Penn State Health to build network of ambulatory surgery centers through new partnership

Penn State Health plans to develop a network of ambulatory surgical centers across the midstate through a partnership with a Leawood, Kansas-based ambulatory surgical group.

The Hershey-based health system announced on Monday that it will be partnering with ValueHealth LLC, a nationally recognized surgical platform company, to create a number of orthopedics-focused centers with the ability to expand to include other surgical specialties over time.

ValueHealth operates ambulatory surgical centers in over 30 states. The network of ambulatory surgery centers will use a digital surgical platform currently used in over 30 health systems. The platform includes patient steerage, payor bundles and warranty contracts.

“In the months ahead, Penn State Health and ValueHealth will work together with our own physicians – and several private practices – to analyze the clinical needs of these communities, and identify appropriate sites and services,” said Scott Gilbert, team lead of public relations and multimedia at Penn State Health. “We will share details regarding each ambulatory surgical center as plans materialize.”

Tom Stoessel, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Penn State Health, said that the partnership will allow Penn State Health to continue its strategic vision for south central Pennsylvania.

“Based on what ValueHealth has been able to accomplish with other leading Health Systems across the country, we believe they are the right partner to help us deliver our vision for ambulatory surgical care to patients in our region,” Stoessel said.

Penn State Health currently operates the Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgical center on the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Campus. Gilbert said there are currently no plans to make any changes at the center to stay in line with the Penn State Health and Value Health partnership.