Here are 15 ambulatory surgery centers which cater to out-of-town patients and include medical tourism programs. If you would like to recommend another surgery center for this list, contact Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com.
Bedford Surgical Center (Beverly Hills, Calif.). Established in 2009, the Bedford Surgical Center includes two operating rooms and a three-bed post-anesthesia recovery room. It is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and Medicare. It offers a number of services, including cosmetic surgery, podiatry, hair restoration, weight loss treatments and dermatology treatments. The surgery center assists patients who are traveling from different states. The center requires out-of-town patients to schedule their surgery at least a month in advance so that the center can help them make the necessary arrangements.
ClearSight LASIK Center (Oklahoma City). Established in 1994 by Gary Wilson, MD, the center offers LASIK eye surgery to patients. Dr. Wilson is board-certified in ophthalmology. He served as captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp where he was chief of preventive medicine at Fort Gordon, Ga. Since 1991, he has performed nearly 40,000 refractive surgery procedures, according to the surgery center website. The center caters to patients who are from out-of-town by having invested in technology that allows for same-day surgery. The center also helps out-of-town patients arrange local lodgings.
Concord (N.H.) Ambulatory Surgery Center. Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and provides ENT, orthopedics, plastic surgery, general surgery and pain management procedures. The facility has two operating rooms, four bed preparation areas and eight station recovery areas. Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center provides complete coordinated care to Canadian patients, which includes scheduling appointments, travel, accommodation and transportation to the facility. The procedures offered to medical tourism patients include knee arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, liposuction, tonsillectomy and rotator cuff repair.
Dr. Updegraff LASIK Surgery Center (St. Petersburg, Fla.). Established in 1996, Dr. Updegraff LASIK Surgery Center focuses on providing LASIK eye surgery services. Dr. Updegraff has completed his residency in ophthalmology and a year-long fellowship in cornea, refractive and laser Surgery at the University of Texas-Houston. He has earned five U.S. patents for developing instruments, techniques and technologies in LASIK as well as two patents for eye microsurgery. In order to accommodate out-of-town patients, the surgery center has developed a system that allows patients to work with their primary eye care provider for preliminary tests and post-operative care, and helps them arrange to travel to Dr. Updegraff for the surgery.
Fremont (Calif.) Surgery Center. The 20,000-square-foot center includes seven operating rooms, four procedure suites, a 24-bed pre-operation space and post-anesthesia care unit with two overnight private rooms. The surgery center offers treatments in a wide array of specialties such as cardiology, ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, pain management, orthopedics, podiatry and urology. It is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities and Medicare. It also frequently treats out-of-town athletes and other patients, and assists them in arranging local lodging.
La Peer Health Systems (Beverly Hills, Calif.). La Peer Health Systems offers services in numerous specialties, including orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology, colorectal surgery, podiatry, ophthalmology, pain management, gynecology and spinal surgery, among others. Its facilities are newly renovated and are "green spaces." La Peer offers a variety of services geared towards patients traveling to its facilities from different parts of the country or world. These services include translator services, post-operative recovery centers in Los Angeles, travel agent to coordinate flight and hotel transportation, recommendations for site-seeing and tourism and any other medical or travel-related coordinating.
Legacy Neurosurgery Spine & Brain Specialists Outpatient Surgery Center (Little Rock, Ark.). Legacy Neurosurgery Spine & Brain Specialists has served patients who travel across the country to have their surgery performed at a lower cost than it would be at their local hospital. They often serve cash-pay or high deductible patients traveling long distances. Led by Scott Schlesinger, MD, the team of neurosurgeons performs minimally invasive spine surgery as well as non-operative pain management procedures. The brain disorders they treat include brain tumors, aneurysms and arterial venous malformations. Additional services at the center include physical therapy.
Lowcountry Outpatient Surgery Center (Charleston, S.C.). Lowcountry Outpatient Surgery Center, the ASC of Lowcountry Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, has been in operation for eight years. James Spearman, MD, a partner with Lowcountry Orthopedics recently started the company TravelsurgeryUSA, built on the medical tourism model. The ASC accepts cash pay patients at discounted prices that include facility, anesthesia and physician fees. The group can also arrange for discount therapy and discounted rates for accommodations. Physicians at the ASC perform orthopedic surgery, pain management, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, urology and GI.
Northwest Surgery Center (Wauwatosa, Wis.). The surgery center includes two surgery suites and a recovery room. It offers treatments for bunions, hammer toes and heel spurs. It is led by Stephen Weissman, MD, past president of the Academy of Ambulatory Foot and Ankle Surgery. The surgery center has partnered with the Radisson Hotel Milwaukee West to offer discounted rates and ground transportation for patients who are coming in from out of town. The hotel also provides a shuttle service to and from the airport and the appointment at the surgery center.
Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County (Newport Beach, Calif.). The Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County is owned by the Orthopedic Specialists of Southern California and Hoag Hospital. It is a medical tourism facility associated with Patients Without Borders and has been an accredited ambulatory surgery center since 1999. Surgeons perform several procedures at the center, including ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, shoulder surgery and spine surgery. The center is contracted with major insurance companies and will bill non-contracted payers.
Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics (Atlanta, Ga.). Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics has both administrative offices and surgical facilities in the Atlanta area. It offers weight loss surgery, surgery for weight regain, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic hernia repair and heartburn/acid reflux surgery. The center is staffed by seven surgeons, medical assistants and nurse practitioners. Patients come to Peachtree from all over the nation and the world. To cater to them, the center, along with Real Results Weight Loss Solutions, has created a pre-surgical diagnostic center where diagnostic testing can be performed in a matter of days so that multiple trips to the facility are not necessary.
Red Rock Surgery Center (Las Vegas). Red Rock Surgery Center reaches out to its Las Vegas community as well as patients from around the world with their medical tourism branch. The surgery center was founded more than 10 years ago and surgeons perform approximately 1,000 procedures there annually. The center includes three operating rooms and one minor laser procedure room, allowing surgeons to perform a multitude of cases at the ASC. Medical staff at the center includes ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pain management physicians, hand surgeons, general surgeons and podiatrists. Red Rock Surgery Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and owned by David Malitz, MD.
Surgery Center of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City). Surgery Center of Oklahoma is a 32,535-square-foot facility that is owned and operated by surgeons and anesthesiologists in central Oklahoma. The facility has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care since 1998 and includes prices for their services on the ASC website to attract patients of self-pay, self-insured or high-deductible plans. Surgeons at the ASC perform orthopedics, general surgery, ophthalmology and ENT procedures. There are multiple lodging areas near the surgery center for patients to stay after their procedures. According to the ASC's website, they are able to offer lower prices since they don't have to process claims and there is no risk of non-payment.
Surgery Center of Pinehurst (N.C.). The surgery center includes six operating rooms and two pain procedure rooms, and it is a joint venture with Pinehurst-based FirstHealth of the Carolinas. It offers services in numerous specialties, including orthopedic surgery, ear, nose and throat, gynecology, general surgery, plastic surgery, children's ophthalmology and pain management. It is managed by Nueterra Healthcare and accredited by Medicare and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. The center is also a part of Neuterra Global Alliance.
Squaw Peak Surgery Center (Phoenix). Squaw Peak Surgery Center was founded in 1998 by Anthony Yeung, MD, and has two operating rooms. The surgeons perform selective endoscopic discectomy spine surgery and a dorsal endoscopic rhizotomy surgery pioneered by Dr. Yeung. The surgery center can accommodate cash pay patients and the practice, Desert Institute for Spine Care, offers to coordinate care for medical tourists. The surgery center also has negotiated discounted rates at area hotels for their patients. The surgeons are team spine surgeons for several professional athletes, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds.
The Surgery Center at Doral (Doral, Fla.). The Surgery Center at Doral includes interventional pain management, urology, general surgery and hand and upper extremity surgery. Alejandro Badia, MD, founded Badia Hand to Shoulder Center which works with the International Orthopedic Group to serve inbound medical tourist patients, who have their surgeries at The Surgery Center at Doral. The surgery center has three operating rooms, arthroscopic equipment and family waiting room. After traveling for their surgery, patients are able to stay at a hotel located near the center for recovery, often accompanied by a recovery room nursing staff. The patients are able to have rehabilitation and follow up visits while staying for a few days in the area.
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Bedford Surgical Center (Beverly Hills, Calif.). Established in 2009, the Bedford Surgical Center includes two operating rooms and a three-bed post-anesthesia recovery room. It is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and Medicare. It offers a number of services, including cosmetic surgery, podiatry, hair restoration, weight loss treatments and dermatology treatments. The surgery center assists patients who are traveling from different states. The center requires out-of-town patients to schedule their surgery at least a month in advance so that the center can help them make the necessary arrangements.
ClearSight LASIK Center (Oklahoma City). Established in 1994 by Gary Wilson, MD, the center offers LASIK eye surgery to patients. Dr. Wilson is board-certified in ophthalmology. He served as captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp where he was chief of preventive medicine at Fort Gordon, Ga. Since 1991, he has performed nearly 40,000 refractive surgery procedures, according to the surgery center website. The center caters to patients who are from out-of-town by having invested in technology that allows for same-day surgery. The center also helps out-of-town patients arrange local lodgings.
Concord (N.H.) Ambulatory Surgery Center. Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and provides ENT, orthopedics, plastic surgery, general surgery and pain management procedures. The facility has two operating rooms, four bed preparation areas and eight station recovery areas. Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center provides complete coordinated care to Canadian patients, which includes scheduling appointments, travel, accommodation and transportation to the facility. The procedures offered to medical tourism patients include knee arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, liposuction, tonsillectomy and rotator cuff repair.
Dr. Updegraff LASIK Surgery Center (St. Petersburg, Fla.). Established in 1996, Dr. Updegraff LASIK Surgery Center focuses on providing LASIK eye surgery services. Dr. Updegraff has completed his residency in ophthalmology and a year-long fellowship in cornea, refractive and laser Surgery at the University of Texas-Houston. He has earned five U.S. patents for developing instruments, techniques and technologies in LASIK as well as two patents for eye microsurgery. In order to accommodate out-of-town patients, the surgery center has developed a system that allows patients to work with their primary eye care provider for preliminary tests and post-operative care, and helps them arrange to travel to Dr. Updegraff for the surgery.
Fremont (Calif.) Surgery Center. The 20,000-square-foot center includes seven operating rooms, four procedure suites, a 24-bed pre-operation space and post-anesthesia care unit with two overnight private rooms. The surgery center offers treatments in a wide array of specialties such as cardiology, ear, nose and throat, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, pain management, orthopedics, podiatry and urology. It is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities and Medicare. It also frequently treats out-of-town athletes and other patients, and assists them in arranging local lodging.
La Peer Health Systems (Beverly Hills, Calif.). La Peer Health Systems offers services in numerous specialties, including orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology, colorectal surgery, podiatry, ophthalmology, pain management, gynecology and spinal surgery, among others. Its facilities are newly renovated and are "green spaces." La Peer offers a variety of services geared towards patients traveling to its facilities from different parts of the country or world. These services include translator services, post-operative recovery centers in Los Angeles, travel agent to coordinate flight and hotel transportation, recommendations for site-seeing and tourism and any other medical or travel-related coordinating.
Legacy Neurosurgery Spine & Brain Specialists Outpatient Surgery Center (Little Rock, Ark.). Legacy Neurosurgery Spine & Brain Specialists has served patients who travel across the country to have their surgery performed at a lower cost than it would be at their local hospital. They often serve cash-pay or high deductible patients traveling long distances. Led by Scott Schlesinger, MD, the team of neurosurgeons performs minimally invasive spine surgery as well as non-operative pain management procedures. The brain disorders they treat include brain tumors, aneurysms and arterial venous malformations. Additional services at the center include physical therapy.
Lowcountry Outpatient Surgery Center (Charleston, S.C.). Lowcountry Outpatient Surgery Center, the ASC of Lowcountry Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, has been in operation for eight years. James Spearman, MD, a partner with Lowcountry Orthopedics recently started the company TravelsurgeryUSA, built on the medical tourism model. The ASC accepts cash pay patients at discounted prices that include facility, anesthesia and physician fees. The group can also arrange for discount therapy and discounted rates for accommodations. Physicians at the ASC perform orthopedic surgery, pain management, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, urology and GI.
Northwest Surgery Center (Wauwatosa, Wis.). The surgery center includes two surgery suites and a recovery room. It offers treatments for bunions, hammer toes and heel spurs. It is led by Stephen Weissman, MD, past president of the Academy of Ambulatory Foot and Ankle Surgery. The surgery center has partnered with the Radisson Hotel Milwaukee West to offer discounted rates and ground transportation for patients who are coming in from out of town. The hotel also provides a shuttle service to and from the airport and the appointment at the surgery center.
Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County (Newport Beach, Calif.). The Orthopedic Surgery Center of Orange County is owned by the Orthopedic Specialists of Southern California and Hoag Hospital. It is a medical tourism facility associated with Patients Without Borders and has been an accredited ambulatory surgery center since 1999. Surgeons perform several procedures at the center, including ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, shoulder surgery and spine surgery. The center is contracted with major insurance companies and will bill non-contracted payers.
Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics (Atlanta, Ga.). Peachtree Surgical & Bariatrics has both administrative offices and surgical facilities in the Atlanta area. It offers weight loss surgery, surgery for weight regain, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic hernia repair and heartburn/acid reflux surgery. The center is staffed by seven surgeons, medical assistants and nurse practitioners. Patients come to Peachtree from all over the nation and the world. To cater to them, the center, along with Real Results Weight Loss Solutions, has created a pre-surgical diagnostic center where diagnostic testing can be performed in a matter of days so that multiple trips to the facility are not necessary.
Red Rock Surgery Center (Las Vegas). Red Rock Surgery Center reaches out to its Las Vegas community as well as patients from around the world with their medical tourism branch. The surgery center was founded more than 10 years ago and surgeons perform approximately 1,000 procedures there annually. The center includes three operating rooms and one minor laser procedure room, allowing surgeons to perform a multitude of cases at the ASC. Medical staff at the center includes ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pain management physicians, hand surgeons, general surgeons and podiatrists. Red Rock Surgery Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and owned by David Malitz, MD.
Surgery Center of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City). Surgery Center of Oklahoma is a 32,535-square-foot facility that is owned and operated by surgeons and anesthesiologists in central Oklahoma. The facility has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care since 1998 and includes prices for their services on the ASC website to attract patients of self-pay, self-insured or high-deductible plans. Surgeons at the ASC perform orthopedics, general surgery, ophthalmology and ENT procedures. There are multiple lodging areas near the surgery center for patients to stay after their procedures. According to the ASC's website, they are able to offer lower prices since they don't have to process claims and there is no risk of non-payment.
Surgery Center of Pinehurst (N.C.). The surgery center includes six operating rooms and two pain procedure rooms, and it is a joint venture with Pinehurst-based FirstHealth of the Carolinas. It offers services in numerous specialties, including orthopedic surgery, ear, nose and throat, gynecology, general surgery, plastic surgery, children's ophthalmology and pain management. It is managed by Nueterra Healthcare and accredited by Medicare and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. The center is also a part of Neuterra Global Alliance.
Squaw Peak Surgery Center (Phoenix). Squaw Peak Surgery Center was founded in 1998 by Anthony Yeung, MD, and has two operating rooms. The surgeons perform selective endoscopic discectomy spine surgery and a dorsal endoscopic rhizotomy surgery pioneered by Dr. Yeung. The surgery center can accommodate cash pay patients and the practice, Desert Institute for Spine Care, offers to coordinate care for medical tourists. The surgery center also has negotiated discounted rates at area hotels for their patients. The surgeons are team spine surgeons for several professional athletes, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds.
The Surgery Center at Doral (Doral, Fla.). The Surgery Center at Doral includes interventional pain management, urology, general surgery and hand and upper extremity surgery. Alejandro Badia, MD, founded Badia Hand to Shoulder Center which works with the International Orthopedic Group to serve inbound medical tourist patients, who have their surgeries at The Surgery Center at Doral. The surgery center has three operating rooms, arthroscopic equipment and family waiting room. After traveling for their surgery, patients are able to stay at a hotel located near the center for recovery, often accompanied by a recovery room nursing staff. The patients are able to have rehabilitation and follow up visits while staying for a few days in the area.
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