The Ambulatory Surgery Center provides an enhanced patient-focused experience with the best of both worlds -- a health care team dedicated to care and comfort, combined with the state-of-the-art technology that assures the highest quality surgical capabilities and expertise.

"We're extremely pleased to be opening this new surgery center," said Doug Merrill, MD, medical director of the new center. "With this new facility, we ensure our surgeons have the most up-to-date technology, including video links that can connect us here and around the world. And we have a staff dedicated to the best possible patient experience."

"We've really focused on our patients and their families with this new center," added Donna Katen-Bahensky, senior associate vice president of medical affairs and CEO, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. "I think our patients will find it more convenient, and will like our special attention to both children and adults."

A public open house will be held Saturday, March 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the new surgical center.

The 44,000-square-foot facility on the fourth level of the Pomerantz Family Pavilion is Iowa City's first full service, multi-specialty surgery center. It offers unmatched surgical expertise for this region, where surgeons, who are part of nationally ranked clinical departments, bring their skill to bear on everything from insertion of ear tubes to gallbladder removal and hernia repair.

Using teams that include physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists and more who are dedicated to excellence and specially trained for outpatient surgical care, the new center provides patients access to the depth and breadth of one of "America's Best Hospitals" and its highly ranked children's hospital.

UI Ambulatory Surgery Center features include:

• State-of-the-art outpatient surgery suites
• Free valet parking
• Separate adult and pediatric waiting areas
• Private rooms for pre-operative and recovery care

To find out more about UI Ambulatory Surgery, call UI Health Access at 800-777-8442 or 319-384-8442.

UI Ambulatory Surgery is among the many services offered by University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the premier academic medical centers in the Midwest regularly ranked by U.S.News & World Report. Our pediatric patients also benefit from the expertise found at University of Iowa Children's Hospital, ranked among the top 20 children's hospitals in 2007 by Child magazine. Our physicians are all members of University of Iowa Physicians, Iowa's largest and most comprehensive group practice; more than 180 have been selected as "Best Doctors in America" in recent rankings.

For more information:

UI Ambulatory Surgery Center

University of Iowa Children's Hospital

America's Best Hospitals

Best Children's Hospitals

Best Doctors in America