Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville made history yesterday as it became the first hospital in Georgia to receive accreditation as a Center of Excellence in both Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery. Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an internationally recognized patient safety organization, recognized NGMC for its dedication to delivering safe, effective and evidence-based patient care through its independent, external process of evaluation.
“Our physicians and staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center have always placed patient safety at the forefront,” says Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “Earning this accreditation for both robotic and hernia surgery reiterates our commitment to consistently deliver the safest, highest-quality surgical care to our patients.”
Healthcare organizations and surgeons seeking accreditation by SRC undergo a rigorous site inspection and self-assessment. This process includes physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in the accredited program. The inspection is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization or surgeon improve its care and services.
“This designation helps our patients throughout the region and state identify specific providers who have met SRC’s nationally recognized standards for top quality care,” says Andrew Green, MD, medical director of the Robotic Surgical Program at NGMC. “I’m proud of the team we have built and the level of expertise we’re able to offer our patients close to home.”
Additionally, SRC recognized nine NGMC physicians as Surgeons of Excellence in Robotic Surgery:
- Fernando Aycinena, MD, Longstreet Clinic
- Geary D. Bush, MD, Longstreet Clinic
- Chad M. Copper, MD, Longstreet Clinic
- Andrew E. Green, MD, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Gynecologic Oncology
- Ronald C. Lewis, MD, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates
- Daniel A. Mullis, MD, Longstreet Clinic
- Alex C. Nguyen, MD, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates
- Robert L. Richard, MD, Longstreet Clinic
- Keshma Saujani, MD, Longstreet Clinic
Of these, five surgeons also earned distinction as Surgeons of Excellence in Hernia Surgery: Drs. Bush, Copper, Lewis, Mullis and Nguyen.
“We’re proud to recognize Northeast Georgia Medical Center as a Center of Excellence in both Robotic and Hernia Surgery for their commitment to providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. “This accreditation signals that the facility and its surgeons are among the best in the specialty and are dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”
In addition to providing advanced surgical services for its patients, NGMC also serves as one of the leading robotic surgery teaching facilities for other surgeons and staff across the U.S.
To learn more about robotic surgery at NGMC, visit www.nghs.com/robotic-surgery. For more information about SRC and the accreditation process, visit surgicalreview.org.