In the past decade, surgery centers have made their mark in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. The region is home to more than 20 outpatient surgery centers. Though many are small to mid-sized, a wide range of procedures are performed at these outpatient clinics , from gynecologic to ophthalmologic to orthopedic operations. Representatives of surgery centers in the area spoke to the Business Journal about the clinics and the services they provide. Eden Surgical Center A half-dozen doctors are on staff at Eden Surgical Center in Calabasas. Open since 2001, patients of the center can opt for surgeries in the gynecologic, podiatric and reconstructive realms, according to administrator Adam Adair. Eden also offers plastic surgery. Eden is unique in that it recently launched a program to provide free reconstructive surgery to members of the military who were wounded in Iraq and are in need of such surgery. Located in the hills of Calabasas with posh dec & #243;r, Adair said that the size of Eden’s clientele varies. He used the word “exclusive” to describe patrons, however. “Our pitch is that the standard benefit to an outpatient surgical center is it’s both convenient for the patient and the doctor because you can schedule operating room time more in advance,” Adair said. Eden Surgical Center 23951 Craftsman Road, Calabasas Information: (818) 444-4244 Summit Surgery Center As one of the largest outpatient clinics in the Valley, the procedures Summit Surgery Center in Santa Clarita provides rivals those offered by hospitals. In fact, Robin Heiman left her position as director of surgical services at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital to be administrator of the surgery center, which opened in March of 2006. While many surgery centers specialize in certain areas, the 60 doctors on staff at Summit Surgery Center offer a broad array of procedures. “We do general surgery , all the laparoscopic things, gynecological surgery, urology procedures. We do spine surgeries,” Heiman said. And that’s not all. Summit doctors also perform surgeries in the fields of orthopedics, podiatry, pain management, gastrointestinal and endoscopy. As at Eden, Summit Surgery Center doctors also perform plastic surgery. “Our staff is also certified in advance cardiac life support and pediatrics,” Heiman said. “Everyone is very well-trained.” The facilities at Summit are also impressive, Heiman asserts. “We have three very large operating room suites to endoscopy suites,” she said. One of the reasons the treatment offered at Summit has a wide range is because it is a freestanding surgery center rather than an arm of an area hospital. Summit is, however, a partner of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills and Dallas-based United Surgical Partners. “Providence will do the contracting,” Heiman explained. On average about a couple of hundred patients per month visit Summit, but that number is expected to grow as more people learn of its existence and the services offered there, Heiman said. Summit Surgery Center, Suite 100 26357 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita Information: (661) 799-8300 Glendale Eye Surgery Center As its name suggests, ophthalmology is the focus at Glendale Eye Surgery Center , be it refractive repairs, corneal transplants or procedures for cataracts and glaucoma. Launched in 1988, the center has one operating room and receives visits from 15 to 20 patients per day, according to CEO Glenn Yamada. Like at most surgery centers, the doctors on staff at Glendale Eye Surgery Center also work at area hospitals. “Part of our requirement is that in order to be on staff here you have to be on staff at a hospital,” Yamada said. Outpatient surgery centers oft make this requirement to ensure that their doctors are no less qualified than those who work solely in hospitals. The desired result is that patients of surgery centers receive the same standard of care as if they were being treated in a hospital. Glendale Eye Surgery Center 607 N. Central Ave., Glendale Information: (818) 956-1010 or (323) 225-2020 Northridge Hospital Medical Center Surgery Center Since the late 1990s, Northridge Hospital has maintained a surgery center with a full range of services. “We offer outpatient ear nose and throat surgical ENT, general surgery, podiatry, orthopedic, also bariatric surgery. We do ophthalmology and OBGYN. We have a full service line,” said Martin Perez, administrative director of surgical services. There are 11 beds at the surgery center and about 30 patients a day are seen on average. Northridge Hospital Medical Center 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge Information: (818) 885-8500 Other Area Surgery Centers – Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital, 4929 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Sherman Oaks Hospital also offers outpatient surgical services in arthroscopy, laparascopy and more. Information: (818) 981-7111. – Hallmark Surgical Center of Northridge, 8327 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. Information: (818) 718-8450. – Sherman Oaks Surgery Center, 5170 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks, specializes in outpatient orthopedic surgery. Informa-tion: (818) 728-4833. – Thousand Oaks Surgery Center, 415 E. Rolling Oaks Drive Suite 115. Information: (805) 230-3100. – Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, 401 E. Rolling Oaks Drive, Thousand Oaks. Information: (805) 777-7750. – West Hills Ambulatory Surgical Center, 7240 Medical Center Drive, West Hills, offers a wide range of services, including hand surgery, general surgery, gynecology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oral surgery, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, pain management, plastic surgery, podiatry, and urology. Information: (818) 226-9151. – Santa Clarita Surgery Center for Advanced Pain Management, 23861 Mcbean Parkway # A4, Valencia. Information: (661) 288-7978 or (661) 288-5700. – Valencia Surgical Center, 24355 Lyons Ave. Suite 120, Newhall. Information: (661) 255-6644. – Pacific Surgery Center, 2829 W. Burbank Blvd. # 100, Burbank. Open since 1988, this surgery center specializes in procedures for the eyes. Information: (818) 567-0348. – Solis Surgical Arts Center, 4940 Van Nuys Blvd. #103, Sherman Oaks, specializes in dentistry. Information: (818) 981-1398. – The Mazzocco Ambulatory Surgical Center, 15243 Vanowen St., Van Nuys. Information: (818) 781-2020 – Pacific Ambulatory Surgical Center, 16260 Ventura Blvd. Suite 800, Encino, specializes in podiatric and plastic surgery. Information: (818) 906-5330. – San Fernando Valley Surgery Center, 11550 Indian Hills Road Suite 160, Mission Hills. Information: (818) 256-2100. – Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Outpatient Surgery Center, 25751 McBean Parkway, Valencia. Information: (661) 253-8000.
