PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heart of America Surgery Center, LLC

913-334-8935    Admin@hoasc1.com

Heart of America Surgery Center, LLC of Kansas City Receives AAAHC Accreditation

Kansas City, Kansas – June 17, 2008- Heart of America Surgery Center has received a three year accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC/Accreditation Association).  Accreditation distinguishes this surgical center from many other outpatient surgical facilities by providing a safe work environment and the highest quality of care to patients.

Status as an accredited organization means Heart of America Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, set by the Accreditation Association.  More than 3,600 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC.  Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all undergoing the on-site survey are granted accreditation.

“We believe our patients deserve the best,” stated Mark Mikkelsen, Administrator of Heart of America Surgery Center.  “When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that the AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures.  It means that we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest care possible.  We live by our motto, ‘We don’t meet the Standards, We set them’.”

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the Accreditation Association’s expert surveyors – volunteer physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care.  The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

“Going through the process challenged us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our first responsibility is to our patients and the quality of care we provide, “said Mikkelsen.

AAAHC accreditation is specifically for organizations that provide diagnostic or medical care on an outpatient basis – where an overnight stay would not be required.

Heart of America Surgery Center, LLC is a for-profit multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center that opened in 1999 as a partnership between Providence Medical Center and Kansas Specialty Physicians, LLC.The surgical specialties are ENT (ear, nose and throat), General Surgery, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic, Plastic, Podiatry and Pain Management.  The Center is located at 8935 State Ave. Kansas City, Kansas and can be contracted at 913-334-8935 or through our website, www.hoasc1.com.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC/Accreditation Association), founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 3,600 organizations accredited nationwide.  The AAAHC accredits a variety of ambulatory health care organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, college student health centers, and large medical and dental practices.  The Accreditation Association serves as an advocate for the provision of high quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs.  AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies and the public.