Another painful move for anesthesiologists Another painful move for anesthesiologists (August 19, 2005)

Surgery center buyout by El Camino Hospital means more docs must go

By Katie Vaughn

Another round of changes are being planned between El Camino Hospital and a group of anesthesiologists.

The hospital announced Aug. 12 that its buyout of the other half of the El Camino Surgery Center -- owned by a group of private physicians -- will be complete by mid-September. The change of ownership will affect the Northern California Anesthesia Associates members who work at the center, the same group of anesthesiologists involved in a contract dispute with the hospital late last year.

In November 2004, after receiving complaints that its 19 anesthesiologists were charging high rates and accepting few insurance plans, the hospital removed the doctors and replaced them with nine from Fremont's Washington Hospital. The fired anesthesiologists were barred from returning to El Camino Hospital when it created a "closed" anesthesiology department in January 2005. But following the controversy, several continued working at the surgery center while others retired, left the area or relocated to other organizations, including Washington Hospital.

However, the NCAA's employment at the surgery center is set to end by Sept. 15, when the anesthesiology services there will be taken over by members of Fidere Anesthesia Consultants, Inc., the group of doctors who now offer the services at El Camino Hospital.

"If this culminates in a purchase, the hospital's contract extends to the surgery center," said hospital spokesperson Judy Twitchell.

"One group will practice at both facilities," added Jon Friedenberg, El Camino Hospital's vice president of resource development.

The NCAA anesthesiologists presently at the surgery center desired to stay and share responsibilities with the incoming doctors, regardless of ownership changes, said Dr. Joseph Andresen, one of the departing physicians. However, the hospital was unable to accommodate the group due to its exclusive contract with the Fidere anesthesiologists.

"We requested to share that service and that request was declined by the hospital," Andresen wrote in an e-mail to the Voice . "We would prefer to be in a position to continue our service at the surgery center and to have it be an open facility that accepts more than one anesthesia group, as has been the case in the past. Apparently El Camino Hospital has other plans."

The departing anesthesiologists will serve at Washington Hospital, where many of their peers went late last year and operate as the exclusive provider of anesthesia services, as well as at outpatient facilities in the Fremont area.

"They're going to center their activity at where they're working now," Twitchell said.

Andresen expressed disappointment that the NCAA anesthesiologists were asked to leave hospital operations a second time.

"Our group has served the community of El Camino Hospital for many years and we are still surprised that in the face of some manageable problems we were asked to depart the community," Andresen said.

However, Friedenberg said the hospital's dealings with the anesthesiologists have gone much smoother than they did last year. He called the dismissal agreement amicable.

"The situation was difficult," he said of the first dispute. "This time around, thankfully, is different."

E-mail Katie Vaughn at kvaughn@mv-voice.com

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