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With medical costs continually rising, business owners and chamber members had a chance to learn about the cost saving options Sunrise Ambulatory Surgical Center in Lakeside offers residents all around the White Mountains at the Snowflake-Taylor Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn on March 27.
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After lunch catered by Celebrations in Snowflake, Brad Stoddard, administrator of the center, gave a brief talk. Also present, was Dr. Chad Squire, a podiatrist specializing in foot and ankle issues, who recently returned to Snowflake and opened a practice in February of 2018.
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Stoddard said that the center has been in the area since 2001, with the goal of providing high quality surgery at a lower price. “We use the same anesthesia providers as Summit Health Care, the same implants. It is just a different location. The most expensive part of the surgery is the location.”
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Not only is the cost of surgery at the Sunrise Ambulatory Surgical Center up to 50 percent less than the hospital price, Stoddard noted that patients can request a full cost estimate up front that will be capped, so there are no surprises after the surgery. Like the hospital, the center offers a cash price as well that is significantly lower.
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Squire said he began to work with the center at the end of March 2018. “Since then I have been doing most of my surgeries there. It is all out-patient surgery, but most patients, even at the hospital, are sent home the same day because of the advances in anesthesia and pain control.”
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“The two main reasons to use us is that we can save you money and we can help businesses save on health care premiums as the overall health care costs go down,” Stoddard said, as he shared that insurance companies typically base the premiums they charge businesses on the overall cost of health care to that company and its employees for the prior year. Higher costs in surgeries translate into higher premiums. Equally, by lowering the cost of surgery, it can lower the cost of health and often lower or maintain the premiums.
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Squire, who grew up in Snowflake and Heber, said that he enjoys working with the staff at both Summit and the Sunrise Ambulatory Surgical Center. “I love the hospital staff and enjoy every minute that I am there. But it is easy to work for the surgical center because of the lower costs for the patients. I think it is very wonderful that we have this option on the mountain.”
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For more information, folks are encouraged to visit www.sunriseasc.com.
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