American Anesthesiology acquires Greensboro Anesthesia Physicians

American Anesthesiology, a subsidiary of MEDNAX, Inc., (NYSE: MD) today announced the acquisition of Greensboro Anesthesia Physicians, P.C., a physician group practice that provides patient services at three hospitals within the Moses Cone Health System and two surgery centers in the Greensboro, NC, metropolitan area.

“We're looking forward to collaborating with other groups, building a clinical database and developing the kinds of quality assurance tools that will allow us to find answers to difficult questions around patient care, and to be a part of making anesthesia care improvements.”

Greensboro Anesthesia has been the exclusive provider of anesthesia services at the 536-bed Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro for the past 25 years, and has contracts to provide patient services at the system's 175-bed Wesley Long Community Hospital and The Women's Hospital of Greensboro, a 134-bed facility dedicated to obstetrical and gynecological care. The group also provides anesthesia services at two Greensboro-area ambulatory surgery centers. Annual anesthesia volume at the practice is approximately 38,000 cases.

The physician group practice consists of 23 anesthesiologists. They practice as part of an anesthesia care-team model that includes hospital-employed certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

"As we've moved through this process, we've realized that the goals of American Anesthesiology are consistent with our practice goals and those of our hospitals, which is to focus on improving patient outcomes," said Charles Frederick, M.D., who will serve as medical director of American Anesthesiology's Greensboro practice. "We're looking forward to collaborating with other groups, building a clinical database and developing the kinds of quality assurance tools that will allow us to find answers to difficult questions around patient care, and to be a part of making anesthesia care improvements."

Greensboro Anesthesia is the second anesthesia physician group acquired by MEDNAX's American Anesthesiology during the 2010 fourth quarter. Charlotte, NC-based Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants, a 90-member physician group that serves nine hospitals, 12 ambulatory surgery centers and 11 pain management centers, joined American Anesthesiology effective October 1.

Today, American Anesthesiology has more than 650 anesthesia providers, including 300 physicians and 350 CRNAs and anesthesia assistants practicing in six metropolitan areas in the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia, with administrative offices in Raleigh, NC, and Sunrise, FL.

The acquisition of Greensboro Anesthesia Physicians was for cash, and the practice is expected to contribute annual earnings per share of approximately seven cents, based on its historical results.

Source MEDNAX, Inc.,