Author: Patsy Newitt

Gastroenterologist Patrick Okolo, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer of Sonoma Valley Hospital in Sonoma, Calif., according to the hospital’s October 2025 board letter. Dr. Okolo previously served as executive medical director and chief of gastroenterology at Rochester Regional…

Joe Peluso, administrator at Aestique Surgery Center in Greensburg, Pa., joined Becker’s to discuss how proposed federal legislation — including H.R. 879 and S. 1640 — and CMS’ 2026 payment system reforms could stabilize physician reimbursements, advance site-neutral payments, and…

Here are five updates on the growth of Pearland, Texas-based Kelsey-Seybold Clinic since July 1: 1. Kelsey-Seybold plans to build a two-story, 34,000-square-foot clinic in Fresno, Texas, according to an Oct. 14 news release. The facility, expected to open in…

ASCs continue to face complex regulatory scrutiny under federal anti-kickback and fraud laws, even as they operate outside certain Stark law restrictions.  A recent Minnesota Lawyer article and guidance from the Federal Bar Association’s Turning Square Corners newsletter outline how…

Shaun Cartwright was recently named chief operating officer of HCA Healthcare’s ASC division, Surgery Ventures, where he will oversee 150 ASCs across 16 states and involve around 3,400 physician partners. Mr. Cartwright joined Becker’s to discuss his new role.  Question:…

ASC leaders are entering 2026 with measured optimism, expecting financial performance to remain steady or improve despite ongoing cost pressures, according to a VMG Health survey released Oct. 9.  VMG Health surveyed 97 ASC leaders in September from both independently…

Here are five major partnerships or acquisitions shaping the GI industry: 1. Exton, Pa.-based U.S. Digestive Health was acquired by Optum’s SCA Health in early 2025. The platform includes 24 ASCs, 40 practice sites and more than 250 providers across…

Pentax Medical has sold its C2 CryoBalloon technology, a minimally invasive tool for treating gastrointestinal conditions, to Merit Medical Systems, according to an Oct. 15 news release. The transaction supports Pentax Medical’s focus on flexible reusable endoscopy, allowing the company…

Median total cash compensation for physicians — including base salary and incentives — rose more sharply this year than at any point in the past decade, according to SullivanCotter’s 2025 Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey. The survey analyzed data from…

While anesthesiologists play a vital role in ASC operations, they are rarely at the helm.  Christina Menor, MD, president of the California Society of Anesthesiologists, joined Becker’s to discuss the barriers keeping anesthesiologists out of leadership roles in ASCs, and…