Eye Surgeries Changing Location in January
November 11, 2009 

The surgicenter portion of Hauser-Ross Eye Institute is moving to the Midland Surgical Center, 2120 Midlands Ct., Sycamore. The move will tentatively take place during the week of Jan. 4.

Hauser-Ross Eye Institute and Hauser-Ross Optical will remain at 2240 Gateway Drive, Sycamore.

Hauser-Ross became a department of Kishwaukee Community Hospital in 1999. The Midland Surgical Center has been a joint venture between KishHealth System and Midwest Orthopaedic Institute since 2005. 

“The joint venture partners have agreed to take advantage of the Midland Surgical Center’s capacity, modern facilities, and close proximity by allowing more types of day surgeries at the facility, starting with ophthalmology,” said Kevin Poorten, KishHealth President and CEO.

“We are pleased that the Midland center will be more fully used to benefit patients and local surgeons,” said Dr. Photine Liakos of Midwest Orthopaedic Institute.

Dr. Jasmeet Dhaliwal of Hauser-Ross said he and his colleagues will be doing cataract, oculoplastic, pediatric, and other surgical procedures at the new location. Vision correction procedures will continue to be performed at Hauser-Ross Eye Institute on the main level.

“The move is a health system strategic initiative that represents a better delivery model for day surgery that is more efficient and cost effective and, over time, will provide opportunities for other surgical specialties,” Poorten said.

Hauser-Ross Eye Institute was founded in 1987. “Because of its increasing age, the second- floor surgicenter was going to require infrastructure investments at substantial cost to maintain the strict surgical standards long-term,” said Dr. Thomas Tilton, who has been practicing at Hauser-Ross for 14 years.

In contrast, Midland Surgical Center was opened only four years ago. Convenience and cost-containment were important factors that went into this decision. “For Hauser-Ross patients, the new location for surgeries will be less than a mile away from Hauser-Ross Eye Institute,” said Dr. Kenya Starks, another Hauser-Ross ophthalmologist.

Poorten said the move is Step 1 in a longer term strategy for surgical specialists in the community. “As more surgeons opt for the Midland Surgical Center for their lower risk day surgeries and procedures, the hospital O.R. will be better able to accommodate the growing number of more complicated procedures that are being done in interventional radiology, cardiology, cancer treatments, and joint replacement,” he said.

Dr. Liakos said from both the physician and patient perspective, “the facility is an ideal setting for low risk day surgeries in terms of comfort, safety and convenience. Patients also benefit because typically surgeries in this kind of setting are at a lower cost,” she said.

Poorten said the health system is evaluating potential uses for the second floor at Hauser-Ross Eye Institute. The Hauser Ross surgical center staff will be given opportunities for other positions within the health system, including the Midland Surgical Center.

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