Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville recently made history when it became the first hospital in Georgia to receive accreditation as a Center of Excellence in both Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery. Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an internationally recognized patient safety organization, recognized NGMC for its dedication to delivering safe, effective and evidence-based patient care through its independent, external process of evaluation.
Additionally, SRC recognized nine NGMC physicians as Surgeons of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. Six of them are Longstreet Clinic surgeons:
Fernando Aycinena, M.D., FACS, Longstreet Clinic General Surgery- Geary D. Bush, M.D., FACS, Longstreet Clinic General Surgery
- Chad M. Copper, M.D., FACS, Longstreet Clinic General Surgery
Daniel A. Mullis, M.D., FACS, Longstreet Clinic General Surgery- Robert L. Richard, M.D., FACS, Longstreet Clinic Center for Weight Management
- Keshma Saujani, M.D., FACOG, Longstreet Clinic Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dr. Copper and Dr. Mullis also earned distinction as Surgeons of Excellence in Hernia Surgery.
“Our physicians and staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center have always placed patient safety at the forefront,” says Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “Earning this accreditation for both robotic and hernia surgery reiterates our commitment to consistently deliver the safest, highest-quality surgical care to our patients.”
“It’s exciting as surgeons that we’re able to perform more complicated procedures through smaller incisions which can provide patients with a faster recovery and less pain,” said Dr. Chad Copper. “Being designated as a Center of Excellence means cutting-edge, high-quality care from an experienced, caring team of providers – close to home.”
Healthcare organizations and surgeons seeking accreditation by SRC undergo a rigorous site inspection and self-assessment. This process includes physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in the accredited program. The inspection is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization or surgeon improve its care and services.
“We’re proud to recognize Northeast Georgia Medical Center as a Center of Excellence in both Robotic and Hernia Surgery for their commitment to providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. “This accreditation signals that the facility and its surgeons are among the best in the specialty and are dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”
To learn more about robotic surgery at Longstreet Clinic, click here. For more about robotic surgery at NGMC, click here. For more information about SRC and the accreditation process, visit surgicalreview.org.
