centers, a real estate development company, a physician specialist network and a health management solutions company. He is currently a member of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's Government Affairs Committee and the president-elect of the Iowa Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. He works closely with state and federal officials and has been instrumental in legislative affairs involving ASCs and the healthcare industry.
Kelly Shirer, CASC. Ms. Shirer is the board chair of the Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. She is also the manager of financing and contracting at Wildwood Surgical Center in Toledo, Ohio. She previously served as manager of credit and collection at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo. Her advocacy efforts as board chair include promoting the safe, efficient and cost-effective ASC environment to patients, physicians and payers. OAASC also provides legislative and regulatory representation for ambulatory surgery centers.
Sue Vitort, BSN, CNOR. Ms. Vitort is the nurse administrator at Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe (Ariz.). The surgery center includes two operating rooms and offers treatments in a number of specialty areas, including gynecology, orthopedics, pain management and podiatry. Prior to her current position, Ms. Vitort served as director of perioperative services, endoscopy at the cardiovascular center at Banner Desert Samaritan Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. Last year, prior to his election she invited, Senator Jeff Flake to tour her facility and meet with other Surgery Center Leaders and Board Members of the Arizona Ambulatory Surgery Center State Association. This year she attended her first Washington Fly-In, together with Milla Perry Jones, Patti Alice and Karen Kelly, her associates from United Surgical Partners. Together they met with four Arizona Representatives and the two Arizona Senators Offices to explain the ASC industry, and how surgery centers are a high quality, lower cost alternative for the delivery of patient care. The discussions also introduced new ASC legislation asking them for their support. "Our goal in taking time for this advocacy effort, having face to face meetings, and asking them for their support, is to make a difference in raising their awareness of the ASC industry and supporting our ASC legislation," says Ms. Vitort.
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