Since 1984, ASCOA’s founders have helped physician-owners start and operate successful facilities – from the initial feasibility study to accreditation to daily management of the center. Having established successful ophthalmic practices in Massachusetts and operating multiple ASCs, the principals were already seasoned experts in surgery center operations. In 1997, Tom Bombardier, MD, FACS, Brent Lambert, MD, FACS and George Violin, MD, FACS formed ASCOA. They established the corporate headquarters in the Boston metropolitan area supporting the network of Massachusetts centers. The same year Luke Lambert, MBA, CASC, joined the company as CFO. With a broad background in strategy, finance and operations, he provided critical fiscal leadership for the new company. In 2002 he assumed the role of CEO and was among the first in the industry to earn the Certified Administrator Surgery Center (CASC) credentialed designation.

The majority of ASCOA’s early centers were de novo or new construction developments. These centers spanned from New England to Florida across to Texas and to California. The business model was so successful, many of the early centers were sold to larger holding companies. The new millenium also brought ASCOA’s first hospital joint venture center at Waltham, MA. The company invested heavily in its operations and financial staff to implement the ASCOA model across a growing network of centers. By 2005, ASCOA had one of the largest and most seasoned development teams in the country. As the industry began to reach critical mass in the middle 2000s, ASCOA saw the opportunity to help the staggering number of ASCs that were unprofitable or at break even performance. Through the next several years, ASCOA continued to form de novo centers as well as became known in the industry as The Turnaround Experts®. ASCOA’s turnaround success took centers from capital calls to profit distributions in as little as 90 days.

As healthcare reform continued to put pressure on hospital systems to deliver lower cost care, ASCOA found its expertise had major value for more surgical joint ventures with hospitals. Many of the new projects since 2009 have been joint ventures. ASCOA’s volume of experience brings unique value to hospitals and systems that want the surgery center to contribute more positively to outcomes data and net revenue. No company has developed or turned around more centers than ASCOA, and the company has formed hospital joint ventures in the country’s most competitive markets. Most of ASCOA’s competition have a third of the total ASC experience that it does. The company has proven to be the key partner to maximize value for surgeons and hospital administration alike.

Today ASCOA currently operates 14 facilities across the country with several others in development. Physicians looking to start a new surgery center, form a joint venture with a hospital or improve the performance of an existing center will benefit from ASCOA’s vast, proven experience.