Contact: media@bannerhealth.com
Dylon MacEachran, Atlas Healthcare Partners
 

PHOENIX, (Feb. 25, 2020) – Fifty years ago, Banner Surgery Center – University, formerly known as Surgicenter, forever changed how patients underwent outpatient surgery when it opened as the country's first-ever freestanding ambulatory surgery center, offering an alternative to hospital-based surgery. 

Instead of being hospitalized for a surgery and staying there days or weeks in recovery, surgery center patients walked in, underwent their operations and walked out the same day. National news described the new ambulatory center as "pioneering" and "revolutionary."

Now the nationally accredited center is offering another round of innovation by moving to a new, larger facility on the campus of Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.

"We’re excited to be writing another chapter in the surgery center’s rich history," said Joan Thiel, vice president of Ambulatory Services for Banner Health. "The center was created to make healthcare more accessible for patients and we will continue that legacy with this new facility."

The new facility, which will be located at 1111 E. McDowell Road, Suite B in the northeast corner of Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, has eight operating rooms and offers multi-specialty service equipment and capability including orthopedics, podiatry, ear-nose-throat surgery, ophthalmology, gastrointestinal, general surgery, gynecological surgery and pain management.

"This new location allows us to provide high-quality services in an even more convenient location for our patients and physicians," Thiel said.

The original surgery center was opened by Wallace Reed, MD and John Ford, MD on Feb. 12, 1970 at 1040 E. McDowell Road. It drew patients as well as national and international attention. During its first 12 months, more than 400 visitors (not including patients) toured the facility to learn how they could start their own ambulatory surgery centers.

"The first surgery center provided us all with a blueprint for how to provide high quality care in a more convenient and affordable setting.   We're honored to be part of the legacy that Dr. Reed and Dr. Ford started and to provide exceptional care and outstanding customer service to all our patients and physicians," said Aric Burke, CEO of Atlas Healthcare Partners. 

Atlas Healthcare Partners developed the new ASC facility and manages Banner Surgery Center – University.  In September 2018, Banner Health formed a joint venture with Atlas Healthcare Partners to own, develop and manage Banner's ambulatory surgery centers in Arizona and Northern Colorado.  The Banner Atlas joint venture currently manages 10 surgery centers with plans to add five more in 2020. 

Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.bannerhealth.com.

Atlas Healthcare Partners is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and specializes in the development and management of ambulatory surgery centers in partnership with health systems and physicians.  Atlas Healthcare Partners is dedicated to providing exceptional care and outstanding customer service to every patient, every physician, every time and working with healthcare systems and physicians to provide high quality care that is convenient and affordable. For more information, visit www.atlashp.com.