Baptist Health and Compass Surgical Partners announce joint venture to expand ambulatory surgical care in Northeast Florida

Baptist Health, a faith-based, mission-driven health system in Northeast Florida, and Compass Surgical Partners, an independent, full-service ambulatory surgery center (ASC) development and management partner, today announced their plans to jointly launch a network of ASCs branded as Horizon Surgery Center.

The first of these projects is located on the campus of Baptist Medical Center Beaches in Jacksonville, Fla., slated to open in early 2024. Moving forward, Baptist Health and Compass Surgical Partners have plans to open multiple Horizon Surgery Center facilities in Northeast Florida, both by modernizing outpatient spaces owned by the health system and making targeted acquisitions of existing ASCs. Horizon Surgery Center Beaches will offer outpatient procedures across a range of surgical specialties including orthopedics, neurosurgery, plastics and general surgery.

“Through our collaboration with physicians, the ASCs will help us bring even more value to the community by providing patients with an option for high-quality surgery in a lower-cost setting,” said Matthew A. Zuino, MSIS, FACHE, EVP and COO of Baptist Health. “By working together with Compass, we aim to make excellent outpatient surgical care even more affordable and accessible to our growing community.” Baptist Health, through its for-profit subsidiary Pavilion Health Services, and Compass Surgical Partners are creating their initial Horizon Surgery Center locations in hospital-owned buildings to facilitate rapid launches that will expedite the health system’s ASC strategy, which is focused on providing value to communities by expanding access to high-quality surgical care.

Staffed with dedicated specialty teams, ASCs are equipped to provide highly tailored same-day procedures. The growth of the ASC model has accelerated quickly because its cost-effectiveness increases access to licensed, accredited surgical care, particularly for those with high-deductible health insurance plans. ASCs can also help hospitals alleviate scheduling delays, engage and recruit physicians who prefer the convenience of this modern setting, and preserve capital dollars for other projects.

“Compass Surgical Partners is proud to engage in this joint venture with Baptist Health as it addresses its community’s need for broader access to advanced surgical care,” said Compass Surgical Partners CEO DJ Hill. “We’re excited to help this trusted healthcare partner meet its strategic and service goals by expanding the footprint of Horizon Surgery Centers.”