American Anesthesiology acquires Burlington Anesthesia Associates

American Anesthesiology, a division of MEDNAX, Inc., (NYSE: MD) today announced the acquisition of Burlington Anesthesia Associates (BAA), a physician group practice that provides anesthesia services in Mt. Holly, NJ.

“There were several factors that went into our decision to become a part of American Anesthesiology”

Burlington Anesthesia Associates is the first New Jersey-based group practice to join American Anesthesiology. The practice consists of 17 anesthesiologists, who practice as part of an Anesthesia Care Team model that includes 25 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). BAA provides anesthesia services at Virtua Memorial Hospital, in Mt. Holly, Virtua Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center and various other out-patient clinics and surgery centers.

"There were several factors that went into our decision to become a part of American Anesthesiology," said Richard Gargiulo, M.D., who will serve as medical director of the American Anesthesiology practice. "As we look forward into the changing face of healthcare, it was important for us to partner with a proven national group model that supports the growth of our longstanding practice and brings the resources necessary to provide stability as we focus on what we do best, take care of our patients. Our talented group of physicians can now focus on helping to shape the future of anesthesiology by focusing on better patient care through clinical quality improvement, research and education. Ultimately this will advance the care that we provide to our patients and local community."

Today, American Anesthesiology has more than 850 anesthesia providers, including more than 400 physicians and 500 CRNAs and anesthesia assistants practicing in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey, with administrative offices in Sunrise, FL and Raleigh, NC.

MEDNAX paid cash for the practice, and the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to its earnings. No additional terms of the transactions were disclosed.

With this acquisition, three physician group practices have become part of American Anesthesiology and seven physician group practices have become part of Pediatrix Medical Group during 2011.