Wilmington Health recently received approval from the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation to expand its ambulatory surgery center.

The expansion will allow multiple specialty surgical services “to now be performed within the facility,” Wilmington Health CEO Jeff James said in a news release.

Specialty services impacted by the expansion will include general surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry, ENT, orthopedics and urology, officials said.

With the expansion, outpatient surgical services that would now require a trip to the hospital or hospital outpatient department will be able to be performed at Wilmington Health’s 1202 Medical Center Drive location, James said.

“Changes to the health care delivery system, like greater utilization of ambulatory surgery centers, are a big step in reducing the cost of care for both the patient and the health care system,” James said. “As an accountable care organization, we have a responsibility to reduce costs wherever possible. This new facility allows us to do just that.”  

Data published by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) based on 2012 Medicare data shows that hospital and hospital affiliated departments are paid close to double – 172 percent – for the same procedures compared with ambulatory surgery centers.

Wilmington Health administrators said that a very common procedure like an upper GI endoscopy, which can be used for biopsies or to treat ulcers, could cost up to $320 more per procedure at a hospital outpatient department.

Wilmington Health will also open up access to the facility to other health care providers in the area, officials said.

“Consistent with our vision to be the most trusted partner in healthcare, we see this as a community resource,” Philip Brown, vascular surgeon and Wilmington Health board president, said in a statement. “It has been our commitment to develop collaborative and innovative solutions that demonstrate quality, reduce the cost of care and improve the overall patient experience. Having our own ambulatory surgery center represents another major step toward fulfilling our pledge to the patients and physicians we serve.”