Date of News Release: January 7, 2002

Suncoast Surgery Center
Awarded Accreditation from Joint Commission

FORT MYERS - Jonathan M. Frantz, M.D., medical director of Suncoast Surgery Center, is pleased to announce that Suncoast Surgery Center has recently been accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

JCAHO, the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, is dedicated to improving the quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. Suncoast Surgery Center received accreditation following an on-site survey in September in which the Joint Commission surveyor found that the Center had demonstrated compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for office-based ambulatory surgery centers.

"We sought accreditation for our surgery center because we want it to be the best," said Dr. Frantz. "We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence."

"Everyone played a vital role in meeting the standards," explained Dr. Frantz. "Our team of experienced registered nurses, anesthesiologists, and support staff have been extremely supportive of this process. I think it gives all of us a feeling of prestige to work in an accredited organization," continued Dr. Frantz.

Suncoast Surgery Center opened in May 2000 to provide the residents of Southwest Florida with a convenient, state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center committed to the highest standards in quality, performance and care. Dr. Frantz performs no injection, no patch cataract surgery and various other ophthalmology procedures at Suncoast Surgery Center, which is located adjacent to Florida Eye Health and The Center for Laser Vision Correction at 12731 New Brittany Blvd., Fort Myers.

For more information, call 791-2273.