Compass Surgical Partners, an independent full-service ambulatory surgery center (ASC) development and management partner, has announced the appointment of Darcy Smith as the company’s first chief people officer (CPO).
Smith will report directly to Chief Executive Officer DJ Hill.
Smith’s appointment comes at an important juncture for Compass, as the company experiences substantial growth through expansive partnerships with major health systems. To support the scaling operations and the opening of new ASCs across the nation, Compass plans to significantly increase its staffing throughout 2024, Smith told ASC News.
Compass has developed more than 250 ASCs over the past three decades. It is currently in 13 markets with exclusive health care system partners.
“We expect that to rocket over the coming years,” Hill said.
As the company expands, a big focus will be on employer branding, Smith told ASC News.
“I think the centers are very attractive, and we’ve seen this for talent,” Smith said. “So, everything from great working hours to great cultures, to learning, you know, certain specialties that maybe they haven’t had exposure to in the past.”
Smith has over 25 years of experience in human resources, including roles at Highmark Health and Empire Vision Centers (now VisionWorks), where she led HR initiatives that improved operational efficiency and employee engagement.
Partnerships with professional employer organizations like MedHQ, which specializes in ASC roles, will be key in building out the workforce for specialized roles.
“They have deep expertise in these roles in clinical settings and really specialize in ASCs,” she said. “We’re partnering with them … especially for roles that are tough to fill. And that’s just the nature of the market. We’re working with them on really making sure we’re getting a great pipeline of people.”
