Driving Our Economy Forward: University Surgical Associates
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- It’s a business that started with two surgeons but is now one of the largest multi-specialty surgical groups in the southeast. Tonight, we take a look at how university surgery associates have served patients in and around the Chattanooga area since 1976, using their quality surgical care to drive our economy forward.
Amanda Ledford, Dir of Clinical Operations RN, University Surgical of Associates says, “We’re University Surgical Associates. We have been um providing surgical care for the Chattanooga area since 1976. We are a multi-specialty Surgical Group. We have 30 surgeons currently. We also are affiliated with the UT College of Medicine. So, we are a teaching practice where we are also training the surgical residents that are uh based at Erlanger.”
Ledford continues, “Most of our patients are referred from their primary care or another specialty. they come in; they’re evaluated for whatever symptoms they have; whatever Radiology they may have. And then if they have a surgical issue, we will make sure that everything um is worked up appropriately. And we’ll schedule them for surgery. Once they have had their surgery they’ll come back for a postoperative visit. And a lot of our patients once they have their surgery, they’re good to go on with their life.”
Kandace Pryor, Clinical Manager, University Surgical Associates-Erlanger says, “I have been with University Surgical Associates for 22 years. I had been working with University Surgical Associates as a medical assistant and decided to go back to school uh to become an LPN. The University Surgical Associates and Chattanooga State connection for me um, was just being able to be a working mom. Um they were able to work with me on that. Um Chattanooga State gave me that opportunity as well as University Surgical. Um so even with my foot already in the door I was able to you know go to Chattanooga State. They have the night program you know where you can work full-time, be a mom and go to school too. And then just recently moved into a Clinical Manager position.”
Ledford also says, “We also really enjoy working with Chattanooga State and other um MA and nursing programs throughout the area. We partnership with them to for clinicals and externships and also as a great resource when we are looking for new employees. We are Monday through Friday independent private practice. So, we are able to see patient at their convenience. We can make sure they’re scheduled with a provider that is available at the time that they are available. We can if they require a surgical procedure, we can make sure that um they are scheduled at the um facility of their choice throughout the tri state area. We are not tied to any particular hospital. We are very patient driven we are patient centered. We make sure that you get the proper care for your diagnosis.”
