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" We have been in practice a long time and have built a reputation for dependability. We offer the highest quality of surgical care, not just in Syracuse, but also across the state. Referring physicians can be confident that if they send us their patients, they will receive exemplary surgical care." — BENJAMIN SADOWITZ, MD, GENERAL SURGEON Broad Offerings in Surgery CENTR A L NE W YORK Surgical Physicians offers a wide range of surgical proce- dures, from routine to the most complex. Many procedures are performed via robotic or advanced laparo- scopic techniques. + Bariatric surgery + Biliary and pancreatic surgery + Breast surgery + Gastrointestinal procedures + Hernia repair + Spleen surgery + Ulcer repair + Vein surgery + Wound care + Endocrine (thyroid and parathyroid) surgery surgeons can call on their colleagues anytime they face a situation requiring specialty backup. From within the group, surgeons have the opportunity to learn new specialties and continually develop their skill set. Dr. Congelli, for instance, is focused from general surgery to breast surgery and is now honing her skills in endocrine surgery since a senior endocrine surgeon, Dr. David Tyler, retired. "That's another benefit of being a large group of generalists," Dr. Congelli says. "If we experience a gap, somebody can train to step in." Dr. Schu, principal endocrine surgeon currently, believes the process of succes- sion within a group is invaluable. Senior partner Dr. Herb Mendel was a pioneer in minimally invasive vein surgery and later guided Dr. Tom Hartzheim as he acquired such skills. Dr. Hartzheim has taken an interest in endocrine surgery as well. HOSPITAL SUPPORT FOR ADVANCED SURGERY To offer excellent patient outcomes, even the most skilled surgeons require high- quality facilities, equipment and nursing staff. Advanced imaging and expert radiologists are needed, too. Crouse Health provides surgeons with the imaging they need to conduct highly precise operations. Their breast imaging scans, Dr. Schu says, are the best in the region, and the hospital's radiologists are first-rate. For instance, the hospital features Thomas Green, MD, Director of Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine and Chief of Medical Imaging at Crouse, whom Dr. Schu describes as "the best thyroid and parathyroid imager in Central New York." Reflecting its regional leadership in robotic-assisted surgery, Crouse also has three da Vinci robots for minimally invasive surgery, as well as the Trident system, which permits intraoperative X-ray of breast tissue in the operating room. "With the Trident, we can see the markers, the tumor and the microcalcifica- tions during the procedure," Dr. Congelli explains. "Having that information can reduce surgery time, meaning patients spend as much as 15 minutes less under anesthesia. Crouse has been very supportive with providing the equipment we request to provide the best outcomes for our patients." More importantly, the hospital regards its partner physicians as colleagues and includes them in conversations and goal-setting. "At Crouse, we support physician engagement in decision-making," Dr. Kronenberg says. "We include physicians in strategic focus areas and consult them about matters, such as acquiring new staff and technology. Our physician engagement differentiates Crouse from other medical centers, as does the clinical excellence of our operating room team. We have the latest technology, but we also have excellent nurses, technicians and anesthesiologists who complement the care our surgeons provide. When a surgeon sends a patient to Crouse, they know the patient will have a customer-friendly experience." The hospital has also enhanced its surgical program by hiring night-shift surgical hospitalists, a unique program that means a patient who needs emergency surgery at night will find a physician already on-site so the procedure can be performed without delay. In addition to benefiting Crouse patients, the addition of surgical hospitalists at Crouse has meant the surgeons of Central New York Surgical Physicians can focus more deeply on their areas of specialization and day-to-day practice. 0 8 0 8❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R S T O R Y