One of the top ambulatory care centers in the state is located in Carbon County, according to rankings recently released by Newsweek magazine.

Carbon-Schuylkill Endoscopy Center, located on South 9th Street in Lehighton, came in seventh in Pennsylvania, finishing ahead of Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine and Allegheny Health Network facilities, among others.

We were really surprised because we didn’t submit anything or know about this,” said Dr. Ahmed Hasan, who bought the center seven years ago. “This was their survey. It’s really something to take pride in. It’s a kudos to our staff because they make this all possible.”

The survey spotlighted the 400 best centers in the 25 states that have the most facilities, including Pennsylvania.

“Our experts and our survey participants assessed quality of care, performance data and peer recommendations relative to in-state competition,” Nancy Cooper, Newsweek global editor-in-chief said of the survey. “They also took into account how well facilities were responding to the threat of COVID-19.”

Focusing on colonoscopies and endoscopies has allowed the center to maintain cost control, Hasan said.

“We cost half of what it would pay if someone went to the hospital,” Hasan said. “Hospitals have a lot of overhead. We just do this. It’s why we have patients come from places like Easton, Phillipsburg and Reading. We understand how hard it is for people and that is why we’ve put such an emphasis on cost control.”

Dr. David Newton founded the CSEC in 2004, but tragically passed away after an automobile crash two years later. While the center went through several owners until Hasan, much of the core staff has remained constant.

“It’s a very personal, family like setting here,” Marie Kurchak, nurse administrator, said. “At the most, there is usually about three people here at a time so you get that one-on-one connection with staff. The patients really don’t feel rushed.”

For Newsweek’s survey, participants were asked to rank quality, differentiating among variables including management in times of the COVID-19 crisis, management of waiting time, quality of surgery preparations, quality of surgical care and quality of follow-up care.

Hasan credited his staff and patients for their handling of COVID-19.

“Our staff has been very diligent,” Hasan said. “At the beginning, people were afraid to come in and were nervous about the COVID-19 situation. But the alternative is to not get checked for cancer, and any delay there could be deadly. We follow all CDC guidelines, and it’s gone very well for us here.”

The center uses all disposable materials, and that has created a bit more work, Kurchak said, but it’s all in the name of safety.

“We’re constantly searching to try and keep personal protective equipment and supplies at an adequate level,” she said. “There is more paperwork behind the scenes, and of course all of the pre-appointment screenings to make sure the patients coming in are healthy and not at-risk.”

The center has three physicians who perform procedures including Hasan, Dr. Andrew Schwartz and Dr. Mehreema Jawairia.

“We take a lot of pride in where we landed in these rankings ahead of some big-city names,” Hasan said. “When you’re in a small town with a very specific specialty, you can run a tight ship. We just do gastroenterology. It’s what we do for a living. We know everything about the quality parameters how to contain cost and feel like we do it well.”

One bit of advice, Hasan said, is for people who put off procedures like a colonoscopy because of horror stories they have heard in the past to block out that stereotype. He credits the anesthesia service the center has used since day one with helping patients feel at ease.

“People really seem to like the sedation offered here,” Hasan said. “Referring doctors have also told us that their patients go back to them and tell them they had a great experience. Word-of-mouth is our biggest advertiser.”

Colon cancer is the second biggest killer in the nation, and Hasan recommends getting checked sooner rather than later.

“It’s not a bad experience if you come to us,” he said. “It’s quick. We are trying to do our bit to screen and prevent cancer. Every time we take out a polyp, we’re stopping it from becoming cancer.”