Surgical Care Affiliates Announces Agreement With Saint Joseph Health System, Catholic Health Initiatives

LEXINGTON, Ky., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA), one of the country's largest providers of specialty surgical services, announced today it has entered into a formal agreement with Saint Joseph Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives to enhance ambulatory surgical services in the Lexington, Ky. area.

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Under the agreement, Saint Joseph and Catholic Health Initiatives has purchased an interest in the general partnership that operates the Lexington Surgery Center. The center, which will continue to be managed by SCA, will be jointly owned by Saint Joseph, the center's physician partners and SCA. Dozens of physicians use the center for procedures in gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, ENT/otolaryngology, podiatry, general surgery and other specialties.

"Partnering with SCA allows us to continue to align our interest with that of our medical staff," said Mark Streety, Chief Innovation Officer for Saint Joseph Health System. "This investment in a high quality surgical venue further enhances the service we provide to our surgical patients and physician partners."

"We are also exploring the possibility of investing in other surgery centers in the Lexington market and the rest of Kentucky to provide outstanding clinical outcomes for patients," Streety added.

Andrew Hayek, President and Chief Executive Officer of SCA, said, "We are honored to be selected to enter into this relationship with the Saint Joseph system and Catholic Health Initiatives. We believe this relationship will improve healthcare in Kentucky and other areas, and further position SCA as the partner of choice for health systems and physicians."

About Surgical Care Affiliates:

Surgical Care Affiliates is committed to being the partner of choice for physicians, hospitals, and health systems in delivering high-quality surgical services. SCA's centers operate with outstanding clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. SCA operates 126 ambulatory surgery centers and surgical hospitals across the country with approximately 3,700 full-time teammates and approximately 2,000 physician partners. For more information on SCA, visit www.scasurgery.com.

About Saint Joseph Health System:

Saint Joseph Health System is a 1,011-bed, eight-facility health care system that spans central and eastern Kentucky. Saint Joseph Health System (serving our communities for more than 130 years) is a member of Catholic Health Initiatives, the nation's second-largest Catholic health care system. Visit www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org for further information.

SOURCE Surgical Care Affiliates