Central Kentucky residents will have greater access to same-day surgery after a UK Board of Trustees executive committee meeting.

At a Thursday evening meeting of the Board of Trustee’s executive committee, the group approved the formation of a new ambulatory surgery center that will be owned and operated by UK HealthCare and Surgical Care Affiliates. 

The motion also authorized UK HealthCare to give $1,200,295 to Surgery Blue, a newly created UK entity, to invest 51 percent of the general partnership.

“I think it brings new opportunities for our physicians and our patients. It creates a very patient-centered location that is easy for them to come to and receive care,” said Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Mark Newman. 

Newman said physicians could begin operating under the new entity as soon as October.

Lexington Surgery Center, which opened in 1981 and moved to Harrodsburg Road in 2002, is an affiliate of SCA. SCA will continue to operate LSC. 

A university governing regulation allows the executive committee to oversee university financial and business affairs between meetings of the full board.