Naples Day Surgery, open since 1986, will close permanently Friday

Naples Day Surgery will close its doors permanently after its last patient Friday, scattering 64 employees to seek or start new jobs, according to a center official.

“We’re just at the end of our era,” Cathy Blanchard, executive director of Naples Day Surgery, said Thursday afternoon as employees held a farewell gathering.

Naples Day Surgery is at 311 Ninth St. N., Suite 200, near NCH Baker Hospital Downtown.

The decision to close was made in September due to not enough patients and increasing competition from other day surgery centers in Collier County, Blanchard said.

The 64 employees, many of whom have worked there for years, were told in mid-September. Blanchard said most have found new jobs already.

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The NCH Healthcare System owns 15 percent of Naples Day Surgery, and a private investment group owns 85 percent, she said. Several physicians listed on state records as part of the private ownership declined to comment Thursday.

“NCH has been a minority owner in this enterprise, which has been predominately physician owned and managed,” NCH spokeswoman Debbie Curry said in a statement. “The physicians involved have elected to close the business at the end of this month. Going forward some physicians will be doing surgeries at NCH facilities and some will do surgeries at other locations.”

The building used by Naples Day Surgery is owned by NCH. Blanchard did not know what will occupy the space, which has five surgical suites.

In 1986, NCH opened Naples Day Surgery and it became a limited liability company in 2001, according to the center’s website.

During its heyday, the surgery center had 100 active physicians performing a variety of outpatient-based procedures and offering other medical services, Blanchard said.

Physician affiliations have changed, and the influx of more outpatient surgery centers has given physicians more options, Blanchard said.

Signs and other notices have kept patients informed of the pending closing.

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