Expert Care Without the Wait: Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates
Imagine you’re told you need surgery.
Your thoughts might cloud with worry.
Will my surgery go well? How long will
I have to wait until my procedure? That’s
why, at Fort HealthCare Surgical
Associates, surgeons are committed to
seeing patients quickly—in many cases,
the same day.
“We know when a patient receives test results—an irregular mammogram, for example—they want to consult with a surgeon now, not wait three weeks for an appointment,” said Jonathan McLaughlin, M.D., a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. McLaughlin is one of four fulltime, board certified surgeons serving the Jefferson County region through Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates.
“We want that patient in our office, talking to the right surgeon, within a day or two,” McLaughlin said. “We want to make sure they understand what’s going to happen, so they don’t have to face the added stress of waiting and wondering.”
Quality Care, Range of Services
McLaughlin is joined in the practice by Bill Kontny, M.D., F.A.C.S., Marc Erickson, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Christopher Nervi, M.D. Kontny agrees that the practice’s commitment to seeing patients quickly is a huge benefit of staying local for surgery. But he also emphasizes the range and quality of services delivered by Surgical Associates—and the Fort HealthCare system in general.“We’re constantly making sure we’re up-to-date, so we’re serving our community with the best training and tools available,” Kontny said. “When appropriate, that means using minimally invasive techniques, which typically deliver the same results as traditional procedures with shorter incisions, less trauma and faster recoveries.”
Procedures commonly performed by Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates include:
- Abdominal surgeries, including diaphragm, liver, pancreas, spleen and gall bladder
- Bariatric LAP-BAND® weight-loss surgery
- Breast, skin and soft-tissue surgeries, including trauma and cancer surgeries
- Endocrinological surgeries, including thyroid and pancreas
- Gastrointestinal procedures, including those of the esophagus, stomach and intestines
- Hernia and many other thoracic procedures
- VNUS Closure®, a minimally invasive procedure to correct varicose veins
“Over the past 10 years, Fort HealthCare has been able to attract quality specialists across the board. So we have a skilled team backing us up in all aspects of diagnosis and recovery, too,” said Kontny. “We know what we can offer, and we do it very well. We also know when to refer a patient to a Level I Trauma Center.”
Effective Emergency Care
Sometimes the Surgical Associates surgeon’s role is to respond to emergencies at Fort Memorial Hospital and perform whatever procedure is required to stabilize a patient for transfer to a Level I Trauma Center.
Fort HealthCare backs up the state’s Level I Trauma Centers at times, too. “Particularly during the winter, if weather conditions are such that the helicopters can’t get into Milwaukee or Madison, they come to us. When that happens, we’re ready,” said Wilson.
A Sense of Community
Quality, quick service, skilled staff. Each of these is critical to Fort HealthCare’s mission to provide excellent healthcare. But proximity and accessibility are also assets that enable physicians to provide a more personal approach.“It’s very different to go one, maybe two stoplights, and see your doctor, than to get on the expressway and drive 45 minutes to an hour,” said McLaughlin. “And if you see a doctor that far away, chances are you’ll never run into him again.
“I see my patients in the grocery store, at church and at my children’s school. Our patients appreciate that sense of community. We do, too. That’s why we’re here.”
Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates Expands to Fulfill Community Needs
