Testimonials

“to develop relationships and share resources unique to surgery centers in Arkansas”

“I joined AASA to develop relationships and share resources unique to surgery centers in Arkansas, to stay abreast of the latest regulatory changes and interpretations of current and new regulations, to be involved and stay informed of ambulatory surgery center current affairs in Arkansas and to have a voice and share concerns/ideas with others in similar environment.

I really enjoy the guest speakers and monthly meetings (the HIPPA speaker we had this year was fantastic) and I love the opportunity to attend and learn so much at the annual meetings. It saves me time when I am able to learn from the AASA, it’s members and guest. I am able to bring back good useful information to share with my medical and clinical staff. I would highly recommend joining the AASA. It is definitely worth your time!”

Michelle Gasaway, RN
Executive Park Surgery Center
Fort Smith, AR

“The Arkansas ASC Association, like ASCA, has taken great strides over the past 17 years to bring ASCs to the forefront of the healthcare market.”

ASCA and the Arkansas ASC Association has been a big part of my ASC career since the early 1990s. I began attending ASC meetings more than 25 years ago, when they were held in Washington DC, at the then FASA Corporate Office. At that time, the group of ASC Administrators was so small we all fit around a small conference table, and the biggest challenge we had was educating the healthcare community on the services we provided and getting doctors to work outside the hospital. Ironically, in some ways, these are still our challenges today.

The Arkansas ASC Association, like ASCA, has taken great strides over the past 17 years to bring ASCs to the forefront of the healthcare market. We have shared our resources and educated our ASC leaders to be a driving force behind promoting outpatient surgery in both our communities and nationwide.

Pam Hooper, BSN, RN
Consultants in Healthcare, LLC
Little Rock, AR

“we remain ready to act on behalf of our industry, if needed”

“When I moved to Fayetteville, AR 19 years ago, I took a position with Universal Health Systems and was the Administrator of Arkansas Surgery Center. At the time, I had two surgeons who wanted to do spine and total knee surgeries, but we needed to keep the patients overnight. This was at a time when these procedures were not as common as they are today. I thought I would ask the state association about this issue (I had been active in the Southern California ASC Association prior to moving here). Well, I was surprised that there was not a state association.

I reached out to other ASCs in the state and we put together a small group. Between myself, Pam Hooper, Norm Burnette and Jim Kennedy, we developed bylaws, registered our organization with the state and took on the task of tackling overnight care.

I am proud to say that our group, only seven (7) ASCs at the time, was successful in working with the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Medical Association to add rules to the Arkansas Department of Health for overnight care.

While we have not had major legislative hurdles since this time, our association continues to provide education to its members and we remain ready to act on behalf of our industry, if needed.

I am very proud to have served this association a few different times and look forward to fostering leadership for the years to come.”

Debra Stinchcomb, MBA, BSN, RN, CASC
Current President of AASA
Progressive Surgical Solutions
Fayetteville, AR