NORTHSTAR NEWS
Great Surgery Center to Work For: Texas' NorthStar Surgical Center
01/07/11
Great Surgery Center to Work For: Texas' NorthStar Surgical Center
By Jaimie Oh | January 07, 2011
Name: NorthStar Surgical Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Opened: April 2001
Annual case volume: 9,000 cases
Specialties: ENT, pain management, gastroenterology, orthopedics, hand surgery, urology, general surgery, lithotripsy, anesthesiology, podiatry, plastic surgery and ophthalmology
Number of physician owners/physician users: 36 physician-owners, 100 members on medical staff
Corporate partner: Symbion
What makes it great: NorthStar Surgical Center, accredited by The Joint Commission since 2003, prioritizes service by giving back to the local community and world at large. Service opportunities at NorthStar are manifested in many ways, including medical mission trips to Mexico, Honduras, Africa and Thailand. NorthStar physician-partners and employees also serve as board and committee members for local and national organizations, such as Parkridge Pregnancy Center, First Baptist Church, American Cancer Society, Lubbock Christian School, National Kidney Foundation and more.
The center also makes itself available as a teaching partner for the healthcare community by serving as a rotation facility for clinical training programs through Covenant School of Nursing, Texas Tech University School of Nursing and the South Plains College Surgical Technology programs. A number of NorthStar employees also volunteer as mentors for local high school students interested in a career in healthcare through the Groundhog Day Shadow Program.
"At NorthStar, we feel an obligation and an accountability to give back and impact the community as a whole," says John Brock, administrator of NorthStar.
In addition to giving back to the community, NorthStar is focused on delivering high quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. The center also consistently maintains high physician and patient satisfaction, which is demonstrated through satisfaction surveys that surpass industry and company benchmarks.
"This is where I want to end my nursing career," says Vicki Ball, RN, director of nursing. "In my seven years here, I've found this to be the one facility where I can be the best nurse that I can be because at NorthStar we are empowered to be the best we can be."
