OUR PURPOSE
Physician Assistant Surgical Associates is committed to providing hospitals and their patients with physician extenders who possess superior clinical knowledge and technical ability in the area of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Our team members are dedicated and reliable, professional and courteous, and most importantly, caring. PASA and its healthcare providers continually strive to improve hospital cost, program efficiency, and patient care delivery and outcomes while maintaining the highest quality standards.
OUR PATH
In 2010, we saw a growing need for competent and seasoned providers (PA/NP) in CT Surgery in the Philadelphia-metro area. Out of this demand, the concept of Physician Assistant Surgical Associates, PASA,LLC was formed. Owned and operated by board certified PAs with over 20 years of experience, PASA has now grown from one contract in 2010 to ten contracts from New Jersey to Central PA. Our team’s commitment to quality care, cost-efficiency, and proven 3 Star STS rated outcomes have accelerated us to one of the foremost staffing organizations in the area.
Unlike many traditional staffing companies, PASA was formed based on the idea that every CT Surgery program has different needs, which can change over time. With a large team of practitioners who specialize in CT Surgery, PASA has been able to increase support at a time of need or scale down coverage as necessary while maintaining the consistency and trust that is crucial to the surgeons and staff. From four providers in 2010 to over twenty team members in 2016, our staff is committed to a common goal of delivering empathetic, dependable, quality and cost-effective cardiothoracic surgical care.
Christina Harp
PA-C
After graduating from Yale University’s first Master’s Curriculum Physician Associate Program in 1997, I was hired by the University of PA to work at Presbyterian Medical Center which was a thriving program promoting PA autonomy in the ICU and OR. Exposed and trained at Presby in Endoscopic Vein Harvesting as well as other advanced OR skills, I went on to work for a new CT Surgery Program at Doylestown Hospital in 2000 which had around the clock PA in-house coverage. I was a Co-Chief at the end of my tenure there and then was recruited to work at Phoenixville Hospital where I was the Chief of the Cardiothoracic Service Line prior to starting a family. In 2010, I was approached about becoming a partner in a company that would be owned and operated by CT Surgery PAs. The goal was to staff programs with driven, experienced, caring mid-levels who would provide consistent, reliable, quality care to patients and help CT Surgery programs offer these attributes cost-effectively. As an owner, I continued to work clinically for PASA when in 2013 I took over a more administrative role taking charge of operations and managerial responsibilities with the assistance of my partner and practice manager. I have been married for 20 years, have two growing sons, ages 7 and 4. My hobbies include yoga, raising our sons, learning Spanish and someday… the cello.
Carlos Ortega
PA-C
I was born and raised in Guatemala. My father was a Surgeon and then upon our move state side he transitioned to Pediatric Radiology. Our dinner conversations revolved around the subject of Medicine. Needless to say, this was the catalyst for my interest in Medicine. From the start, I have been most interested with Cardiac Surgery and have been practicing for nearly 20 years. PASA was started to offer well-trained and highly motivated Physician Assistants. I am thankful to be a part of a well organized, growing and caring organization.
Lynn Brown
Practice Manager
I am fortunate to have been working for PASA since June of 2013. Prior to that I managed two CT surgical practices at a local hospital, one private practice and one hospital based. Those settings have given me experience in a wide range of practice management including HR matters, scheduling, and all aspects of financial matters. I’ve been involved in patient insurance billing, hospital and insurance company credentialing of providers, quality measures reporting, and the many other things that it takes to manage a medical practice. I’ve also worked in the clinical side of the office practice giving me experience with patient contact and direct relationships with CT surgeons. For many years prior to getting into the CT Surgical field of medicine, I managed a Pediatric practice. As you can imagine, it was quite a change going from Pediatrics to CT Surgery which has provided me with a whole new spectrum of knowledge. I truly enjoy my position with PASA through which I’ve had the opportunity to meet many new people, both in the practice and in the various hospitals where we have contracts. When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my family, children, grandchildren and friends. I also like traveling, playing volleyball, biking, hiking, canoeing, and pretending to go to the gym.