09/09/2024

CASA Awards 20 ASCs with the CASA Award for ASC Excellence

Sequoia Surgical Pavilion Honored with the CASA ASC of the Year Award

On Thursday, September 5, 2024, CASA revealed the recipients of the 2024 CASA Award for ASC Excellence and the CASA ASC of the Year.  The awards were established to acknowledge that California ASCs are drivers of excellent healthcare, providing opportunities and solutions for healthcare reform.  In 2016, the CASA Board established the CASA Award for ASC Excellence as a mechanism to honor ASCs who strive to “rise to the top.” The program is built around 5 pillar categories acknowledging a CASA member facility that exemplifies best practices in the surgery center industry, plus actively promotes and advocates for ASC excellence and inclusion in the healthcare delivery system.

All of the centers recognized demonstrated significant involvements in the award pillar areas of:

• Membership – Facility supports the ASC industry through active engagement in professional organizations.
• Advocacy – Facility drives ASC-related legislation at both the Federal and State levels through education, action and financial contributions.
• Quality Metrics – Facility drives transparency and clinical quality in the ASC through facility benchmarking and public reporting and superior performance of important metrics including outcomes, pricing, and patient satisfaction.
• Education – Facility ensures clinical best practices, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance through ongoing patient, staff and physician education.
• Community Involvement – Facility is actively engaged in educating the public regarding the benefits of ASCs and demonstrating leadership in improving the general health of their community.

The recipients submitted applications with supporting documentation demonstrating their commitment and involvement across the pillar categories.  The applications were reviewed by a select, unbiased committee, who chose 20 of the candidates to receive the award.  From these outstanding ASCs, one was selected to receive the distinguished award of CASA ASC of the Year.  The winners were announced at the CASA Conference, September 5, 2024, for their outstanding efforts and commitment during the pandemic.

CASA ASC of the Year

Sequoia Surgical Pavilion

CASA President Oren Shill and Marie Yarborough, Sequoia Surgical Pavilion Administrator

Founded in 1999, Sequoia Surgical Pavilion has excelled in orthopedic surgery and pain management, performing approximately 8,000 procedures annually. They have received AAAHC Certification in Advanced Orthopedics Total Joint Replacement. Sequoia Surgical Pavilion is involved in advocacy, hosting legislative tours and attending the ASCA "Fly-In" to advocate for the ASC sector. In 2023, they were awarded Leapfrog’s Top ASC Award and were voted the "Best Ambulatory Surgery Center for Orthopedics and Spine" by U.S. News & World Report. They actively drive quality metrics through CASA, ASCA, and the AAOS/AJRR. Sequoia is committed to staff excellence through ongoing education, certification, and specialization. The center is deeply involved in the community, earning the honor of “Best in the East Bay” for multiple years. Their leadership and staff have contributed to several periodicals, including ASC Focus Magazine and Becker's ASC Review, and they actively participate in professional development and patient education.

2024 CASA Award for ASC Excellence Winners

Briggsmore Surgery Center

Michelle Zontine-Ceniceros,Nursing Supervisor and Rusty Marsh, Executive Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division

Coastal Surgical Institute

Nancy Steffora, Administrator and Sharon Burton, Director of Nursing

East Bay Endoscopy Center

CASA President Oren Shill and Amy Kang RN BSN, Charge Nurse

Fort Sutter Surgery Center

CASA President Oren Shill and Jerry Williams Materials Manager

Linden Surgical Center

Joey Anda, Manager, Affiliate Quality, Denise “Robyn” Regis, Quality Coordinator, Benita Tapia, Administrator,  Casey Ryan RN BSN, Andy Ball, Chief Executive Carla Mezan, Manager, Business Office

Mid Peninsula Endoscopy Center

Chi Hulegaard, Patient Service Manager, Geronimo Jimenez, Administrator, Rizzalyn Camacho, Director of Nursing

Mission Surgery Center

Katie Johnson, PACU Supervisor, Allen Covey, Charge RN, Tersa Lech, Regional Director of ASCs - CA and Kelly Veals, Business Office Manager

North Bay Regional Surgery Center

CASA President Oren Shill and Dale Drost, Site Administrator

North Coast Surgery Center

Brittany Grayson, Director of Nursing, Jordan Thau, Vice President of Operations SCA Health, and Kallen Hoover, Chief Executive Officer

Presidio Surgery Center

Mary Flynn, PACU Manager and Tori Correiar-Allera, Director of Nursing 

San Leandro Surgery Center

Jeanne Linda, Administrator and Rusty Marsh, Executive Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division

Santa Rosa Surgery and Endoscopy Center

Calei Ruggels, Clinical Director of Ambulatory Services and Shawna Sewell, Administrator

Sequoia Surgical Pavilion

Tim Bautista, Materials Manager, Marie Yarborough, Administrator,  Amanda Morales, Clinical Director, Gina Varela, Business Office Manager

Surgery Center Fremont

Shogofa Zamon, EHS Manager and Kristi McCarthy, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division

Surgery Center Los Altos

Kristi McCarthy, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division and Brent Mitchell, Administrator 

Surgery Center Mountain View

Kristy McCarthy, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division and Bessie Gessner, Interim Director, Area Operations

Surgery Center Palo Alto

 Kristy McCarthy, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division and David Sakariassen, Administrator 

Surgery Center San Carlos

 Adrianna Clark, Administrator and Kristy McCarthy, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation Stockton Surgery Center

Denise Pogue, Administrator and Rusty Marsh, Executive, Operations, Sutter Health Surgery Center Division

Walnut Creek Endoscopy & Surgery Center

CASA President Oren Shill and Shannon McSwain, Clinical Charge Nurse