Leading Calgary Eye Surgery Facility Opens

Minister and Senior Health Officials Attend

CALGARY, Oct. 1 /CNW/ - Calgary's leading provider of ophthalmology services today officially opens a new state-of-the-art surgical facility.  Surgical Centres Inc. (SCI), which earlier this year was awarded a one-year contract for 70 per cent of all cataract surgeries in Calgary, will host senior health industry and government officials at its new location in the totally renovated Rockyview Health Centre II. The facility opened for surgery in late June 2010.

"This is a big day for us," said Dr. Mohamed Nanji, CEO of SCI.  "We have always been guided by the overarching principle that quality of care comes first.  And today we put more proof behind that commitment.  Our staff is here, independent eye surgeons are here, some of our patients are here; all of them are advocates for our quality and our services."

The opening event will also be attended by Hon. Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health.   Minister Zwozdesky will make a few comments after the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"Having our special guests and these dignitaries attend is very meaningful for us," says Fatima Fazal, SCI's Chief Operating Officer.  "We've been successful in this business for over 20 years because we've always focused on our clients - eye surgeons and their patients.  Our job is to provide patients with the utmost comfort and ophthalmologists with the best possible facilities and equipment.  That's what you see here."

SCI is the only neutral eye surgery clinic in Calgary.  It is not an owner-operator facility, meaning that no ophthalmologist has any ownership in SCI (nobody with ownership in SCI is also a surgeon who can benefit from doing procedures).  The SCI business model is based on securing effective and honest partnerships with various healthcare organizations. 

"We've raised the bar," says Dr.Nanji.  "Today is proof positive that this clinic is a centre-of-excellence and a leader in providing eye surgery.  We've built that success on - to put it simply - we care."

The event will run from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at 1016 - 68^th Ave SW, in the newly renovated Rockyview Health Centre II.  The ribbon cutting will be 6:00 pm.  Tours and interviews with Minister Zwozdesky and Dr. Nanji will be available. 

For further information:

Laurie Griffin at [phone]. Further information can be found at www.surgicalcentres.com.