Need ear, nose, throat, eye or even plastic surgery? The Saint Alphonsus Health System plans to cater to you. The system opened its first outpatient surgery center in Nampa on Monday, and it plans to open two more in the next 12 to 15 months. Those could open in Eagle or Meridian buildings where Saint Alphonsus once had outpatient surgery centers before closing them, said Blaine Petersen, chief financial officer.
What’s different about these? Unlike the centers that closed, these will be run in large part by doctors who’ve bought shares in the business. More than 50 doctors invested, buying more than the health system originally offered, Petersen said. The centers will be managed by a national company, Surgical Care Affiliates. That company co-owns and operates the private Treasure Valley Hospital in Boise.
Why are they opening? There aren’t many places to get walk-in and walk-out surgeries in the Treasure Valley, Petersen said. The initiative also taps a need for “care close to home ... in a much more convenient location” than the inside of a hospital, he said. Surgery at one of the centers also should cost patients and insurance companies less, he added. The health system will roll out new centers slowly, Petersen said. “We believe there’s enough business to open two for sure, and maybe three,” he said.
How much do these centers cost? The price tag to outfit the Nampa center with equipment and supplies was about $2 million.
Audrey Dutton: 377-6448
