Surgical center has solid record

I am writing on behalf of DuPage Medical Group to respond to the recent article "Surgery Clinics Risking Infection" that appeared in the Daily Herald on July 15.

We believe the article did not present the full picture of patient care provided in ambulatory surgery centers, including the DMG Surgical Center.

The article notes that the state's inspection of our surgery center found that we failed to maintain an active infection control program. This is inaccurate. Our quality control committee regularly met and reviewed infection control issues and any (rare) infection related complications.

During the time of the Illinois health department survey our infection control rate was .03 percent, which is well below the recommended surgery center benchmark infection rate of 1 percent. In response to the survey findings, we formed a separate committee whose sole responsibility is carrying out the infection control policy and program to ensure our patients continue to receive high-quality medical care.

The article also did not mention that in May 2009 we received a three-year (the longest possible) accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care with no deficiencies noted.

As physicians it is important for us to provide the highest quality of medical care while being prudent stewards of the health care dollar. We have worked to make our center an example of health care excellence and are proud of our safety and patient satisfaction records. We are confident that as all the facts are examined, our patients and the community will agree.

Paul Merrick, M.D.

President DuPage Medical Group

Downers Grove