Pismo Beach’s Coastal Surgical Institute wins state award for ambulatory surgical services

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A Pismo Beach ambulatory surgery center (ASC) that provides same-day surgeries was recently recognized by the California Ambulatory Surgery Association.

Twenty-one-year-old Coastal Surgical Institute won the state award for ASC excellence, underscoring its impact on cost-saving diagnostic and preventative procedures that were once done only in hospitals.

“We do more cases than any other ASC on the Central Coast,” Coastal Surgical Institute Administrator Nancy Steffora said. “We were officially started just by the doctors getting together and forming the surgery center, and then Dignity [Health] came in a few years later.”

In July 2008, the institute partnered with Dignity Health and is now affiliated with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. With the help of 64 doctors—25 to 30 of whom are surgeons—the institute cares for 30 to 50 patients a day.

What began as a dinner conversation among doctors in the early 2000s grew into the multi-specialty center at 921 N. Oak Park Boulevard that offers procedures in general surgery; gynecological surgery; gastroenterology; orthopedics; podiatry; urology; plastic and reconstructive surgery; and ears, nose, and throat. An alternative to overnight hospital care, ambulatory surgery centers like the institute provide these services to patients who aren’t admitted in hospitals.

Further, many procedures that once required hours to perform and a week’s worth of hospitalization are now done safely within much less time, risk, and discomfort for patients.

“They’re very happy to be able to go home and not have to spend the night,” Steffora said. “They’ve improved the local anesthesia that we are able to use with the patients, which help with their post-operative pain. As far as anesthesia, they do what we call blocks now, which again, helps with their pain, to get them out of surgery.”

The need for ambulatory services has grown over the years. According to Steffora, the institute used to handle roughly 200 cases a month when it opened. Now, the five-room facility sees 700 cases a month.

“We partnered with Dignity, the local hospital, so that we could collaborate to improve both inpatient and outpatient care,” Steffora said. “We were able to increase access to high quality surgical care in a more comfortable environment, improving patient satisfaction while lowering out of pocket costs.”

Being a patient at the ambulatory institute can involve physician-ordered tests prior to the surgery and pre-operative phone consultations. They must arrange for transportation once the procedure is complete and follow an at-home plan, post surgery. Specially trained staff are available to look after patients’ children too. For more information, call (805) 473-9850 or visit coastalasc.com.

“We’re here to serve our patients and not compete with the hospitals we’re partnered with,” Steffora said. “We work to collaborate, to take care of the patients. There’s some that aren’t healthy enough to come here, and then those ones would have to go to the hospital.”

Fast facts

• The PG&E Corporation Foundation opened applications for the annual Better Together STEM Scholarship Program for students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math. The foundation will provide $350,000 for 60 scholarships that are available in sums of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 awards for eligible students. The deadline to apply is March 14, and the scholarships will be awarded in August. Visit pge.com/en/about/educational-resources/grants-and-scholarships.html to apply.

• Woods Humane Society transported 32 dogs and cats that were displaced during the fires that ravaged Los Angeles County. Woods worked with LA County Animal Care and Control to provide and facilitate emergency assistance with their pet rescue efforts. Many of the rescued animals are available for adoption at woodshumanesociety.org/adoptions/san-luis-obispo.

• A Cal Poly research team led by history lecturer Cameron Jones and computer science professor Foaad Khosmood was awarded $150,000 by the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) for their project africancalifornios.org. The project studies Africans in early California history. A special lecture and presentation is open to the public, which will take place at Phillips Hall in the Performing Arts Center on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. Δ

Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.

This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 9, 2025.