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21 ASC MANAGEMENT 5 hospitals, health systems opening or planning ASCs By Angie Stewart F ive hospitals and health systems opened or an- nounced new ASCs in April: Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health, Dallas- based United Surgical Partners International and Nash- ville-based Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance are seeking state approval to build a $14 million surgery center. Walla Walla, Wash.-based Providence St. Mary Medical Center is converting the closed Walla Walla General Hos- pital into an ASC. Nashville-based Vanderbilt Health received approval to convert an existing building into a $19.95 million ASC. West Columbia, S.C.-based Lexington Medical Center gained approval to build an outpatient surgery center in Columbia, S.C., for $19.9 million. Fort Worth, Texas-based Medical City Alliance is build- ing an ASC to alleviate the caseload in its main operating rooms. n 3-practice partnership to expand outpatient cardiovascular care options in St. Louis By Eric Oliver S t. Louis Cardiovascular Institute, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center and Surgical Care Affiliates entered into a partnership to provide outpatient cardiovas- cular care throughout the St. Louis area, The News Herald reports. What you should know: 1. The Kirkwood, Mo.-based practices partnered with Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates. Neither party disclosed the terms of the transaction. 2. The partnership will focus on establishing outpatient cardiovascular, interventional and peripheral vascular sur- gical options in St. Louis, but the exact details of how the partnership will be rolled out were not provided. 3. SCLI performs intervention and peripheral vascular procedures and SLSSC specializes in cardiology and gas- troenterology procedures. n Colorado ASC loses 85% of cases to COVID-19 pandemic By Eric Oliver C olorado Springs, Colo.-based Audubon Surgery Center is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, but the decreased surgical caseload has been detri- mental to the center, local NBC affiliate KOAA reports. What you should know: 1. Michael Simpson, MD, president of the center's board of managers, said the ASC has lost up to 87 percent of its business during the pandemic. 2. He argued Gov. Jared Polis' ban on elective proce- dures has been an undue burden on the surgery center. He echoed sentiments from the American College of Surgeons, which recommended states leave the decision to postpone elective surgeries to clinicians. 3. While it weathers the storm, the ASC has made its personal protective equipment and ventilators available to area hospitals. n Tennessee surgery center seeks approval for joint venture — 4 insights By Eric Oliver S aint Thomas Health, United Surgical Partners Inter- national and Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance are seeking state approval to build a $14 million surgery center, Daily News Journal reports. Here's what you should know: 1. If approved, Westlawn Surgery Center will be in Mur- freesboro, Tenn. 2. Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health and Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International will jointly own no less than 50.1 percent of the center, while Nashville-based Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance will own no more than 49.9 percent of the center. 3. TOA will staff the center. 4. The Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency will rule on the certificate-of-need application in June. n