Rafters for north county medical clinic rising

Douglas County's first one-day surgery center should open in late 2007, according to Chris Greenman, spokesman for Sunridge Medical Properties.

The facility will serve those needing outpatient surgery like laparascopic procedures, Greenman said.

"It's for patients whose surgery won't require an overnight stay," he said.

Located off Mica Drive and Highway 395 in north Douglas County, the building includes two stories above ground and a basement. The 36,000-square-foot building will include orthopedic and obstetric/gynecologic offices, as well as pain management, imaging and physical therapy.

In addition to providing a centralized location that allows patients better access to local physicians, the facility should provide an efficient, cost-effective alternative to more expensive settings, Greenman said.

"We're working in conjunction with Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center," he said. "From their perspective, we will be pulling in more cases because there isn't another facility in the entire valley, from Gardnerville to Lake Tahoe, that will provide lower cost or faster turnaround for outpatient surgery."

Sunridge Medical Properties LLC, a group of local physicians and other healthcare professionals in the community, own the building, Greenman said.

"A lot of the tenants will be owners," he said. "There will also be some space for doctors who are doing cases at the surgery center and want to hold clinics."

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.