Healthcare provider Banner Health is partnering with the Phoenix VA Health Care System on a public/private partnership that plans to help expedite surgical care to thousands of veterans in the Phoenix area.
It’s hoped the public/private partnership will help expedite care to Veterans requiring outpatient surgery by providing VA physicians an additional surgical facility in which to perform surgeries.
Nearly 2,500 surgeries per year are expected to be performed at the SurgiCenter by VA physicians over the span of the five-year agreement.
“We are very excited about this new partnership with Banner Health. Our goal is to provide timely and outstanding health care to Phoenix veterans,” said Deborah Amdur, director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System. “This new initiative is part of our overall plan to improve access to care for veterans by providing additional operating room space and capacity, and expanding the outpatient surgery services for the veterans we are privileged to serve. This, in turn, increases operating room availability at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center for inpatient surgeries. We look forward to continue finding new, innovative ways to partner with community health care providers in delivering services to Phoenix area veterans.”
More than two dozen physicians with the Phoenix VA Health Care System, including surgeons and anesthesiologists, will perform surgeries at the Banner outpatient surgery center. Examples of the types of outpatient surgeries that will be performed include orthopedic surgery, gynecological surgery, podiatric surgery and general surgery procedures. Clinical, technical, and administrative staff employed by Banner Health will support the delivery of care.
Bob Thunberg, chief executive officer of Banner Surgery Centers and an Army veteran, said Banner feels privileged to be part of this unique and innovative partnership, which could serve as a model for similar partnerships across the country.
“Most of all, we’re just thankful for the opportunity to work alongside the VA to help provide our servicemen and women the care they need,” he said.
