AMSURG Performs More Than 1 Million Colonoscopies in 2022

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AMSURG Performs More Than 1 Million Colonoscopies in 2022, Helping Prevent Colorectal Cancer and Save Lives

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in outpatient care, is continuing its mission to help people maintain their health and raise awareness about the importance of timely, appropriate screenings in the fight against colorectal cancer. AMSURG and its national network of gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons performed more than 1 million colonoscopies in 2022, helping people prevent, detect and overcome colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., and the American Cancer Society predicts that 52,550 people will die from it in 2023. However, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Timely screenings – especially colonoscopies – play a significant role in an individual’s chance of beating colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy is the most accurate and effective screening method. During the procedure, a physician can examine the entire length of the colon, remove a polyp before it becomes cancerous and detect and sometimes remove cancerous polyps, giving people a greater opportunity to survive.

“Our care teams have made a meaningful impact in countless patients’ lives, helping them prevent colorectal cancer, detect it and continue ongoing surveillance,” said John Popp, MD, Medical Director for AMSURG. “Still, so much work remains to educate people about gastrointestinal health and the importance of not delaying care. Even as people are making up for colonoscopies missed during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know more people are being diagnosed younger and that many aren’t receiving their first screening at the recommended age of 45.”

Research on the increase in early-onset colorectal cancer by AMSURG and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai supports recommendations by the American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventative Services Task Force for individuals at average risk to begin screening at 45 instead of 50. However, AMSURG data shows that the average age of patients seen in its ambulatory surgery centers receiving their first screening is 57 – more than a decade late.

“As a 22-year colon cancer survivor, I’m begging people to get screened,” said Keith Lyons, an endoscopy technician at AMSURG’s Endoscopy Center of Red Bank in New Jersey. “I am living proof that you can survive and thrive. Nobody should have to experience what I did after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer at 32 – surgeries to remove my colon, chemotherapy and so much more. I am very thankful. Now, I fight every day to care for others and give them a chance to live.” Watch his story to learn more about his colon cancer journey and mission to care for and protect people.

“Our team’s dedication to caring deeply for patients and helping them navigate some of their most difficult times is truly inspiring,” said Jeff Snodgrass, President of AMSURG. “We all play a role in caring for one another and raising awareness. Talking more openly about the signs, risk factors and screening recommendations for colorectal cancer is important. In doing so, anyone, no matter who you are, can help save someone’s life.”

Individuals with a family or personal history of colorectal cancer or pre-malignant polyps are at a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer and need to be screened earlier and more frequently. That also applies to individuals with a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease. Colorectal cancer symptoms are not always noticeable, but they can include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. Individuals should consult a physician if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms or have questions about when they should be screened. To learn more about colorectal cancer or where to schedule a colonoscopy, visit StopColonCancerNow.com.

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About AMSURG
AMSURG acquires, develops and operates ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) in partnership with physicians throughout the United States. AMSURG owns and operates more than 250 ASCs in 34 states and the District of Columbia with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. To learn more about AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare Corporation, visit www.amsurg.com.

About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology and neonatology. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

Video: Colon Cancer Survivor and Endoscopy Technician Urges People to Get Screened

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Second chances aren’t a given, which is why Keith Lyons is determined to make the most of his.

“I’m a survivor. I got a second chance at life, and I’m not going to sit on it,” said Keith, an endoscopy technician at the Endoscopy Center of Red Bank, an AMSURG-affiliated ambulatory surgery center in New Jersey.

He is committed to helping others survive. In addition to raising awareness, he supports physicians in detecting and preventing colorectal cancer through colonoscopies at work.

As a teenager, he had an inflammatory bowel disease and didn’t like the thought of having to receive additional colonoscopies. Then, at 32, with the help of a trusted nurse and knowing the importance of his gastrointestinal health, he decided to get screened. That’s when he learned of his Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis, which he has worked to overcome.

“It’s an everyday fight. I’m not going to lie. But I’m still here to fight because I chose to get myself checked out.”

Now 55, Keith continues to spread his message of survival, encouraging people to get screened and using his experience to break stigmas around colonoscopies.

“‘Colon cancer is preventable.’ That’s my slogan,” he said. “Please get checked.”

Celebrating Black History Month

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Legacy, love, inspiration and leadership – these are some of the many meanings of Black history. From learning the achievements of Black trailblazers and honoring their families’ culture to uplifting the next generation, our teammates talk about the many ways they celebrate Black History Month and the stories of Black people.

Black history is American history and during February and beyond, we encourage everyone to reflect on the different experiences of our community members and how we can all work to create a more supportive, inclusive and just society.

Envision Healthcare Releases New White Paper Addressing Social Determinants of Health

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, is continuing work to improve health equity by addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). The medical group’s new white paper details how clinicians and healthcare professionals can work together to improve medical care for all patients. SDOH are the economic, political and/or cultural forces that influence the health of people and the communities in which they live. For many people in the United States, external factors have as great of an influence on their physical and mental health as any actionable guidelines for healthy living.

“Social determinants of health affect every person in every society, and their impact on health equity can be positive or negative,” said Sara Champoux, DHSc, PA-C, Vice President of Clinician Value and practicing emergency medicine clinician at Envision Healthcare. “Our clinician-led medical group is working to educate teammates, healthcare partners and stakeholders about these factors and their impact on an individual’s health. We are committed to providing quality care, establishing clinical best practices and advocating for reforms that advance the highest level of health for all people.”

The COVID-19 pandemic brought social determinants of health to the forefront, highlighting, and – in some instances – exacerbating existing healthcare disparities. The higher rates of illness and death among people of color is one example. Moreover, patients in rural communities were also disproportionately affected by COVID-19, experiencing 175 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents compared with 151 deaths per 100,000 residents for urban communities, according to data by McKinsey.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists several SDOH ranging from early childhood development to residential segregation to household income. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has organized these factors into five domains:

  1. Health and Healthcare
  2. Education
  3. Neighborhood and Built Environment
  4. Economic Stability
  5. Social and Community Context

The white paper explores these domains and includes examples of how medical groups like Envision can address SDOH within each domain.

Envision is committed to advocating for local, state and federal policy changes that address SDOH. This includes supporting the following:

  1. The development of and access to health equity measures
  2. The efforts to provide additional resources and facilitate stakeholder coordination
  3. Improving access to virtual health
  4. The transition to value-based care

The full white paper is available here. It builds on the work Envision has done to address healthcare disparities.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

White Paper: Social Determinants of Health

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Envision is committed to establishing best practices, implementing innovative approaches to care and advocating for reforms that will help attain the highest level of health for all people. As part of its efforts to improve health equity, the medical group released a new white paper examining social determinants of health and how clinicians and healthcare professionals can work together to address the social, cultural, economic and political factors that help or hinder individuals’ health.

Read the white paper here.

Introducing Candid Conversations

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I’m excited to introduce the new “Candid Conversations” video series, featuring Envision teammates in endearing and curiosity-fueled interviews.

We share stories about our lives and work caring for our communities. We also learn about the qualities that make us unique and find common ground on the ones that make us all human. Join us as we share some laughs and tears and gain a deeper appreciation for one another.

In this first conversation, Dr. Mansoor Khan talks about starting a business in a basement and caring for those in need through Envision’s trips to the Dominican Republic.


In my nearly three years with Envision, I’ve had the honor of meeting many of you. While these videos are snapshots of our interactions, I hope they bring us closer together and inspire you to create similar meaningful moments with your teams.

Look for more videos as we head into 2023 and engage with teammates.

Envision Healthcare’s Inaugural Clinical Impact Report Details High-Quality Patient Care Initiatives

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today released its 2021 Clinical Impact Report, highlighting its impact on patients’ lives and communities across the country last year. The full report is available at EnvisionHealth.com/Impact-Report.

“In 2021, we remained on the frontlines for patients, exceeding national care quality benchmarks and implementing new programs that improve patients’ access to the right care at the right time,” said Jim Rechtin, Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “We also made strides in enhancing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Clinician Wellness programs. While there is no way to measure the true impact the Envision team has had on the millions of people we serve, this inaugural report provides a snapshot of the many ways we make a difference.”

Envision’s 2021 Clinical Impact Report demonstrates how Envision is providing care when and where it’s needed most. Last year, the Envision team rose to the many unique demands for care and drove positive changes within the U.S. healthcare system. Grounded in its commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, the team continued combating the COVID-19 pandemic, responded to natural disasters and humanitarian crises and advanced innovative care approaches.

Envision remains focused on elevating the voices of clinicians and patients and championing solutions that improve the healthcare system for everyone. As the medical group moves forward in 2022, it will continue protecting the patient-clinician relationship, caring deeply for everyone and centering its actions on advancing the delivery of safe, quality care.

Making a Positive Impact
From providing lifesaving care to preventing colon cancer to welcoming newborns into the world, Envision is uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on millions of people in the U.S. In 2021, Envision’s 30,000 clinical and clinical support teammates and 4,000 ambulatory surgery center physician partners cared for America through millions of visits, including:

  • 30 million patient encounters
  • 16 million emergency department visits
  • 9 million radiology reads
  • 6 million anesthesia cases
  • 900,000 colonoscopies
  • 180,000 cataract surgeries
  • 132,000 newborn deliveries supported

Caring for Communities
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical group has helped lead the nation’s COVID-19 response, caring for patients and working to mitigate the spread of the virus. More than 500 Envision clinicians have traveled to hard-hit communities to provide lifesaving care and relief since the beginning of the pandemic. In 2021, Envision clinicians treated more than 3.4 million COVID-19 patients through emergency department and inpatient visits, including in the intensive care unit. Clinicians also administered COVID-19 tests and vaccines to first responders and community members. Envision continues to educate the public about the importance of getting vaccinated, leading by example through its commitment to having a fully vaccinated team.

Through its disaster response program and years of expertise responding to crises, Envision teams are helping community members navigate some of the nation’s most challenging times. In 2021, Envision clinicians cared for more than 5,000 Afghan refugees for five months until they were resettled and had the resources needed to begin their new lives in the U.S. Teammates also supported communities during the deep freeze in Texas, Hurricane Ida in Louisiana, the tornadoes in the Midwest and the Marshall Fire in Colorado.

Providing Safe, High-Quality, Patient-Centered Care
Through Envision’s commitment to a culture of safety, clinicians are continuously evaluating clinical protocols and developing best practices to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. Envision operates one of 94 Patient Safety Organizations listed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services division, which helps improve the quality and safety of patient care. Through the Physicians Quality Registry, a Qualified Clinical Data Registry approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Envision is one of the largest submitters of performance data to Medicare and is helping define the quality of care nationally.

Last year, Envision clinicians developed one new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System measure. Clinicians also exceeded several national quality benchmarks, including measures regarding sepsis, non-opioid pain therapy and the care of babies born weighing less than 1,500 grams.

Empowering Teammates to Thrive
Envision is focused on caring for the people who care for America. In 2021, the medical group remained steadfast in its efforts to prioritize the health of its teams through its comprehensive Clinician Wellness program, which includes free mental health services, peer-to-peer support, crisis debriefs and leadership coaching. Envision also advocated for the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Act – a bipartisan bill designed to help change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare.

Last year, Envision continued advancing its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program, raising awareness and providing teammates with educational opportunities and resources to support DEI. As a medical group caring for communities that reflect the country’s racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and economic diversity, Envision recognizes its responsibility to create a more just and inclusive society.

To download and read the report, visit EnvisionHealth.com/Impact-Report.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

Envision Healthcare Applauds Enactment of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

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Bipartisan Clinician Well-Being Legislation Promotes Mental Health Among Those Working on the Frontlines of the Pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today welcomed the enactment of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act and the country’s efforts to prioritize healthcare professionals’ health and well-being. The bipartisan bill is named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician in New York City who died by suicide in April 2020 after caring for patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation advances the critical effort to change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law after it was approved with strong support from both parties in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

“The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of supporting the health and well-being of clinicians who go above and beyond to care for patients in need,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Patient and Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will help America’s healthcare professionals access critical mental health resources. The enactment of this law sends a strong signal of support to clinicians across the United States, particularly as we enter the third year of the pandemic.”

Specifically, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act:

  • Establishes grants for training health profession students, residents or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The grants would also help improve health care professionals’ well-being and job satisfaction.
  • Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.
  • Establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.
  • Establishes grants for employee education, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment; health care providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized.
  • Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals’ health.

Healthcare providers go through years of intensive training, incur significant financial debt from school and give up time spent with their families to provide lifesaving care to their community members. Many clinicians have the added pressure of being exposed to trauma and managing their own emotional responses while remaining a source of calm and strength for their patients, their families and their teams. During the course of the pandemic, Envision has provided crisis peer support, implemented mental health leadership training, enhanced formal mental health services and launched peer-to-peer support groups for clinicians.

“Envision Healthcare strongly supported this bipartisan bill as it made its way through Congress,” said Patrick Velliky, Vice President of Government Affairs at Envision Healthcare. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put a significant strain on all healthcare professionals and our already fragile healthcare ecosystem. We must protect the clinicians who care for our country. Providing them with critical resources, as outlined in the bill, is a positive first step in helping them thrive and supporting the long-term health of our nation. This bill aligns with our initiatives to promote clinician well-being, and we are very pleased to see the president sign it into law.”

To learn more about Envision’s commitment to professional well-being, click here.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation

Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.