HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- SurgiCare, Inc. (AMEX:SRG), a Houston-based Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) company, reported today record surgical procedures for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. The company completed 8,603 procedures for its fiscal year, a 51.04% increase versus a similar period last year, and 2,184 surgical procedures for the fourth quarter, a 10.03% increase when compared with the same period last year. The procedures were performed at its San Jacinto, Bellaire and Memorial Village locations. The company owns a 60% interest in Memorial Village and a 10% interest in San Jacinto.
"We believe that the value-added created for our shareholders and doctors includes more than just rapid nationwide expansion," said Dr. David Blumfield, SurgiCare's Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. "We have focused on making accretive acquisitions and organic development, but also on improving the efficiency of our existing centers. We believe that we can continue to generate double-digit growth in surgical procedures, as these centers continue to increase in profitability, even while we roll-out our national expansion plans."
About SurgiCare, Inc.
SurgiCare, Inc., offers licensed, freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers for use by physicians and its physician partners and their patients. Freestanding refers to the fact that the facilities are physically and organizationally independent from a hospital. Ambulatory Surgery means surgical procedures that do not require hospitalization after the surgery. The ASCs are run under the guidance of a committee of physician partners. SurgiCare's goal is to grow through mergers, acquisitions and turnkey management contracts in conjunction with physician-involved supervision and potential equity participation within a public company model. SurgiCare has assembled a team of highly qualified industry professionals that are equipped to effectively manage multiple ASCs, essentially cutting operational costs and increasing profit margins. For more information on SurgiCare, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.surgicareinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of SurgiCare, Inc. (the Company) to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk factors contained in the Company's Annual Reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the Company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.