Administrator to Know: Robert Puglisi of Huntington Valley Surgery Center

Robert A. Puglisi, CASC (Huntington Valley Surgery Center, Huntington Valley, Pa.). Mr. Puglisi is the administrator at Huntington Valley (Pa.) Surgery Center and has been with the center since it opened six years ago. The ASC is an 18,000 square-foot, multi-specialty, freestanding facility with four operating rooms and two procedure rooms. It is located in the suburbs of Philadelphia and is managed by Foundation Surgery Affiliates.

Mr. Puglisi has 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry and worked for a healthcare consulting firm as a senior consultant specializing in physician practice acquisitions and physician billing enterprises. Prior to joining Huntington Valley in Aug. 2003, he was employed as a project manager for Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross.

One of the keys to Mr. Puglisi's success has been physician education regarding the daily operations of the facility. "They understand how and why things run the way they do," he says. "I try to keep the physicians abreast of costs, reimbursement levels and political trends that could affect them. I also try to be transparent with everything we do at the center."

Huntington Valley's surgeons and staff are Mr. Puglisi's favorite part of the center. "They make coming to work exciting and enjoyable," he says.

The aspect Mr. Puglisi enjoys most about his job as administrator is the multitude of responsibilities he is asked to assume. "I enjoy working through daily issues," he says. "This morning, I was on the roof resetting the air conditioning. This afternoon, I have an insurance contract to negotiate. "

When it comes to his job as administrator, Mr. Puglisi says, "I have a personal motto to leave people better than I found them." He tries to apply this philosophy to all issues from personnel to physicians to patients.

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