Administrator to Know: Lisa Kelley of Summerlin Bend Surgery Center

Lisa Kelley, RN, MBA (Summerlin Bend Surgery Center, Ft. Myers, Fla.). Ms. Kelley is the administrator at Summerlin Bend Surgery Center, a multi-specialty center that performs podiatry, orthopedics, spine, ENT, pain management and neurosurgery. The center has two operating rooms and is connected to the medical office building of the Foot & Ankle Group, whose four physicians serve as partners in the center along with 13 other physicians. The center is also partnered with the Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America and opened in Sept. 2006.

Ms. Kelley has been with the center since before it opened, joining the group in July 2006. Prior to coming to Summerlin Bend, she served in a variety of positions in hospitals, including HCA, serving in roles such as chief nursing officer, COO, director of quality management and regional director of quality and resource management in Florida and the northeastern states.

One of the ways in which Ms. Kelley has led her center to success is by assuring the quality program of the facility is a product of everyone, including patients, staff and physicians. "I always follow through on the suggestions or comments or constructive criticism and make decisions involving everyone's input," she says.

Another approach she has taken to ensure the success of her center is to "find the smartest, enthusiastic staff possible," Ms. Kelley says. "People with great attitudes are a joy to work with in such a high energy, intensive atmosphere." As a result, she enjoys walking in every morning knowing the center staff is engaged with the patients and that the surgeons are providing quality care in a cost effective, time-efficient manner for each patient.

"We are very excited to be here," Ms. Kelley says. "Our physicians are satisfied. The patients have given us a 94 percent excellence approval rating. We want to contribute more to our community by not only providing excellent care but more satisfying positions for local healthcare professionals."

Ms. Kelley enjoys the autonomy her position as administrator provides. "Every day there is a new challenge to stretch your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and you learn from each experience," she says.

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