AUSTIN NEUROSURGICAL INSTITUTE STARTS PERFORMING OUT-PATIENT SPINE PROCEDURES AT CEDAR PARK SURGERY CENTER

Austin, Texas (May 19, 2011) – A leading Austin neurological surgeon will become the first in the region to perform a popular form of spine surgery on an out-patient basis.

Dr. Thomas Loftus, founder of the Austin Neurosurgical Institute and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery of Austin, has formed a new alliance with the Cedar Park Surgery Center (CPSC) to perform minimally invasive spine procedures on an out-patient basis Dr. Loftus is well known and respected for his minimally invasive approach to spine surgery. One of the newest minimally invasive spine procedures is called a “T-LIF,” which offers patients a more minimally-invasive incision when performing surgery on a small portion of the spine. The procedure treats degenerative lumbar discs or instability of the spine, thereby removing and relieving pressure and pain associated with the lower-back region and pain radiating down the leg(s).

Dr. Loftus has been performing minimally invasive spine procedures in the Austin area since launching the Austin Neurosurgical Institute in 2003. Until now, he has performed the procedure in a hospital environment, because it often required patients to remain for at least one overnight stay. Thanks to the new technology and more efficient environment created at the Cedar Park Surgery Center, Dr. Loftus is able to perform the procedure on an out-patient basis, or one where the patient is discharged in less than 24 hours after a procedure is performed. The first procedure of this kind to be performed at an outpatient center in the Austin area is scheduled to take place in May.

“The Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery Center of Austin continues to lead Austin in the advancement of true minimally-invasive spine surgery, and partnering with CPSC to perform lumbar fusions in an outpatient setting that is safe, comfortable, and effective is another giant step forward for our community,” says Dr. Loftus.

The new Cedar Park Surgery Center is a licensed ambulatory surgery center (ASC) featuring five operating rooms in 10,000 square feet of medical office space. It opened in late February. The center is operated by Austin-based Arise Healthcare and accommodates orthopedic, gynecology, urologic, general surgical, spine and pain surgical procedures. The Cedar Park location marks the fifteenth project for Arise Healthcare, whose projects span Houston, Dallas and Central Texas.

“Surgery centers like CPSC benefit patients and the medical community for two primary reasons: lower costs and better care by featuring the latest in technology, high nurse-to-patient ratios and higher patient satisfaction scores,” said Jared Leger, RN and CEO and managing partner of Arise Healthcare. “We made a special point to invest in the latest cutting-edge technology to enable surgeons like Dr. Loftus to perform minimally-invasive procedures at our center.”

Today, more than 70 percent of surgeries in the United States are performed in the outpatient setting, and one out of five of those are performed at an ASC, according to the Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society.

About Arise Healthcare
Arise Healthcare owns, manages, and develops healthcare facilities and healthcare care related businesses. Our team of professionals have decades of experience managing healthcare businesses. This includes clinical services, finance, and operations of numerous successful healthcare facilities. For more information, visit: www.arisehealthcare.com.

About Austin Neurosurgical Institute
The Austin Neurosurgical Institute offers a full range of surgical treatments for disorders of the spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. We have a special commitment to using the latest advancements in the field of neurosurgery to achieve the best-possible long-term outcome for our patients. We specialize in new, less-invasive techniques which promote a quicker, less painful recovery. For more information, visit: www.austinneurosurgery.com.

 

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