Becker's ASC Review

58 GASTROENTEROLOGY North Carolina gastroenterology practice mandating coronavirus vaccine for employees By Patsy Newitt C harlotte (N.C.) Gastroenterology & Hepatology will re- quire employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 31, The Charlotte Observer reported. Six other Charlotte medical practices also are requiring the vaccine, including Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center, Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat Associates, OrthoCarolina, Surgical Special- ists of Charlotte and Tryon Medical Partners. The decision comes after Charlotte-based Atrium Health and Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health announced that vaccines would be mandatory for staff, spurring hundreds of healthcare workers to protest against the requirement. n PE firm acquires California GI medical office building, ASC By Patsy Newitt P rivate equity firm IRA Capital acquired the Gen- esis Center for Digestive Health in Bettendorf, Iowa, the company said Aug. 3. The 14,000-square-foot ASC features three operating rooms and a full gastroenterology clinic. The center previously was occupied by Gastroenter- ology Associates, which became part of Davenport, Iowa-based Genesis Health in June, according to IRA Capital. The property is located on a healthcare campus an- chored by three Genesis Health properties. n 3 PE GI-affiliated endoscopy centers snag accreditation By Patsy Newitt T hree endoscopy centers affiliated with private equity-backed PE GI Solutions received ac- creditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, PE GI said Aug. 5. Here are the three centers that received accreditation: 1. The Digestive Disease and Endoscopy Center in Silverdale, Wash. The center features six physicians. 2. South Broward Endoscopy in Cooper City, Fla. The center features nine providers. 3. Access Surgery Center in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. This is the center's third time receiving accredi- tation. n Mercy Health adds specialized endoscopy suite in $3.1M project By Patsy Newitt P aducah, Ky.-based Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital added a specialized endoscopy suite and a new 2,600-square-foot operating room in a $3.1 million project, The Paducah Sun reported July 28. The specialized endoscopy room will allow for more ad- vanced procedures like endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound. The endoscopy room design will help maximize patient safety during more complex cases, hospital officials told the Sun. The new operating room will help the staff maneuver more easily during advanced, robotic-assisted procedures. n 5 fast facts on Gastro Health's CEO By Patsy Newitt Joseph Garcia has been the CEO of Miami-based Gastro Health since February 2018. Five things to know: 1. Mr. Garcia previously served as CEO of Sage Dental for more than four years. Under his leadership, the group expanded from 20 prac- tices to more than 60 in Florida and Georgia. 2. Before joining Sage Dental, Mr. Garcia was COO of 21st Century Oncology for more than two years and division vice president at DaVita for almost four years. 3. Mr. Garcia received a BSBA and an MBA from Omaha, Neb.-based Creighton University. 4. Under Mr. Garcia's leadership, in the last three months, Gastro Health has acquired two locations in Florida and a seven-physician practice in Virginia, and secured a $90 million investment from Pen- fund, a Toronto-based fund management company. 5. Gastro Health has more than 270 affiliated physicians, more than 100 locations and more than six states with centers. n

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