Surgical Institute of Reading breaks ground on new addition

The Surgical Institute of Reading is growing. The multi-specialty outpatient surgical hospital at 2752 Century Blvd. in Spring Township, has broken ground on an addition.

The facility will be adding a 3,900-square-foot sterile processing department and a fifth operating room at the Spring  location. The $6 million expansion is expected to be completed and operational by November.

The sterile processing department is responsible for the sterilization of equipment used in the hospital. Officials at the institute say the facility is at full capacity, so the addition will help meet growing space needs.

Planning for the new space has been in the works for about the last year, according to institute CEO Lorri Wildi.

“Once we started looking at sterile processing, the governing board said we need additional OR time. We have capacity, we have physicians that are interested in bringing patients, so we need a fifth operating room,” Wildi said during the April 22 groundbreaking ceremony, adding that they decided to pursue both projects.

The project includes a 1,700-square-foot sterile processing department with proper infection control and flow for decontamination and clean processing functions, according to information provided by the institute. Another 1,200 square feet will house new high capacity sterilizers and ultrasonic units as well as much-needed implant and sterile storage space.

Once the new sterile processing department is complete, the space used for the current department will be converted into a 600-square-foot operating room.

Wildi said the organization’s growth strategy and investments made by the governing board have allowed it to undertake the project.

“We couldn’t be more excited that Surgical Institute of Reading is on the move — onward and upward — and this is just one indication of our commitment to being here in Berks County, continuing to provide exceptional quality care to our patients,” she said.

The facility opened in 2007. At the time, it was one of only a handful of surgical centers in the country.

“We envisioned 17 years ago to really improve healthcare in Berks County, and about 13 of us got together and started this tiny little hospital,” said Dr. Steve Banco, spine surgeon at the institute, vice chairman of the governing board and one of the founding physicians. “I don’t think any of us had any idea how wildly successful it would be. I truly believe it is the best thing we ever did for this community.”

Over the years, additional locations have opened — including the Reading Surgery Center, a hospital outpatient department located at 1280 Broadcasting Road in Spring Township, as well as physical therapy campuses in Wyomissing and Spring and Exeter townships.

Wildi said once the expansion is completed at the Surgical Institute of Reading, there will be a total of eight operating rooms and two procedure rooms.

Banco said he attributes the success of the Institute to its staff and physician commitment.

Dr. Charles Lutz, medical director, governing board member and founding physician added that patient satisfaction is also part of the organization’s success.

“People say how cared for they felt while they were here,” he said.

“In turn, people come to our offices for pre-op visits, and they ask if their case can come here,” added Dr. Joe Levan, general surgeon, governing board member, and founding physician.

“People come here because we can control every aspect of patient care — from the surgery through after care. We can stay patient centered,” saidDr. Brian Tinsley, orthopedic surgeon and governing board member.

According to information provided by the institute, completion of the project will allow the facility to increase its orthopedics, spine, ENT and daVinci robotic cases. In addition, the facility anticipates adding three total joint surgeons in the third quarter of this year.

“It takes a village, I like to say it takes a family and I think that is exactly how we see each other, it’s how we treat each other,” Wildi said. “And the fact that we work so well together, brought us to this point. Growth is certainly something we’re passionate about and that we want to continue in terms of our mission. … The reason we do this is to provide exceptional care for the patients of Berks County. And I think for many, many, many years that tradition is going to continue.”

In addition to its outpatient services, the facility has space for inpatient stays. Those patients requiring overnight a hospital stay following their surgery generally stay an average of two days, according to Levan.

The Surgical Institute of Reading has a total of 210 employees. It projects the expansion will create about 30 new jobs.