The Surgery Center of Oklahoma opened 14 years ago this month. Dr. Steven Lantier and I actually made the deal for the purchase on a hunting trip with Health South execs we did not know were going to be there. Originally there were 12 partners and many challenges. We performed two surgeries our first day, the 28th of May, the first a nasolacrimal duct probe on a 1 year old little girl, the second that afternoon a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our initial goal for year one was to average 10 cases a day. Within 6 weeks of opening we had passed that number. At the end of the first year we were consistently performing 250 cases/month. By the end of the second year we were performing 300 cases/month consistently. We resisted the urge and temptation to add partners to quickly increase our volume of cases. By 2002, the facility was bursting at the seams and 400 case months were not uncommon. This was becoming increasingly difficult on the staff as we only had 3 operating rooms. The partnership made the decision to build our current facility and we moved in Valentine’s weekend, February, 2003. Performing large case numbers in a small facility and moving to our new facility would not have been possible without our fine staff. I have never worked with a more dedicated group of individuals. My next post is dedicated entirely to the staff of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma.
G. Keith Smith, M.D.
Congrats, and here’s to another 14 years. I count myself a satisfied customer (patient).
Comment by Brandon Dutcher — May 14, 2011 @ 2:45 am
Brandon, thanks for your support. Maybe together we can bring some free market medicine to health care.
G. Keith Smith, M.D.
Comment by surgerycenterok — May 15, 2011 @ 1:10 pm