SCA enters into joint venture with West Coast Endoscopy Center to provide management solutions

Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA), one of the country's largest providers of outpatient surgical services, announced today it has entered into a joint venture arrangement with West Coast Endoscopy Center in Clearwater, Florida to partner in the operation of the center.

Under the agreement, SCA and a group of physician partners will own the center, and SCA will provide management services. West Coast Endoscopy Center will continue to be a state-of-the-art, freestanding outpatient endoscopy center.

"The medical staff of West Coast Endoscopy Center is excited to announce the selection of SCA as our corporate partner," said Dr. Umesh Choudhry, MD FACG, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the center. "We believe that the combination of SCA's surgery center expertise, their local and national network, and our medical staff's clinical expertise will help further our center's reputation as a leader in medical care for outpatient surgery in the Tampa Bay Area.

"We look forward to continuing to provide high quality, patient-friendly healthcare in the low-cost environment of our outstanding surgery center," he said. "We know that the implementation of SCA's operational platform will position our center for success in the future."

Andrew Hayek, president and chief executive officer of SCA, said, "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with this group of outstanding physicians at West Coast Endoscopy Center. Our partnership will allow physicians to focus on clinical excellence while leveraging SCA's nationwide infrastructure and support services. This is another step forward in expanding our management systems to more surgery centers across the country."