East Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center (ETASC) opened its doors with a day of free surgical procedures on Saturday, October 23, 1999, in benefit of Fresh Start, Inc. Johnson City Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Jim Brantner, volunteered to start the facility after learning about Fresh Start two years prior. The facility, a 6,000 square foot surgery center, soon became a thriving center for Dr. Brantner’s surgical practice and his volunteer weekends with Fresh Start.
In May 2002, the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) expanded to offer all specialties. Plans for a new larger facility began in 2004, and in 2006, ETASC began construction on the current 15,150 square foot, $4.2 million facility. The facility ownership is a partnership with physicians and Ballad Health.