Opened: April 2004
Annual case volume: 16,700 cases
Specialties: Includes orthopedics, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, general surgery, GI, ENT, podiatry, urology, oral/dental, pain management and gynecology
Number of physician investors/physician users: 36 physician investors/78 physician users
Hospital partner: Munson Medical Center
What makes it great: The reasons why staff members of Northwest Michigan Surgery Center think the ambulatory surgery center is a great place to work for may vary, but each explanation speaks volumes about the ASC’s commitment to the people it employs and serves.
For Tina Piotrowski, RN, BSN, clinical director, it’s the outstanding staff and their dedication to quality and care. “I am fortunate to have a large group of staff that not only provide exceptional care to our patients, but are also genuinely good people and employees who want to be here,” she says. “It is not unusual for staff members to go out of their way to provide customer service to our patients, families and physicians, in a way that is above and beyond what would be normally expected.”
She also notes the ASC’s 401(k) profit sharing plan that, in essence, makes each employee a “stakeholder” in the success of the center. “It’s this culture of giving and working reciprocally that sets our center apart,” she says.
For Gayle Bultsma, RN, CAPA, pre-/post-op team leader, she points to the patient feedback the ASC has received as justification for why NMSC is a top-notch center to receive care and a great place to work. “Our patient surveys speak loud and clear to the quality and care that our employees provide to the people in our community — ‘expediency and efficiency blended with care and professionalism;’ ‘friendly and courteous staff;’ and ‘well-organized’ are just a few of the comments we routinely receive,” she says. “Our staff does an outstanding job of assessing a patient’s needs and providing exceptional care, while always adding a ‘human touch’ that cannot be beat.”
She is also proud of the ASC’s involvement with the community, citing participation in local community activities such as the National Cherry Festival Run (while wearing T-shirts with the ASC’s logo) and volunteering at the state theatre, on the YMCA board, at career fairs and at the local Rotary.
For Jim Bertoldi, controller, he also notes how NMSC gives back to Michigan. “The NMSC’s community benefit is an enormous percent of our budget,” he says. “We provided over $300,000 in charity care and bad debt relief, paid $1.62 million in taxes (federal and state) and saved patients, Medicaid, Medicare, employers and commercial payors 40 percent in outpatient surgery expenses.”
