Rosemont Endoscopy Centre in Wollongong remains the only solely focused gastroenterology centre in the Illawarra region, and this year proudly celebrates 30 years of treating patients with compassion, efficiency, and the highest level of medical competency.
Rosemont was founded in 1993 by Dr Peter Cusick who recognised the opportunity for a unique, personalised ‘out of hospital’ gastroenterology centre in the seaside town of Wollongong, where he had been practicing for 18 months. Dr Cusick opened the clinic as the lead gastroenterologist with 6 administrative staff by his side. He said he was inspired by his mentor at the time, Dr Tony Clarke who had opened a gastroenterology centre in Canberra; “applying a similar model, I bought an existing gynaecology clinic and set about renovating it and opened on 13th May 1993 with our first patient.”
“It was unique at the time, and Rosemont really set the standard in Wollongong and continues to do so,” Dr Cusick said.
Approaching retirement, Dr Cusick sold the Rosemont Clinic to Monserrat Day Hospitals in 2016, and the centre has expanded over time with a large team of nursing and administrative staff and six of Australia’s acclaimed gastroenterologists who cover all aspects of gastroenterology, each with a range of special interests.
In 2023, Monseratt was acquired by Nexus Hospitals who operate a national portfolio of specialist short-stay hospitals, offering a personalised and boutique experience.
Six months short of its 30th birthday, the centre underwent renovations to expand and revamp the facility, with purpose-built rooms, state of the art technology, sterilisation equipment and the highest infection control standards. This year the centre has added both capsule endoscopy and iron infusions to its service offering, further enhancing holistic care to its patients and the community.
Reflecting on the last 30 years and Rosemont’s recent renovation and advancement, Dr Cusick comments; “it is an honour to leave a legacy for Wollongong and I am proud to see the centre continue to develop and thrive. The facility is state of the art and the people who make the centre tick are so wonderful, kind and courteous.”
“I speak firsthand about the standard of care. After the recent renovation, I was one of the very first patients to undergo a procedure. I continue to recommend the centre and its doctors to friends and family.”
With a keen focus on streamlining clinical care to offer a full service under the one roof, the expert team of gastroenterologists at Rosemont have well-appointed, onsite consulting rooms and are equipped to handle all outcomes from procedures. With gastroenterology the unique focus, the flow of patients through the centre is more efficient than a general hospital eliminating unnecessary stress and wait time before and after procedures.
Long standing patient Vera Lumb has been coming to Rosemont Endoscopy Centre for 25 years. She said; “the staff at Rosemont are the kindest people to deal with; they are always accommodating when I need an appointment and the doctors are punctual and professional.”
“Over the years I have seen the centre modernised, and the facility is comfortable and welcoming with plenty of onsite parking.”
Rosemont’s Clinical Business Manager and Regional Manager for Victoria and New South Wales, Kari Fedder, says she feels a sense of nostalgia in celebrating the centre’s 30th year.
“The centre has always been unique, offering patients in the Illawarra area a homelier medical experience. We are proud to offer a level of personal care without compromising on the highest standard of medical practice and world class calibre of gastroenterologists,” says Ms Fedder.
The patient experience is a priority at the centre and the convenience of complimentary onsite parking is only one of the many pleasantly surprising features. The patient centric facility commonly receives positive accolades from its visitors with comments about the attentive team and how they eased any pre-procedural anxieties.
Conveniently positioned within a short distance of hotel accommodation and approximately 90 minutes from Sydney by road, Rosemont is easily accessible to patients living from the south coast up to Sydney city. The newly built recovery lounge has been designed with patient comfort in mind and sees over 2000 patients per year wake from procedures with expert nursing staff on-hand to ensure best practice clinical care and the long-awaited sandwich and cup of tea!