Administrator to Know: Louise Barker of Central Louisiana Ambulatory Surgical Center

Louise Barker, RN, BSN (Central Louisiana Ambulatory Surgical Center, Alexandria, La.). Ms. Barker is the administrator and CEO of Central Louisiana Ambulatory Surgical Center in Alexandria, La., a multi-specialty facility with six operating rooms, two GI suites and one procedure room. CLASC performed 15,000 procedures in calendar year 2008. The specialties at the facility include orthopedics, interventional pain management, ENT, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, podiatry, urology, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, gynecology, general surgery and dental surgery.

Ms. Barker began her career in nursing and gained valuable supervisory and surgical experience at two large hospitals in Alexandria. She joined CLASC in March 1985 as the director of nursing CLASC and helped the facility begin operations. In the early years of the center, Ms. Barker achieved CNOR status and assisted in all clinical nursing areas. She quickly worked her way up to her current position.

In 2005, CLASC transitioned from a 10,000 square-foot facility to a 30,000 square-foot facility. In addition to managing the surgery operations, Ms. Barker was instrumental in overseeing the development and construction of the new facility. "It is due to her organization and planning skills that the facility experienced no loss of operating days during the move from one building to another," says Linda Wright, CFO of CLASC.

Ms. Barker places high priorities on patient safety and quality service while maintaining high patient, staff and physician satisfaction. She is admired by staff, physicians and those in the community.

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