New ‘smart’ ASC opens to advance outpatient care in western New York

Editor's Note

The Northtowns Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) is set to open on October 24 in Amherst, New York, representing the culmination of a 5-year effort led by Brian McGrath, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Buffalo Business First October 17 reports. Located within a 160,000-square-foot building, the $30 million facility is a collaboration among UBMD, Kaleida Health, and physician owners, developed in partnership with Ciminelli Real Estate Corp.

As one of the largest freestanding ASCs in New York state, the center features 14 surgical and procedure rooms, including seven full-sized ORs, three smaller procedure rooms, and four dedicated to gastroenterology. It aims to handle approximately 8,000 procedures in its first year, with the capacity to expand to over 10,000 annually. The multispecialty center will offer a range of services, from colonoscopies and joint replacements to sports injury treatments and gallbladder surgical procedures.

Designed to function more like an "ambulatory hospital," the center incorporates advanced technology, including two rooms equipped for robotic laparoscopic surgery and two for joint replacements with cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The smart ORs will utilize Ospitek’s Bluetooth technology to streamline patient flow, and Ampaworks’ systems will help monitor patient progress from check-in to discharge. The center also employs computer vision technology to ensure the proper sterilization and handling of surgical instruments, enhancing safety and efficiency.

While some existing local surgical facilities may see a decline in case volume, Dr McGrath emphasizes the Northtowns center is intended to complement rather than compete with area hospitals. The joint ownership with Kaleida Health aims to strengthen the regional healthcare system by providing advanced outpatient surgical options while supporting hospitals' critical roles in high-acuity care and intensive recovery.