Surgery center, PRMC joining forces

The Surgery Center of New Mexico adjacent to Plains Regional Medical Center will soon operate under PRMC’s umbrella.

A joint agreement to establish Plains Regional OutPatient Surgery, effective Sept. 17, was announced Tuesday in a release from the hospital.

By joining forces, the surgery center — opened in 2006 — will house more doctors from the hospital.

The hospital, meanwhile, is able to free up office space and now has additional facilities for operations, lab and X-ray services.

“The surgery center fills a need that was in the community,” said Hoyt Skabelund, PRMC director. “Our operating room was overflowing when the surgery center was built. We were looking at some expansions to the operating room.”

Skabelund said the move was made to increase efficiency at both operations.

“The services we collectively provide today will continue,” said Dr. Jacob George, a physician partner with the surgery center, in a press release. “Surgeons and physicians will have new settings of care for our patients, and together, we will build upon the high quality of care we deliver for patients.”

Skabelund said the surgery center would allow patients to undergo surgery in the same building where they consult with their doctors. He said it will also move traffic away from the PRMC emergency room and set up a structure Skabelund said could help attract one or two more orthopedic surgeons.

“We feel that setting is more attractive toward candidates,” Skabelund said.