Administrator to Know: Dianne Wallace of Menomonee Falls Ambulatory Surgery Center

Dianne Wallace, RN, BSM, MBA (Menomonee Falls Ambulatory Surgery Center, Menomonee Falls, Wis.). Ms. Wallace is the executive director and CEO of the Menomonee Falls (Wis.) Ambulatory Surgery Center, located a few miles northwest of Milwaukee. The center was formed as a joint venture between a local community hospital and two larger medical groups in 1993, according to Ms. Wallace. The multi-specialty center opened in 1994 and includes five state-of-the-art operating rooms, an eye laser room and a four-procedure room GI center. In 2008, MFASC performed more than 12,000 procedures in specialties including ENT, ophthalmology, gynecology, general surgery, podiatry, orthopedics, gastroenterology and plastic surgery.

Ms. Wallace has been with MFASC for 10 years. Ms. Wallace has administrative experience in hospitals, home health, medical groups and ambulatory surgery. Prior to serving in these administrative roles, she spent a number of years working as a registered nurse in hospital inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, home-health and long-term care settings. She served as past president of the Wisconsin Surgery Center Association and the MGMA ASCA executive committee.

While at MFASC, Ms. Wallace has overseen much of the growth at the center, including the creation of the GI center. "MFASC performed primarily surgical procedures," she says. "About six years ago we opened our new GI center. We were able to double our case volume within a couple of years after adding this specialty. We have also added and expanded pain as a service."

Ms. Wallace has also enacted a staff cross-training program that has proved very beneficial. "Staff cross-training has been successful at maximizing efficiencies and avoiding position cuts in this down economy," she says. "We have successfully achieved three, 3-year AAAHC accreditations in the past 10 years."

The staff at MFASC is Ms. Wallace's favorite aspect of working at the ASC. "We've maintained a staff retention rate of 97-99 percent," she says.

Ms. Wallace enjoys the opportunities serving as CEO allots her. "I love being part of a growing, successful business and having the opportunity to continually learn new things," she says.

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