Names in the News
SEPTEMBER 2021
The board of directors and executive leadership team of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) in Skokie, Illinois, have adopted a new COVID-19 vaccination requirement for its community of surveyors, according to a release.
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AUGUST 2021
The application period for the 2021 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards is open now through September 30, according to an August 10 release. The annual awards program from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF) recognizes major achievements by individuals and organizations to improve patient safety and healthcare quality.
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AUGUST 2021
After more than 28 years with DePuy Synthes, the orthopaedics company of Johnson & Johnson, in Warsaw, Indiana, Bill Wilder has decided to retire effective November 30, 2021, according to an August 4 release.
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JULY 2021
The Joint Commission’s Office of Quality and Patient Safety (OQPS) revised its definition of a sentinel event and clarified some of the event-specific examples in the Sentinel Event Policy, according to a July 21 release.
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JULY 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed a light on the many gaps in healthcare that diverse populations have experienced for decades, according to a July 14 release from The Joint Commission of Oakbrook, Illinois. Integral parts of communities, hospitals and ASCs need to understand the diverse populations they serve, including minority groups and vulnerable populations.
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JULY 2021
National Medical Billing Services (NMBS) of Chesterfield, Missouri, has opened a new facility in the Lake of the Ozarks region in Osage Beach, Missouri, according to a June 28 release.
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MAY 2021
The Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity, a new award program from The Joint Commission of Oakbook Terrace, Illinois, and Kaiser Permanente of Oakland, California, is now accepting applications through July 8, 2021.
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MARCH 2021
Over the last nine months, The Joint Commission of Oakbook Terrace, Illinois, delayed its traditional onsite survey activity due to the restrictions and strain on the healthcare system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 10 press release.
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MARCH 2021
A new Quick Safety advisory, “Keeping patients on track with preventative care during pandemic,” from The Joint Commission provides recommended safety actions for healthcare organizations to encourage patients to seek preventative care during a pandemic.
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FEBRUARY 2021
Chesapeake Regional Surgery Center – Virginia Beach in Virginia Beach, Virginia, part of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, partnered with two physician-owned entities, Cape Surgical and the Obelisk Group, according to a February 22 release
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FEBRUARY 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the substantial disparities that have existed in healthcare for many years. People from racial and ethnic minority groups have an increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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JANUARY 2021
To help ASCs implement necessary precautions and prevent negative outcomes for obese patients, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, has published a fully revised Ambulatory Procedure Considerations for Obese Patients Toolkit.
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JANUARY 2021
Kathy Wilson, RN, has been named executive director of the ASC Quality Collaboration, the organization created in 2006 to develop quality measures for ASCs.
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JANUARY 2021
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Joint Commission of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, stopped most onsite surveys and reviews last year from March 16–May 31.
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DECEMBER 2020
The Joint Commission of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, recently announced revisions to its requirements for ambulatory healthcare organizations and office-based surgery practices related to performing history and physical examinations prior to operative or surgical procedures.
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DECEMBER 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, published a fully updated Ambulatory Surgery and Preoperative Evaluation and Testing Toolkit, according to a recent press release.
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DECEMBER 2020
Andrew T. King, CASC, a passionate ASC advocate and longtime leader in the Georgia Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, passed away peacefully at his home in Marietta, Georgia, on December 3.
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DECEMBER 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, published a new Allergy Benchmarking study that underscores the importance of correctly documenting patients’ allergies, according to a press release.
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NOVEMBER 2020
Envision Healthcare Corporation of Nashville, Tennessee, owner of Amsurg, sent 80 clinicians to El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, to provide additional clinical support and expertise as these communities and the state face a surge in COVID-19 patients, according to a November 17 press release
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OCTOBER 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, received a four-year accreditation of its healthcare standards from the International Society for Quality in Health Care’s (ISQua) External Evaluation Association (IEEA) International Accreditation Programme (IAP), according to an October 21 press release.
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OCTOBER 2020
Oasis Surgery Center recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 38,000-square-foot facility in North Canton, Ohio, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to an October 8 press release.
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OCTOBER 2020
A new Quick Safety advisory from The Joint Commission titled The Optimal Use of Telehealth to Deliver Safe Patient Care shares information on the benefits of telehealth, as well as its barriers and challenges, according to an October 7 press release.
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SEPTEMBER 2020
The Surgery Center of Fairfield County of Trumbull, Connecticut, won the Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement Award. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care gives out the award to recognize AAAHC-accredited organizations that successfully implemented meaningful changes in their operations to enhance quality of care, patient safety and overall efficiency.
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SEPTEMBER 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, published version 41 of the Accreditation Handbook for Medicare Deemed Status last week.
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AUGUST 2020
The recently released 2020 HFAP Quality Review shares key insights and industry trends based on surveyors’ ratings of compliance during 2019 onsite surveys of acute care hospitals (ACH), critical access hospitals (CAH), laboratories and ASCs, according to an August 26 press release.
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AUGUST 2020
Envision Healthcare Corporation of Nashville, Tennessee, owner of Amsurg, recently donated 45,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, a health system in Arizona that serves the Navajo, Hopi and Southern Paiute tribes, according to an August 4 press release.
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JULY 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, will release enhanced standards in version 41 of its Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care, according to a July 1 release.
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JUNE 2020
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, is resuming onsite surveys after temporarily pausing activities during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a June 22 press release.
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JUNE 2020
A new report from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, analyzes data from 1,488 accreditation surveys, conducted January 1–December 31, 2019, to identify areas of high and low compliance, according to a June 8 press release.
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MARCH 2020
ACA Cardiovascular of Incline Village, Nevada, promoted and added to its staff, according to a March 1 press release. Heather Combs, RN, became the chief operating officer of the firm and Charlie Dailey joined as a development associate.
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MARCH 2020
Surglogs of San Diego, California, hired Victoria Samper as its director of regulatory compliance, according to a February 25 company release.
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FEBRUARY 2020
The Surgery Center of Fairbanks of Fairbanks, Alaska, received the Gold Seal of Approval and Certificate of Distinction from The Joint Commission, according to a release.
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FEBRUARY 2020
Regent Surgical Health of Westchester, Illinois, hired Brad Pollard as its new vice president of business development, according to a January 29 press release. In his new role, Pollard will work closely with physician groups and hospital systems to merge, acquire and develop ASCs.
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JANUARY 2020
Regent Surgical Health of Westchester, Illinois, announced a partnership with physician partners from the Center for Specialized Surgery and Lee Health, according to a January 22 press release.
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NOVEMBER 2019
Regent Surgical Health of Westchester, Illinois, welcomed two veteran healthcare executives to its team and promoted one of its own, according to a November 6 press release.
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OCTOBER 2019
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) in Skokie, Illinois, announced the appointment of new officers and election results for three new directors to its board of directors for 2020, according to an October 23 press release.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
The Surgery Center of Fairbanks in Fairbanks, Alaska, appointed Keli Hite McGee as administrator, according to a release. She will begin her new role on October 7.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Bill Prentice, chief executive officer of ASCA, received an award “for helping to inform the public and policymakers about Ambulatory Surgery Centers and the professionals who own and operate them” from McKesson Medical-Surgical.
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AUGUST 2019
Inventory Optimization Solutions (IOS) in Aliso Viejo, California, recognized The Surgery Center of Fairbanks (SCF) in Fairbanks, Alaska, with its 2019 Best Practice Award Q2, according to an SCF release.
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AUGUST 2019
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) awarded its Socioeconomics, Health Policy, and Law Paper of the Year to Ahilan Sivaganesan, MD; Silky Chotai, MD; Scott L. Parker, MD; Matthew J. McGirt, MD; and Clinton J. Devin, MD, for their paper "Drivers of Variability in 90-Day Cost for Elective Laminectomy and Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disease."
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JULY 2019
The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (NJAASC) has elected new officers to its board of directors.
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MAY 2019
ASCA awarded its Nap Gary Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in the ASC Community to Donna Slosburg, RN, CASC, executive director of ASC Quality Collaboration (ASC QC).
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APRIL 2019
Pend Oreille Surgery Center (POSC) LLC in Ponderay, Idaho, marks its 10th birthday on May 13, 2019.
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DECEMBER 2018
David M. Shapiro, MD, CASC, former ASCA Board president and anesthesiologist at Red Hills Surgical Center in Tallahassee, Florida, has joined a 50-member Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness in Tallahassee.
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Names in the News
Do you have a new hire? Did your company win an award? Or did your management change? You can highlight all your company announcements in the Names in the News section of ASCA’s web site. This resource is available for free to both ASCA members and nonmembers. ASCA members will need to be logged in and nonmembers will need to create a “Nonmember Guest Account” to access this free resource.
Please send your announcement to editorial@ascassociation.org.
NOVEMBER 2018
A new report from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Skokie, Illinois, analyzes data from more than 900 accreditation surveys from 2017 to identify areas of high and low compliance, according to a November 13 press release.
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NOVEMBER 2018
United Surgical Partners International (USPI) of Dallas, Texas, appointed Brett Brodnax, president and chief development officer, as chief executive officer (CEO), according to a November 6 press release.
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OCTOBER 2018
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has collaborated with The Joint Commission to incorporate AAOS' clinical expertise into standards development and performance measurement requirements for Total Hip and Knee Replacement (THKR) Certification, according to a release.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (NJAASC) has sponsored a scholarship that will support One World Surgery's weeklong surgical mission to Honduras in October, according to a press release.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
The Joint Commission promoted Pearl Darling to the position of executive director of the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, according to a release.
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BY MICHAEL KULCZYCKI | AUGUST 2018
To my dear colleagues:
Farewell.
That is a very difficult concept to put into a single word. After 44+ years of a professional-working life in health care, and after nearly 17 years of leading the Ambulatory Care accreditation program here at The Joint Commission, farewell means many things. Starting with my full retirement next month!
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MAY 2018
In partnership with 14 physicians, Regent Surgical Health of Westchester, Illinois, opened Oregon Surgical Institute (OSI) in Beaverton, Oregon.
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MAY 2018
Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Florida, hired marketing, branding and operations veteran M. Kathleen Donald as chief marketing officer.
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MARCH 2018
The Joint Commission appointed Cheryl L. Hoying, RN, as chief nurse executive and executive vice president of customer relations.
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FEBRUARY 2018
On February 14, 2018, Surgery Center Ceder Rapids in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will perform its 100,000th procedure, according to a press release.
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FEBRUARY 2018
The Surgery Center of Chesapeake in Chesapeake, Virginia, performed a total joint replacement (TJR) surgery on January 24, 2018, and became the first ASC in the South Hampton Roads region to perform a TJR, according to a release.
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JANUARY 2018
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) signed NJ S278 into law during his last days in office.
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DECEMBER 2017
On December 1, 2017, Andrew Wickine, MD, performed the first same-day total joint replacement (TJR) of Apex Surgical Center in Westmoreland, New York.
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DECEMBER 2017
OCTOBER 2017
Medical Facilities America Inc. of Franklin, Tennessee, appointed Robert O. Horrar as president and chief executive officer (CEO), according to an October 25 company release. Horrar previously served as chief operating officer of the company.
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OCTOBER 2017
Simple Admit, LLC, took top honors for Innovations in Healthcare as part of the 6th Annual Excellence in Healthcare Awards, according to an October 17 company release.
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OCTOBER 2017
Regent Surgical Health of Westchester, Illinois, promoted Bob Ryan to chief operating officer (COO), according to a release.
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JULY 2017
The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (NJAASC) elected members to its board of directors and four new officers who will serve a two-year term, according to a release.
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JUNE 2017
The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) appointed David M. Shapiro, MD, CASC, former ASCA Board president and anesthesiologist at Red Hills Surgical Center in Tallahassee, Florida, to its Board of Directors.
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JUNE 2017
Surgical Information Systems (SIS), a provider of perioperative information systems, has acquired SourceMed, a provider of ASC software and services.
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DECEMBER 2016
Debra W. Levine has joined the health law practice of Brach Eichler LLC, in Roseland, New Jersey, as counsel. She previously served as deputy attorney general in the Department of Law and Public Safety and as assistant section chief of the Counseling Section of the Division of Consumer Affairs. In addition, Cheryll A. Calderon has joined the practice as an associate.
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SEPTEMBER 2016
Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites in Canton, Ohio, has become the first ASC in the country to receive the Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement from The Joint Commission, according to a release from the ASC. The ASC is a physician-owned, multi-specialty facility, partnered with SurgCenter Development.
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SEPTEMBER 2016
California Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (CASA) announced the inaugural recipients of the CASA Award for ASC Excellence and the CASA ASC of the Year last week, according to the CASA web site.
Grass Valley Surgery Center, PAMF Mountain View SurgiCenter, Surgecenter of Palo Alto, Surgery Center of Long Beach and West Wilshire Medical Surgical Center received the CASA Award for ASC Excellence and Grass Valley Surgery Center was named the CASA ASC of the Year.
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MAY 2016
Officials at SourceMed of Birmingham, Alabama, announced a strategic partnership with Command Health of Boulder, Colorado. This partnership will enable ASCs to meet the needs of their surgeons while maximizing reimbursements through faster, more complete and more actionable clinical documentation, according to a SourceMed release.
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APRIL 20, 2016
Officials at Surgical Funds of Dallas has announced a partnership with BMC Capital also of Dallas, according to a release.
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