Becker's ASC Review

24 GASTROENTEROLOGY 18 New GI/endoscopy Centers That Opened in 2016 By Eric Oliver H ere are 18 new surgery centers that were opened or announced through- out 2016. Chicago-based Rush University Medical Cen- ter will open a $36.2 million outpatient health center in the South Loop. e center is offering gastroenterology services among several others. Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta phy- sicians and Physicians Endoscopy opened a new ambulatory surgery center, Augusta En- doscopy Center in Evans, Ga. New York-based Frontier Healthcare part- nered with ASMC physician group to open a new ASC in New York City. Providence Little Company of Mary and City of Hope are constructing a new ambulatory care center in Torrance, Calif. Among its 20 infusion center bays, 46 exam rooms and five surgical suites are two endoscopy suites. Lansing, Mich.-based Sparrow Health Sys- tem open a 70,000-square-foot center which offers radiology, endoscopy and primary care services. e New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council gave New York City- based Manhattan Endoscopy Center ap- proval for its permanent licensure. Affiliated Community Medical Cen- ters and Rice Memorial Hospital, both in Willmar, Minn., are building a new ambula- tory surgery center. e center offers outpa- tient surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy and pain management services. La Jolla, Calif.-based Scripps Clinic Medi- cal Group opened the John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion outpatient center. e center offers 17 different specialties including gastroenterology. Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates, a specialty physician practice, is opening an ambulatory surgery center next to its existing endoscopy center in Ballston, N.Y. Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital opened Center for Advanced Medi- cine South County in St. Louis. e facility offers internal medicine services. Gainesville, Fla.-based UF Health opened an $11 million outpatient children's surgical cen- ter including ENT, ophthalmology and gas- trointestinal services. Rapid City, S.D., issued a building permit to e Endoscopy Center. e center per- forms colonoscopies. Abilene, Texas-based Hendrick Medical Center and physicians in Abilene and Brown- wood, Texas, are creating a joint venture out- patient surgery center in Brownwood, offer- ing gastroenterology among other services. Elkhart (Ind.) General Hospital opened its $83 million surgery center expansion to pa- tients. e center features 10 surgery and en- doscopy suites. Noufal Jajeh, MD, opened a new practice, called Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Northwest Ohio in Sidney, Ohio. Southlake-based Texas Digestive Disease Con- sultants opened a new location in Cedar Park. e Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Cottage Children's Medical Center recently opened its new multispecialty pediatric clinics. Gas- troenterology, hematology and endocrinol- ogy are grouped together in one building. Salem (Ohio) Regional Medical Center is planning a $6 million renovation project of its endoscopy unit. n Korean Scientists Develop Artificial Liver for Human Transplants By Eric Oliver A team of Korea-based Seoul National University and Kangwon National University scientists developed an artificial liver based on the pig liver for use in human transplants, the Korea Business Wire reports. The project started in 2012 to combat the leading cause of death in Korea, liver cancer. The only refractory liver disease treatment was transplanta- tion, which was difficult in Korea because of the low donation rates. Korean officials expect the artificial liver could alleviate the organ deficiencies after further development. The artificial liver is similar to an actual human liver in struc- ture and function as it is free of retroviruses.The researchers feel when combined induced pluripotent stem cells, the liver could be available for treatment in the coming years. n BCBS Gives Cologuard Positive Review: 3 Key Notes By Eric Oliver B lue Cross Blue Shield Association's Center for Clinical Effectiveness positively reviewed Madi- son, Wis.-based Exact Sciences' Cologuard, a fe- cal-based colonoscopy alternative. Here's what you need to know. 1. The association represents 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. 2. Approximately two-thirds of all BCBS companies cov- er Cologuard. 3. Exact Sciences CEO Kevin Conroy said the review "affirms that Cologuard has a positive impact on health outcomes and provides additional support for the remaining plans to offer their members our patient- friendly non-invasive colon cancer screening option." n

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