BayCare St. Anthony's Hospital Surpasses Record 10,000-Plus Surgeries in 2025

 

BayCare St. Anthony’s Hospital is celebrating a benchmark year, surpassing 10,000 surgical procedures in a single year for the first time in its nearly 95-year history. This achievement illustrates the hospital’s and BayCare’s commitment to high-quality, compassionate care and highlights the collaborative and efficient environment that supports surgeons, hospital staff and patients.  

The hospital performed its 10,000th surgery on Dec. 15 and finished the year with 10,445 procedures – an approximately 5% increase over 2024’s total of 9,936 surgeries.  

Most of the surgical procedures were in neurosurgery, orthopedic and general surgery. Other specialties included ear, nose and throat; urology; bariatrics; plastic surgery and podiatry. The hospital performed 1,049 robot-assisted surgeries.  

St. Anthony’s Hospital President Scott Smith said there are many factors that played a part in reaching the milestone. “Overall, we are proud to be the choice for so many community providers to bring their surgeries here,” Smith said. “And our patients recognize the extraordinary care we provide, too. Daily, we receive comments from patients who are thankful for our team and the care they provide.”  

Kevin Huguet, MD, the co-medical director of the St. Anthony’s Hospital Heartburn and Swallowing Center, performed the 10,000th surgery. 

Over the past eight years, St. Anthony’s Hospital has invested in several upgrades, renovations and additions to its surgical services. Some of the changes were part of the construction of the hospital’s patient tower which opened in 2022, including:  

Six new operating rooms, including three advanced glass-walled surgical suites, which also opened in 2022; 

• An expanded Pre-Operative Unit to care for patients as they prepare for surgery; 
• A renovated Post-Anesthesia II Care Unit to provide a comfortable setting for patient recovery as anesthesia wears off; and 
• An expanded sterile processing department to efficiently clean, sterilize and maintain surgical instruments.

St. Anthony’s Hospital was recognized with a Pinnacle of Excellence Award winner in physician experience from the Press Ganey Human Experience Award® for 2025. The award recognizes organizations in which physicians are deeply engaged and aligned with their mission — resulting in better outcomes for both teams and patients. The hospital also was listed among the 11 BayCare hospitals that received an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that promotes patient safety. It was St. Anthony’s Hospital’s 11th consecutive time to receive an “A,” the group’s highest rating.  

“Over the year, St. Anthony’s has also seen phenomenal growth in terms of the complexity of procedures that are able to be done for patients,” said Adam Befeler, MD, a BayCare Medical Group neurosurgeon, medical director of the BayCare Neuroscience Institute and the hospital’s chief of surgery.  “The great team, from nurses to techs to surgeons, works so well together to achieve outstanding surgical results and more efficient surgery all while providing a caring and compassionate environment for patients and their families to recover.”  

St. Anthony’s Hospital plans to continue growing its neurosurgical and robotics programs.  The hospital’s Neuro Intensive Care Unit opened last year and with the BayCare Medical Group Neurosurgeons on board, there is now an increased number of brain and spine surgeries being performed. The hospital also is in the process of growing its robotic programs with more advanced robotic cases.  St. Anthony’s Hospital is specifically focused on the hepatobiliary and pancreas program. 

Learn more about the types of surgeries performed at St. Anthony’s Hospital: BayCare St. Anthony’s surgical services