Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital announces the following staff positions:

Sheila G. Begnaud, RN, has been promoted to Nurse Manager-Surgery. She was formerly a charge nurse at LSSH and served as interim surgery clinical manager. She received her BS in Nursing from UL Lafayette in 2000. She has prior experience in OR management, ICU, emergency room, telemetry and home health patient care.

Tracy B. Craft, RN, has joined Lafayette Surgical as Nurse Manager-PreOp. Her prior experience includes outpatient surgery supervision, clinical supervision, charge nurse and patient health coordinator. She received her BS in Nursing from LSU Medical Center in New Orleans and has been credentialed in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support and sedation analgesia.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Selina Guidry, RN, MSN, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Health Executives (ACHE). The announcement was made by CEO Gary Keller, who noted that the ACHE is the nation's leading professional society for healthcare leaders.

"We are so proud of Selina's accomplishments, not only because it brings honor to her and to our professional staff, but also because of what it means to our patients," Keller said. "The fact that Selina Guidry has attained this standard of excellence means that she will bring that same quality of care to our patients."

Fellow status in the ACHE represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. Only 7,500 healthcare executive hold this distinction. To obtain fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellow are also committed to ongoing professional development and must undergo recertification every three years.

"Having one of our key team members attain this recognition of professionalism attests to our ongoing commitment to quality improvement for our patients," noted Dr. Thomas Bertuccini, medical director at Lafayette Surgical. "We will continue to encourage and empower our staff to attain the high standards embodied in this award."

For the second straight year, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital (LSSH) was awarded Hospital of the Year by The Louisiana Nurses Foundation at itsannual Nightingale Gala held Saturday, January 12 in Baton Rouge. The Nightingale Awards are presented annually in a number of categories which recognize outstanding nurses, administrators and hospitals. Lafayette Surgical Specialty won in its category of Hospital of the Year (100 beds or less).

The Nightingale Awards honor a hospital employer of registered nurses that demonstrates recognition of professional nursing and innovation in leadership.

"This is an amazing accomplishment for our nurses here at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital. To be awarded this recognition two years in a row reinforces the dedication and hard work of our nursing staff and all other support staff", notes Gary Keller, CEO of Lafayette Surgical. "Our nurses continually strive to design processes that ensure successful outcomes and support doing what it takes to get the job done. This award is a testament to the excellence in patient care we deliver everyday."

In accepting the award, LSSH Chief Nurrsing Officer, Selina Guidry, said "Our nurses deserve this prestigious acknowlegement for the great work they do for our patients."

The physician owners and administrative staff of Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital recently hosted a fundraiser and reception for Congressman Charles Boustany at the hospital located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road. Approximately fifteen local physician owners of specialty hospitals, along with members of Lafayette Surgicals executive team, were on hand to show their appreciation to Congressman Boustany, also a physician, for his consistent support of patient choice in health care.

We were very pleased to be able to show our support for CongressmanBoustany, who has been a real champion for positive change in health care, not onlyin Louisiana but throughout the country as well, noted Dr. Thomas Bertuccini,medical director of Lafayette Surgical. Not many Congressmen understand thecritical issues facing patients, physicians and hospitals today, and we wanted to let him know how deeply we appreciate that.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital provides a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. It was recently chosen 2007 Hospital of the Year (100 beds or less) by the Louisiana Nurses Association.

Once again this year, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital has joined with KATC-TV 3 to make a special donation of equipment to the certified nursing assistants program at the W. D. Smith Career Center. The hospital donated a Casualty Simulator, a unit containing equipment which helps train students to be emergency medical technicians, EMT's, which are in short supply in Acadiana. "We're very pleased to be able to help the Career Center update its training equipment, especially in a career that is so critically important to our area," said Nancy Boutte, Chief Nursing Officer at Lafayette Surgical. "Margaret Walet is doing a terrific job of training our future health workers and we're delighted to do anything we can to help update their teaching tools." Wallet notes that the certified nursing assistants program at W. D. Smith is very popular, with about 60 students enrolled each semester who receive training in the classroom and on the job. "By providing this equipment, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital and KATC not only help the students, but also help to raise awareness of the critical need for health care workers and the opportunity for students to pursue rewarding careers in the field," Walet said. "The health care job sector is one of the largest and fastest growing in Acadiana, so getting out this information is important."

The physician owners of Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital held ground-breaking ceremonies recently for the medical office building being constructed next to the hospital at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road.

"This new office complex will enable physicians and other medical related businesses to have high quality space in the heart of Lafayette's fastest growing residential area," said Gary Keller, CEO of Lafayette Surgical. Nancy Boutte, COO, who is overseeing the project, added: "We believe the project is further evidence of the physician owners' commitment to ease of service and access for patients, as well as reinvesting in the community."

The 67,000 square foot building includes three floors with state of the art design, construction and amenities. It was designed by Architects Southwest, constructed by J. B. Mouton and financed by Iberia Bank. Projected opening date is fall, 2008.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital announces the appointment of Gary Keller as Chief Executive Officer. Keller most recently was executive vice president and board member of The Schumacher Group, and previously served as CEO of both Opelousas General Hospital and F. Edward Hebert Hospital in New Orleans.

"Gary Kellers depth of experience in all aspects of health care delivery will add another dimension of excellence in patient care", said Dr. Tom Bertuccini, Medical Director of Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital. "He has demonstrated leadership qualities which will ideally complement our highly trained and motivated staff. We're delighted to welcome him to our team."

Keller earned his B.A. at Louisiana State University, attended law school at LSU and received his M.A. in healthcare management and supervision from Central Michigan University. Additionally, he has pursued continuing professional development courses and has served as adjunct professor at UL Lafayette and Delgado Community College.

He has served on the board of the Louisiana Rural Hospital Association and the Louisiana Federation of Hospitals and has been an active member of the Louisiana Hospital Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. His extensive community involvement includes Rotary International, Leadership Lafayette, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Acadiana Outreach Center and Future Business Leaders Association.

"This is probably the finest hospital with which I have had the pleasure of being associated in my 30 plus years of executive healthcare management", Keller said. "The staff is technically superior, the operation is optimal for patient satisfaction and the clinical outcomes are superior. This model should be replicated throughout the country and I am honored to have the opportunity to continue implementing Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital's mission and vision."

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital took third place in the United Way Hope Derby, held recently in the River Ranch town square. The hospitals entry in the race - a hospital gurney cleverly disguised as a hot rod by Brett McGehee - was a real contender, thanks to team LSSH.

Buffy Domingue, CAO at Lafayette Surgical, also credited Dominique LeBlanc and the PACU department for their first place finish with their Derby bed pan hat. The bed pan hat was modeled by one of our physician owners, Dr. Robert Tarpy, and was a big hit with the crowd and with popular entertainer, Marc Broussard, who also took his turn wearing the winning bed pan hat.

Geralynn Thomassee, Bretts teammate in the race, was sure they would have won if it hadnt been for those tight turns in town square. Hospital gurneys do not have a great turning radius. We were awesome on the straightaway, but maneuvering those corners was tough, she said. But it was a great day for a wonderful cause and were just proud of all our staff who participated.

The Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital staff recently completed its 2007 United Way campaign by exceeding last years contributions and their goals for this year. Everyone here was really committed to the goals of United Way and put their hearts and their wallets into the effort, said Buffy Domingue, CAO and chair of the Community Relations committee. Were so proud of entire staff for their dedication and generosity because we feel it represents our approach to excellence in patient care that goes above and beyond what is expected.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road, provides a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. It was recently chosen 2007 Hospital of the Year (100 beds or less) by the Louisiana Nurses Association.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital announces the following promotions and new employees:

Kevin Courville has been promoted to manager of the Pain Management department. He was formerly a nurse manager/charge nurse at LSSH and has been employed with the hospital since its opening. He earned his BS in accounting at LSU in 1984 and his Associate Degree in nursing at LSU/Eunice in 1993. He is a member of the Southern Pain Society.

Charlotte M. Dupuis, RN, BSN, CLNC, has been promoted to Chief Quality Officer - Admin. She has been employed at LSSH since its opening and has helped develop policies and procedures that meet JCAHO and other specialty standards of care. She was awarded her BS in Nursing at UL Lafayette in 1995 and has pursued continuing education in supervisory training.

Greg Sistrunk, RN, BSN, has joined LSSH as Nurse Manager - Surgery. His prior experience includes managing perioperative and surgical services at other area hospitals. He earned his BS in Nursing at UL Lafayette in 1993. He currently serves as the Acadiana chapter president of the American Operating Room Nurses and was named one of the outstanding nurses in Acadiana in 2003 by the Louisiana State Nurses Association if Acadiana.

Ruth Sonnier has been named Nurse Manager - Patient Care Unit. She was formerly the charge nurse in the PCU and has been employed at LSSH since April, 2004. She received her Associate Degree in nursing at LSU/Eunice in 1999 and has multi-disciplinary experience in neurological and cardiac intensive care units.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) by demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety.

The announcement was made by Lafayette Surgical's Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Boutte, who noted that the accreditation decision again came with no deficiencies.

"To achieve accreditation with no deficiencies for this second evaluation is truly a remarkable achievement and a tribute to our staff and physician investors who work tirelessly to make this happen," Boutte said. "But, above all, it¹s very important to our patients, who are the beneficiaries of this impressive accomplishment."

As Medical Director Thomas V. Bertuccini, MD notes, "We modeled this hospital to be a true center of excellence which promotes optimal outcomes in the surgical care of our patients. That vision, and the devotion of our staff to implementing it, are the key reasons for this favorable rating."

In order to earn and maintain accreditation, a hospital undergoes an extensive on-site review by a select team of JCAHO professionals, including physicians, administrators and nurses at least once every three years. "The community should be proud that Lafayette Surgical is focusing on the most challenging goal - to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels," says Darlene Christiansen, executive director of the Joint Commission's Hospital Accreditation Program. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is an independent organization and is the world leader in evaluating the quality and safety of care delivered in over 17,000 health care facilities nationwide.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital (LSSH) was chosen Hospital of the Year by The Louisiana Nurses Foundation at its annual Nightingale Gala held recently in Baton Rouge. The Nightingale Awards are presented annually in a number of categories which recognize outstanding nurses, administrators and hospitals. Lafayette Surgical won in its category of 100 beds or less.

The Nightingale Awards honor a hospital employer of registered nurses that demonstrates recognition of professional nursing and innovation in leadership. "This is truly an honor and a welcome recognition of the hard work that our nursing staff has done," said Nancy Boutte, interim CEO at Lafayette Surgical. "Our nurses participate in the process, have ownership in the outcomes and support doing what it takes to get the job done. Quality patient care and a satisfied customer are what it's all about."

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is a 70,000 square foot facility, with eight surgical suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. It is located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital announces the appointment of Nancy Boutte, RN, MSN, CNOR, as interim Chief Executive Officer, replacing Tom Cooper, who recently retired as CEO. Boutte previously served as Chief Nursing Officer and Clinical Operations Officer at Lafayette Surgical.

Boutte graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana with a baccalaureate degree in Nursing and from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration. Her work experience includes 31 years of nursing, 24 of which have been in a nursing leadership role. She is certified in operating room nursing and has extensive perioperative experience. She joined the hospital staff in 2003.

"We congratulate Tom Cooper on his retirement," said Tom Bertuccini, Medical Director at Lafayette Surgical, "and we're confident that Nancy will continue the high standards set by Tom and our directors. That we are able to promote from within is a testament to our talented and highly motivated staff."

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is a 70,000 square foot facility, with eight surgical suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. It was just chosen Hospital of the Year by the Louisiana Nurses Association, and is consistently voted by the public as one of the top specialty hospitals in Acadiana. Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette.

LAFAYETTE, LA—Woman’s Foundation, Inc., University of Louisiana at Lafayette Nurse Practitioner students, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital and Youngsville Middle School FCCLA students are sponsoring a free Family Fitness Day in conjunction with the American Heart Walk on Saturday, November 11, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at River Ranch Town Square.

The event will include a health fair with over 15 community organizations providing health information for the entire family. There will also be special family fitness events.

Register to participate the day of the event at the American Heart Walk registration table from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at River Ranch Town Square. For more information, call Lisa LeBlanc, Community Program Coordinator, Woman’s Foundation, Inc. at (337) 988-1816.

Two more nurses at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital were among 25 area nurses honored for their strength, commitment and compassion during Nurses Week (May 6 - 12). Charlotte Dupuis and Calley Jeanne Wilson are among those chosen to receive the honor for 2006.

The group was honored at the annual "Acadiana Celebrates Nursing" awards banquet held Friday, May 5 in the City Club at River Ranch. The event was sponsored by the Acadiana regional chapter of the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

With the selection of this year's honorees, five LSSH nurses have been chosen for this prestigious award.

The week of March 13 - 17 marks the first anniversary of the Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, a unique addition to superior health care in Acadiana. The weeklong celebration culminated Friday, March 17th with several events at the hospital located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is owned by twenty-seven highly respected local physicians and was specifically designed to foster excellence in the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, pain management, urologic and other surgical procedures. The 70,000 square foot complex features eight operating suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. The staff is comprised of more than one hundred forty highly specialized nurses, technicians and other personnel who have now successfully treated hundreds of patients in this first year with state-of-the-art technology and focused care in a patient and family-friendly environment.

Thomas V. Bertuccini, MD, FACS, Medical Director and chairman of the board of Managers said, "We are extremely proud of the record established in our two years of operation. Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is technically advanced but at the same time our patients and their families tell us they really appreciate the warm, comfortable atmosphere. We thank the people of Acadiana for their continuing vote of confidence and in our physicians, our staff and our facility."

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephanie R. Guidry, MBA, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. The announcement was made by hospital CEO Thomas W. Cooper and Medical Director Thomas V. Bertuccini, MD, FACS.

Guidry brings more than 15 years of financial management experience at several area health care institutions. She earned her BS in Business Administration and her MBA at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Society of Certified Public Accountants, American College of Healthcare Executives and Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Guidry is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and has served in various leadership positions with the Lafayette Breakfast Sertoma Club.

Medical history was made at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital recently when Alan Appley, MD, FACS, performed the first disc replacement surgery in Lafayette using a Charité™ Artificial Disc.

Dr. Appley is one of three surgeons in Lafayette who have received specialized training at the DePuy Spine facility in Cincinnati and are certified in performing the artificial disc replacement procedure. The other two are John Cobb, MD; and David Muldowny, MD.

The patient, a 29 year old male who had been injured in an offshore rig accident, was carefully screened to assure his potential for the operation and was given the choice of a normal fusion procedure or the artificial disc replacement. Dr. Appley said he should have a satisfactory recovery and be able to return to normal activities without the pain or inflexibility he was experiencing.

Since artificial hips and knees were introduced in the 1960’s, doctors have explored the idea of prosthetic replacements for damaged or degenerated intervertebral discs.

In October 2004, the Charité™ Artificial Disc was the first disc approved for disc replacement use in the general population of back pain patients in the U. S. It has created major interest in the medical community regarding its use for lumbar disc replacement.

One major intended benefit of artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery over spine fusion is that it does not change the biomechanics of the patient’s spine, allowing a normal range of motion thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of degeneration in adjacent segments of the spine.

During the surgery, the degenerated disc is removed and a pair of end plates made of cobalt chromium are inserted in the space vacated and attached to the vertebrae above and below the disc. A polyethylene core is then inserted between the plates to create a disc-like structure that mimics the normal disc by providing a normal level of separation between the vertebrae and allowing the usual range of motion and flexibility for that segment of the spine.

Variations of the Charité™ disc replacement technology have long been in use in other countries and are now available in more than thirty countries. Since its release by the FDA in October of 2004, the Charité™ Artifical Disc has only been used in three other procedures in Louisiana.

Dr. Appley and the staff at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital caution that the artificial disc procedure carries the normal risks of general anesthesia and major spinal surgery.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital recently celebrated its first year in operation. It is owned by twenty-seven highly respected local physicians and was specifically designed to foster excellence in the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, pain management, ENT, urological, general and other surgical procedures.

The 70,000 square foot complex features eight operating suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. The staff is composed of more than 150 highly specialized nurses, technicians and other personnel who have now successfully treated hundreds of patients in its first year with state-of-the-art technology and patient and family-friendly procedures.

(Washington, DC) – The American Surgical Hospital Association (ASHA) officially commends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and their findings in the recently released report titled “CMS Study of Physician-owned Specialty Hospitals Required in Section 507(c)(2) of the MMA.” The CMS report was officially presented on Thursday, May 12, 2005 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Opponents of the specialty hospital industry have claimed over and over that specialty hospital physician owners pose a conflict of interest with their self-referral patterns and that specialty hospitals treat less severe patients. The CMS report claims otherwise. The CMS report also states, “On average, physicians’ aggregate ownership share is 34% in the cardiac hospitals in the study, although the average ownership share per physician is only 0.9%.” This statement contradicts claims made by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) that there is a conflict of interest with physicians self-referring patients to a facility of which they have ownership interest.

“The specialty hospital industry gained tremendous ground with the release of the CMS report,” said Jim Grant, ASHA President and COO of National Surgical Hospitals. “It couldn’t have come at a better time with Senators Grassley and Baucus introducing their version of anti-specialty hospital legislation just the day before.” The CMS report substantiates the position of the specialty hospitals. Furthermore, the report dispels the specialty hospital industry’s opponent’s claims that uncompensated care in the community was very small. The report states, “…the specialty hospitals paid real estate and property taxes, as well as income and sales taxes, whereas non-profit community hospitals did not. As a result, the total proportion of net revenue that specialty hospitals devoted to uncompensated care and taxes combined exceeded the proportion of net revenues that community hospitals devoted to uncompensated care.”

There were several notions regarding specialty hospitals not supported by the CMS study including: the notion that specialty cardiac hospitals are transferring more severely ill patients to general hospitals and the notion that specialty cardiac hospitals are systematically screening out more severely ill patients using the emergency department. Perhaps it was the information that was not included in the report that benefited the specialty hospital industry the most. CMS Administrator Mark McClellan told the Subcommittee that his organization did not favor extending the moratorium on specialty hospitals, he explained that there was no congressional action necessary and that everything could be dealt with by CMS and CMS is supportive of changing the diagnosis related group (DRG) payment system. ASHA has publicly supported DRG reform as long as it is applied all hospitals.

ASHA took exception with two items proposed in the CMS report. ASHA does not agree with CMS’s proposal to more closely scrutinize whether facilities meet the definition of a hospital. Second, there should be no 6-month hold on issuance of Medicare provider numbers for specialty hospitals ready to open after the current moratorium sunsets on June 8, 2005. ASHA feels CMS has had 18 months to review and approve pending applications but has been unable to do so. The 6-month hold poses grave harm to these facilities as they have spent millions of dollars preparing to open their facilities.

ASHA insists that specialty hospitals are an important component of healthcare, and the benefits they bring such as lower costs, lower complication rates and higher patient satisfaction are too important to be stifled by the protectionist policies of traditional hospital special interest groups. ASHA is asking Congress to ignore calls for a permanent moratorium on the development of specialty hospitals.

For more information on ASHA or to schedule an interview with an ASHA representative, please contact Carlos, Vasquez at 775-852-9292 ext. 227 or via email at carlos@artassociates.com or visit www.surgicalhospital.org.

(Washington, DC) – The American Surgical Hospital Association (ASHA) today issued the following statement concerning the introduction of anti-specialty hospital legislation by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and committee ranking member Max Baucus (D-MT): ASHA feels the legislation introduced today seeking to make permanent the current moratorium on specialty hospitals will do irreversible harm to our industry. The anticompetitive nature of this legislation contradicts the principals our country was founded on.

ASHA contends the specialty hospital industry is in serious jeopardy with the introduction of anti-specialty hospital legislation. AHSA feels strongly that making permanent the current moratorium on specialty hospitals will be very damaging to existing hospitals. Furthermore, if the bill is enacted as is and specialty hospitals are not allowed to expand or grow, the industry will wither away and die.

ASHA feels the Grassley legislation contradicts information previously released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

”This industry has been under the microscope for the past 18 months being scrutinized and analyzed by many different organizations,” said Jim Grant, ASHA President and National Surgical Hospitals COO. “We have answered all of our critic’s questions. Studies by MedPAC, CMS, GAO and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have all come to similar conclusions, specialty hospitals don’t harm community hospitals.”

The proposed bill directs the Health and Human Services to make adjustments to improve the disparity in relative profitability within diagnostic related groups (DRG’s), a concept ASHA has agreed with ever since it was made public by MedPAC.

ASHA feels the ultimate goal of this piece of legislation is to eliminate physician referral to facilities they have an investment in. This is an unfair objective as it is singling out specialty hospitals and does not take into account other physician owned businesses such as Ambulatory Surgery Centers. Furthermore, hospitals have been buying physician groups for years. ASHA asks why this practice is not being eliminated as physician referral is attempting to be eliminated. The proposed legislation will allow coordinated care incentive arrangements (gainsharing) which will foster improved physician - hospital efficiency. ASHA contends that “gainsharing” is simply a proxy for ownership and there should be no need for the proxy when you can have physician owners.

“They haven’t called for an outright ban of specialty hospitals but what they have asked for will not allow the industry to grow and prosper,” said Grant. “We’ll essentially experience death by 1,000 cuts rather than by firing squad.” ASHA insists that specialty hospitals are an important component of healthcare, and the benefits they bring such as lower costs, lower complication rates and higher patient satisfaction are too important to be stifled by the protectionist policies of traditional hospital special interest groups. ASHA is asking Congress to ignore calls for a permanent moratorium on the development of specialty hospitals.

For more information on ASHA or to schedule an interview with an ASHA representative, please contact Carlos, Vasquez at 775-852-9292 ext. 227 or via email at carlos@artassociates.com or visit www.surgicalhospital.org.

The week of March 14-18 marked the first anniversary of the Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, a unique addition to superior health care in Acadiana. The weeklong celebration culminated Friday, March 18 with several events at the hospital on Kaliste Saloom Road, including a live statewide radio broadcast of the Moon Griffon Show. Area legislators, physician/investors, staff and patients were among the guests interviewed during the two-hour broadcast.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is owned by twenty-seven highly respected local physicians and was specifically designed to foster excellence in the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, urologic and other surgical procedures, as well as pain management.

The 70,000 square foot complex features eight operating suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. The staff is composed of more than one hundred forty highly specialized nurses, technicians and other personnel who have now successfully treated hundreds of patients in this first year, with state-of-the-art technology and focused care in a patient and family friendly environment.

Thomas V. Bertuccini, MD, FACS, Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of Managers said, "We are extremely proud of the record established in this exciting first year. Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is technically advanced while making patients and their family feel relaxed, confident and comfortable in a warm, inviting atmosphere. And we have exceeded our expectations in the provision of quality patient care and customer service. My fellow physicians and I thank the people of Acadiana for their overwhelming vote of confidence and acceptance of this new and advanced concept in health care."

Written By: Sean Parnell
Published In: Health Care News
Publication Date: October 1, 2004
Publisher: The Heartland Institute

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 included an 18-month moratorium on the development of new physician- and investor-owned surgical facilities. Those facilities, known as specialty surgical hospitals, typically focus on a few areas of surgical practice, such as heart surgery or orthopedic surgery.

In this, the first of a three-part series, Sean Parnell examines the development of specialty surgical hospitals and their role in the U.S. health care system. Part 2 will explore the claims made by opponents of specialty surgical hospitals, and Part 3 will look at the industry's future in the U.S.

Specialty surgical hospitals in the United States trace their roots to ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), which started to appear approximately 30 years ago. An ASC is a facility whose patients are admitted, treated, and discharged within a single day. No overnight hospitalization is included. Typically they are free-standing facilities not attached to or affiliated with a traditional general hospital.

According to the American Surgical Hospital Association (ASHA), ASCs developed for several reasons, including: physician dissatisfaction with the work environment, efficiency, and quality of care provided in traditional general hospitals; advances in medicine that allow many procedures that once required an overnight stay in the hospital for recovery to be done on an out-patient basis; patient dissatisfaction with the hospital environment and lack of customer service; and increasing costs of medical care at traditional general hospitals.

A February 2002 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General attributes the growth of ASCs to "advances in medical technology, increased focus on patient convenience, and economic incentives created by changes in reimbursement systems."

According to ASHA, the ASCs developed slowly until 1982, when Medicare first approved them for reimbursement. From that point, growth has been rapid. There are currently more than 3,500 ASCs in the U.S.

The results of this industry growth have been impressive. By freeing themselves of the bureaucracy of a traditional general hospital, ASCs have been able to provide high-quality care at a lower cost. The key is specialization: A surgeon or facility devotes all of its energies to a few specific areas of care, resulting in increased efficiency and effectiveness.

Specialty Surgical Hospitals

From the ASCs developed modern specialty surgical hospitals. By focusing on a few surgical specialties, additional gains in efficiency and quality can be realized, this time in procedures that require an overnight stay or longer while the patient recovers.

Approximately 100 specialty surgical hospitals exist in the U.S. today. Some, such as Stanislaus Surgical Hospital in Modesto, California, offer a broad range of surgical procedures, including knee and hip replacement, hysterectomy, corneal transplant, and kidney surgery. By contrast, MedCath, a chain of 13 hospitals in nine states, focuses on cardiovascular surgery.

Specialty surgical hospitals are much smaller than traditional general hospitals. Medcath's 13 hospitals have between 32 and 112 inpatient beds each, and Stanislaus Surgical Hospital has 23 inpatient beds, while the average hospital in the U.S. has more than 160 beds. Hospitals in large urban area typically have several hundred beds, and some have more than one thousand beds.

Nurse-to-patient ratios are typically lower at specialty surgical hospitals. In a recent interview with Surgicenter Online, Stanislaus Surgical Hospital CEO Michael Lipomi said, "The nurses who prepare patients for surgery also recover patients, so patients see the same reassuring faces." At larger traditional general hospitals, a patient may see many different nurses during the course of his or her treatment, which can interfere with the continuity of care.

Higher Quality of Care

Many specialty surgical hospitals appear to provide better care than their traditional counterparts, as measured by patient outcomes. The Lewin Group, a consulting firm specializing in health care, conducted a study in 2002 comparing patient outcomes from eight MedCath specialty surgical hospitals to 1,056 peer hospitals that perform open-heart surgery in the United States. Using the methodology employed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adjust for patient health, the Lewin researchers found:

• The mortality rate from open heart surgery for Medicare cases at MedCath hospitals was 16 percent lower than at community hospitals and 12.5 percent lower than at teaching hospitals.
• The average length of stay for MedCath patients was 21.9 percent shorter than at community hospitals, and 25.6 percent shorter than at teaching hospitals.
• MedCath discharged 22.9 percent more of their patients to their homes than did the community hospitals.

Lewin's report also showed a lower rate of complications from surgery for MedCath heart patients and noted that MedCath patients' conditions tended to be more severe than the conditions of patients at other hospitals. The findings were consistent with studies conducted by Lewin in 2000 and 2001.

Lower Rate of Nosocomial Infection

Specialty surgical hospitals also appear to have lower rates of nosocomial infection, infections that originate or occur in a hospital setting. Preliminary data from a soon-to-be-released study by the ASHA show the nosocomial infection rate is approximately two-tenths of 1 percent in specialty surgical hospitals. Lipomi says the rate at Stanislaus Surgical Hospital is one-tenth of 1 percent. According to a December 2002 report from the Centers for Disease Control, the national rate in traditional general hospitals is 5.7 percent.

A major reason for the lower rate of infection is that specialty surgical hospitals focus on elective and pre-planned surgeries. A patient who is scheduled for heart surgery and shows up at a specialty surgical hospital with a cold or the flu can be rescheduled for surgery after the illness goes away. In the Surgicenter Online interview, Lipomi noted infection rates in specialty surgical hospitals are lower because they don't perform surgery on "someone who is throwing up or bleeding or presenting with possible infectious conditions ... We think the otherwise healthy patient needs a place to go where nosocomial infection rates are less than 1 percent instead of 5 percent or more."

Patient Comfort a Source of Pride

Specialty surgical hospitals pride themselves on a superior level of patient comfort--what observers outside the health care industry might call "customer satisfaction." This includes rooms with VCRs, private baths, refrigerators, and soft carpeting. Stanislaus Surgical Hospital prepares food for each patient individually, with cooks who ask each patient what they would like to eat.

"Treating patients like guests in a fine hotel is a rather unusual concept in the world of health care," said Alan Pierrot, CEO of Fresno Surgery Center, in an interview in Surgicenter Online. "The result is a major contribution to patient comfort that ultimately improves the healing process."

Despite the luxury, specialty surgical hospitals may actually cost less than traditional hospitals. MedCath, for example, saves Medicare money due to the shorter average length of stay and reduced rate of complications among its patients. The low rate of nosocomial infections at hospitals like Stanislaus Surgical Hospital saves money by dramatically lowering the costs associated with re-admitting and treating patients who become infected while at a hospital.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, which recently opened on Kaliste Saloom Road, has received the designation Accredited from The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

The announcement was made by Lafayette Surgical's Chief Executive Officer, Tom Cooper, who noted that the accreditation decision came with no deficiencies. "To have no deficiencies on our first review is truly a remarkable achievement and a tribute to our staff and our physician investors, who worked tirelessly to make this happen," Cooper noted.

"But, above all, it's very important to our patients, who will be the immediate beneficiaries of this impressive accomplishment."

To maintain and earn accreditation, a hospital undergoes an extensive on-site review by a select team of JCAHO professionals, including physicians, administrators and nurses at least once every three years.

Medical director, Thomas V. Bertuccini, MD, pointed to the years of advance planning and research by the twenty-seven local physician-investors, as the key reasons for the favorable rating by the JCAHO.

"We modeled this hospital to be a true 'center of excellence' by utilizing procedures and technologies which promote optimal outcomes in the surgical care of patients," he said. "Equally important, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is designed to make patients and their families feel more comfortable and relaxed during times of stress."

The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization established over 50 years ago and is the world leader in evaluating the quality and safety of care delivered in over 17,000 health care facilities nationwide, including hospitals, health centers, home care providers, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and health care networks.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is a 70,000 square foot complex, featuring eight operating suites and twenty patient rooms, and offering multi-disciplinary approach to high quality neurological, orthopedic and other surgical care and pain management.

Ribbon cutting and dedication ceremonies were held Wednesday, March 10 at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, on Kaliste Saloom Road, the newest addition to Lafayette's vital and growing health care sector.

Twenty-eight highly respected physicians in Acadiana joined together in the planning and development of the state-of-the-art hospital, which is designed to foster excellence in the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, pain management, and other surgical procedures.

"Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is dedicated to providing quality, value and optimum outcomes in the surgical care of patients," said Dr. Thomas V. Bertuccini, Medical Director and chairman of the Board of Managers. "Our facility is designed to make patients and their families feel relaxed and comfortable in a warm inviting atmosphere."

The 70,000 square foot complex includes eight operating suites, twenty patient rooms and a multi-disciplinary approach to high quality surgical care and pain management. In addition to the physician investors, the hospital includes a team of more than eighty highly specialized nurses, technicians and other personnel who will be utilitizing the latest technology and procedures.

In developing the hospital, the local physician partners engaged Oklahoma City based Integrated Medical Delivery (IMD). IMD nationally develops and provides administrative support services for specialty hospitals, surgery centers, diagnostic imaging centers, and group health and workers' compensation managed care networks.

IMD President and CEO John T. Perri explains the company's role in these facilities. "The hospital's relationship with IMD allows the physicians and staff to focus on patient care. Lafayette is fortunate to have a facility that is on the leading edge of the delivery of patient care."

IMD has developed health care facilities in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado and Louisiana.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital was designed by Architects Southwest and constructed by The Lemoine Company.

The $25 million Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital will begin accepting patients Monday. It will employ 103 people.

The hospital is part of a two-year, $70 million building boom in the health industry here. The Lafayette Heart Hospital will open soon, and the Louisiana Extended Care Hospital facility at Lafayette General Medical Center opened last week.

The expansion creates more Acadiana jobs in an expanding economic sector.

The medical work force grew by nearly 7,000 in Lafayette, St. Martin, Acadia and St. Landry parishes in the decade ending last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 20,000 people worked in health care here in December 2003, many in jobs that pay well.

A state Department of Labor voluntary survey in 2003 found that more than 3,240 Acadiana people work in medical jobs in which the mid-rank hourly wage was at least $15.

“The impact on Lafayette of the medical industry is that it is certainly ranked first,” said Gregg Gothreaux, president and chief executive officer of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, “and it feeds off of Acadiana’s No. 1 industry, which is oil and gas.”

Observers also said the expansion enhances Lafayette’s role as a regional health center that offers consumers more choices.

“We’ve got a few things left, but we will be ready for our first patients,” Cooper said.

The hospital cleared a major hurdle Monday when it passed a certification survey by the state Department of Health and Hospitals.

Toni Cade, assistant professor of Health Information Management at UL Lafayette, said Tuesday that niche hospitals like the ones being built in Lafayette are becoming more common in the medical industry.

“I think it starts in academia where students who want to be doctors are already thinking about specialties,” Cade said, “and it also starts with consumers who are more educated than ever about health care and who feel that a specialist is more preferable to a general physician.”

The medical industry is one of the more highly competitive industries in the United States, she said.

“Lafayette has great name recognition now as a center for excellent cardiology care,” Cade said. “I think the trend of specialty hospitals is something that will continue.”

Cade said that Houston is a good example of where Lafayette’s medical industry may be heading.

“There is a conglomerate of hospitals in downtown Houston that are competitive and within walking distance of each other,” Cade said. “I think we will see that in the future of Lafayette.”

Whether that means that more students from UL Lafayette or the technical schools will be able to find jobs here is a difficult question, said Gail Poirrier, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at UL Lafayette.

“These are all small entities,” Poirrier said. “What they will do is offer the university new areas where students can get first-hand experience and knowledge. ... All of these facilities are attracting people in specialized fields. What it is doing for certain is diversifying the medical industry in this community,” she said.

John Sullivan - The Daily Advertiser

Construction of the $25 million Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital should be completed by February, according to officials with the city's newest medical center.

Dr. David Muldowny, who is a partner in the physician-owned hospital, said the 70,000 square foot facility is being built at 1029 Kaliste Saloom Road. He added that when completed, the specialty hospital will employ about 80 health care professionals.

Muldowny said Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital will be a patient-focused center specializing in the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, pain management and other surgical procedures.

The facility, he said, is designed to focus on surgical patients whose procedures require a short hospital stay.

“It is our intention to set the standard for efficient, cost-effective care that uses advanced technology for the greatest benefit to our patients,” Muldowny said.

The Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital will have:

• eight operating suites
• 20 patient rooms
• use a multi-disciplinary approach to surgical care and pain management.

“Specialized nurses, technicians and other support staff will make up our team,” Muldowny said. “The physician partners are supervising the design and selecting the technology for the greatest possible efficiency.”

The hospital's strength will lie in its staff, new technology and its focused approach to patient care, Muldowny said.

“We believe a focused approach and physician involvement will promote optimal outcomes and shorter hospital stays for our patients,” he said.

Specialty hospitals are noted for providing access to personalized care in a patient-friendly environment that studies have shown promotes healing and wellness, Muldowny said.

According to a statement from the American Surgical Hospital Association, specialty hospitals have scored high in a number of areas regarding patient care.

“Surgical, and other specialty hospitals, have a focused mission - to providing the best care possible in certain specialty areas, whether women's health, general surgery or spinal surgery,” said Michael Lipomi, president of the surgical association. “These hospitals have excellent patient outcomes.”

Lipomi said the association's studies have shown specialty hospitals have higher nurse-to-patient ratios and lower infection rates.

The Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is owned by group of 15 Acadiana doctors. They are Muldowny and Drs. John E. Cobb, Louis C. Blanda Jr., Thomas V. Bertuccini, James S. Garcelon, Joseph T. Gillespie, Steven K. Staires, Alan J. Appley, Thad A. Bourque, John R. Budden, Luis C. de Araujo, Stephen Goldware, Ricardo R. Leoni, Phillip E. Noel and Jeffrey J. Thibodeaux.

Muldowny said the doctors consulted Integrated Medical Delivery, an Oklahama-based company that helps develop specialty hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The hospital was designed by Architects Southwest and is being constructed by The Lemoine Company.