As Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH) continues to expand and enhance its services to the community it serves, the hospital is pleased to announce that the Coastal Surgical Institute (CSI), the leading outpatient surgical center in San Luis Obispo County, has entered into a partnership with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. CSI has served the Central Coast as a state-of-the-art Surgery Center for more than four years.
“With the opening of our new Coastal Cancer Care and Diagnostic Center right next door to the Coastal Surgical Institute, it’s just the logical next step to provide even greater and more convenient services to our patients,” says Rick Castro, AGCH President.
The Coastal Surgical Institute now becomes the outpatient surgical facility for the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Coastal Cancer Care Center, which is completing the accreditation requirements to become a designated Center of Excellence for Cancer Care by the American College of Surgeons. It will uniquely offer coordinated services for breast care, by including state-of-the-art digital mammography, stereotactic biopsy, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, preoperative localization, and outpatient breast surgery; all with a surgeon, radiologist, pathologist and oncologist working together on-site.
The Coastal Cancer Care Center is currently organizing a program with an on-site Cancer Care Nurse Coordinator to help patients go from the first finding of an abnormal screening mammogram, through further tests, and to then coordinate physician specialist appointments without delay. This Registered Nurse will help all cancer patients (prostate, gynecological, colorectal, bladder, and head and neck) navigate the multidisciplinary care plans patients often find confusing. All cancer patients treated through this program are then also discussed at the Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Tumor Board where patients derive the benefit of multiple specialist opinions without the added time, hassle and cost of traveling to many different offices.
The Coastal Surgical Institute prides itself on offering high quality personal service and excellent outcome-based surgical results for its patients. CSI consists of 17 physician partner associates led by current President, Craig Canfield, M.D. “This new partnership with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital will allow us to continue to provide the highest quality of care for our patients,” says Canfield.
Along with its physician associates, the Coastal Surgical Institute has over 20 leading physicians and surgeons who maintain privileges at the center. Beside cancer surgeries, CSI surgeons cover the following specialties: Ear Nose and Throat, General Surgery, Gastrointestinal procedures, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry and Urology.
The Coastal Surgical Institute utilizes a highly-credentialed staff of registered nurses and technologists who are cross-trained in all areas of the Center. CSI nurses are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and the center maintains a policy of “readiness” for all medical emergencies. In addition, CSI also offers many highly specialized procedures such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy, utilizing the most advanced techniques. CSI also treats pediatric patients and has two specially decorated pediatric recovery rooms to help make younger patients feel more comfortable after surgery.
For more information about the partnership with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and the Coastal Surgical Institute, please contact Anna Scott, AGCH Media Relations and Communications Manager at (805) 473-7695.
