Hospital officials say that with the added overnight stay, the center would be a hospital under Missouri legal definitions and should have to comply with hospital regulations, which it currently does not. The officials say the center would also have an unfair competitive advantage and be able to “cherry pick” paying, healthy patients, driving poor, uninsured and seriously ill patients to the hospital.
Before the surgery center could open, the state will have to decide whether it qualifies as an ASC or a hospital.
The property was already zoned for commercial use, including medical offices, but a new ordinance would specifically allow patients to stay overnight for observation after surgeries. George Paletta, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, plans to use the space for Regeneration Orthopedics, which would perform around 12 surgeries each week. He expects about six patients to stay up to three nights for observation after surgeries.
Dr. Paletta is a partner in the orthopedic practice and a member of the Orthopedic Center of St. Louis, as well as a team physician for the St. Louis Cardinals.
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