Adventist HealthCare has opened its new Ambulatory Surgery Center at National Harbor, Maryland, in the US.

In its first year, the centre is expected to perform 300 surgeries a month, and 800 surgeries per month by its fifth year.

Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center vascular surgery director Dr Carlin Williams said: “I'm excited to be a part of this push to improve care in the community.

“Safe, efficient, multi-specialty outpatient medical care is what we need here.”

The facility is also equipped to practice various specialties, including bariatric, ENT, gastroenterology, general surgery, interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, obstetrics/gynaecology, orthopaedic/podiatry, pain/spine, ophthalmology, and urology.

It will connect the nearby Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center and its new primary care facility.

Each operation will together supply the key services essential to address the community’s healthcare needs.

Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center president Eunmee Shim said: “We worked tirelessly to make this much needed surgery centre a reality.

“For far too long, our community – from a healthcare standpoint – has been neglected and deprived, forcing residents to travel inconvenient distances for certain routine medical procedures and lifesaving surgeries.

“Opening this new building is a step toward correcting that behaviour and a move to better care for our neighbours.”