Wooster Ambulatory Surgery Center celebrates 15 years
The Wooster Ambulatory Surgery Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month. Team members include office manager Tonya Chisler, front left, and administrator Amanda Massoni; back row, Drs. Vincent Jabour, Jeffrey Zackary, Kevin Mathur, Michael Knapic and Rodney Miller.
Most area residents have probably either been a patient at the Wooster Ambulatory Surgery Center or know someone who has.
WASC, which is located at 3373 Commerce Parkway, Suite 1, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month.
“I think it’s a momentous occasion,” said Dr. Michael Knapic, WASC medical director and orthopedic surgeon. “I’m extremely excited and proud that WASC is celebrating its 15-year anniversary.
“When WASC first started, it was definitely a risky proposition. However, I was confident it would eventually succeed due to the quality of the physicians and the staff involved.”
Knapic and 10 other doctors took a leap of faith and formed WASC in 2008. The other founding doctors were Vincent Jabour, Rodney Miller, Vincent Fiorita, James Gesler, Richard Ransom, Amelia Laing, Kevin Mathur, Arun Mathur, Jason Suppan and Larry Stern.
The goal was to create an outpatient surgery center with which they’d be happy to treat their own families or even each other.
WASC continues to grow and provides care to nearly 5,000 patients annually.
In addition to Knapic being the medical director, the governing board includes Dr. Vincent Jabour (board president and gastroenterologist), Dr. Jeffrey Zackary (anesthesiologist and pain management), Dr. Rodney Miller (orthopedics) and Dr. Kevin Mathur (ear, nose and throat). Other physician owners include Drs. Juan Proano, Christopher Wartmann, Sireesha Clark, Larry Stern and Steven Widmer.
While there are 10 physician owners of WASC, many others have privileges and provide services there on a regular basis.
“There was little doubt that WASC would be successful,” Jabour said. “The original independent doctors who started this project were committed to providing excellent healthcare in the community.
“The only unknown was how the insurance carriers would view WASC. It’s obvious today that all the major insurance carriers have embraced us, as we provide quality care at a discounted price.”
WASC handles elective surgeries and procedures for everything from ear, nose and throat to urology, pain management, orthopedics, endoscopy and eyes. More information about other included specialties can be found on their website at www.woostersurgerycenter.com.
“We provide a wide range of specialties,” said WASC administrator Amanda Massoni, BSN, RN. “It’s a complete team effort, with a staff of 34 that includes 20 nurses as well as clinical and nonclinical personnel.
“It really takes everyone working together to give the patient the best experience possible, from checking in at the front desk, to making sure they understand the financial and insurance information, to getting them ready for the procedure and making sure they’re comfortable with the details surrounding the surgery. After all that preparation, on the actual day of surgery, we try our best to make sure it’s a great experience. We want our patients to see friendly faces, get the best care at the bedside, and be able to return home and get back to their normal life as soon as possible.”
WASC’s emergence as a trusted name in area medicine has coincided with great advancements in surgery over the past 15 years.
“When I first became a nurse, patients getting joint replacements would mainly stay in the hospital for several days, then go to a rehab facility for at least a week or more before returning home,” Massoni said. “I think it’s amazing to see people get up and walk out of here after having a major surgery like that. That’s probably the coolest thing that stands out to me.”
Many Wayne and surrounding county residents might take it for granted what a luxury it is to have outpatient surgeries or procedures without having to make a long drive or visit a hospital. Seeing repeat patients and referrals lets the WASC team know they’re appreciated.
“We get patients in and out fairly quickly compared to a hospital setting where they could also be exposed to contagious diseases,” Massoni said. “Our patients love coming back because we have a great reputation in the community with the caring staff, professionalism of the doctors and quality care we provide.”