BELPRE - An outpatient surgery center in Belpre has joined with Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg.
Camden Clark has acquired a majority interest in the Ohio Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center at 608 Washington Blvd.
"Both parties are confident that this joint venture will continue to advance safe, convenient outpatient services and will be operated in concert with the Mid-Ohio Valley's largest health care system," said Camden Clark spokesman Tim Brunicardi. "Camden Clark's future plans will incorporate the surgery center as an important point of service."
The surgery center will remain an independent operation and not be a department of the hospital. Tracey Hood, RN, CASC, the current administrator, will remain as the facility's manager and report to a Board of Managers comprised of Dr. David Mendoza, Dr. Abdi Ghodsi, Dr. Adam Kaplan, Mike King, Allen Butcher and David McClure.
The joint venture was completed June 1 and is effective immediately.
"I think the benefit will be for the patients," Hood said. "It will strengthen both areas. By working together, we can provide many more services for the patients. That's really our goal, to provide the best patient care."
The surgery center opened in January 2008 and works with 11 physician-owners in a variety of areas, including urology, orthopedics, neurosurgery and pain management, general surgery, gastroenterology and family practice.
Two more doctors work with the center to provide outpatient services, but are not part of the ownership of the center.
"We specialize in outpatient surgery services," said Hood. "We provide an option for patients who require outpatient surgical services, closer to home and in a more personalized setting."
Since opening, Hood said the center has seen about 18,000 patients. The center has three operating rooms and another for endoscopy work.
"We are totally self-sufficient here and can perform any procedures that do not require an overnight stay. We do not do overnight or observation," she said.
"Patients will see their surgeon in their office and then they will be scheduled here for the day of surgery," Hood said.
Outpatient surgery providers like the surgery center have continued to grow in popularity in recent years, especially with improvements in surgical techniques, equipment and medications.
"It allows patients a much quicker - not only operating time - but recovery time as well. It allows many more cases to be done on an outpatient basis," Hood said.
Hood believes the joint venture with Camden Clark will help the center continue to grow its business in the Belpre area and open up new opportunities for both facilities.
