by Poppy Sundeen

In 1999, Arlington Memorial South Medical Center opened as a response to rapid residential growth on the south side of our community. The goal was to offer South Arlington residents a close-by resource for day surgery, laboratory services, rehabilitation services, urgent care and physician office visits. Today, the center continues to fulfill its promise to the community under a different name: USMD Surgical Hospital.

The name change, effective October of this year, reflects a change in the facility’s ownership. In place of sole ownership by Arlington Memorial’s parent, Texas Health Resources, the medical center is now owned by three entities. The partners include a group of 60 area physicians, Texas Health Resources and Mat-Rx Associates, a health care management and development company.

“Nationally, the trend has been to create health care environments where physicians have more direct control over the way care is delivered to patients in the facilities where they practice. This is certainly true for USMD Surgical Hospital of Arlington,” notes Dave Ashworth, executive vice president of Texas Health Resources. “We are pleased that Texas Health Resources has found a way to strengthen its commitment to the community by joining with these dedicated physicians and Mat-Rx Associates.”

The new partnership allows each entity to contribute specialized expertise. Mat-Rx brings many years in health care facility management to the team. Its responsibility is to manage the medical office building, day surgery, emergency services, laboratory and admitting office. The physician group addresses quality of care for patients in day surgery and other outpatient departments. Arlington Memorial manages and operates rehabilitation services.

Arlington Memorial South Rehabilitation Center includes physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation and community health education. Programs are offered in the fully equipped USMD fitness center and in the adjoining classrooms. For patients who live or work in South Arlington, the USMD location provides a convenient alternative to rehabilitation services offered at Arlington Memorial Hospital’s Randol Mill campus.

“While the name on the front of the hospital has changed to USMD Surgical Hospital,” says Arlington Memorial President,Wayne Clark, “our commitment to providing services to area residents at the facility continues.”