Outpatient Surgery Centers: 3 Key Advantages
As you make final decisions about your cosmetic surgery, you may be surprised to learn that your plastic surgeon wants to operate in his or her own surgical facility. “Right here in the office?” you might ask. “Does that make sense?” “What about a hospital?”
Until recent times, hospitals have been the one and only choice for surgical procedures. Indeed, even a few of the best plastic surgeons here in New York still prefer to operate in hospital settings, and some patients with underlying health conditions require monitoring and overnight stays hospitals are best equipped to offer. But more and more outpatient procedures including cosmetic surgeries are performed in what are called ambulatory surgical facilities or outpatient surgery centers.
Convenience and cost considerations are certainly factors for you and your surgeon. But those aren’t the only reasons these facilities are becoming increasingly popular; in fact, they’re not even the leading reasons! Here are three key advantages of outpatient surgery centers.
Accredited Facilities Are Safe
Studies have shown that properly accredited outpatient surgical centers are just as safe as hospitals. Look for the stamp of approval by a national organization such as the Joint Commission or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities and you’ll know your plastic surgeon’s facility regularly undergoes rigorous inspection and evaluation.
In fact, there’s an undeniable health-related advantage to having your procedure in an outpatient center. Chances are you will be the only patient or one of very few patients being operated on the day of your surgery. This lowers the risk of infection.
Your Plastic Surgeon Is in Charge
When your plastic surgeon owns and manages the surgical center, he or she makes the critical decisions that affect your safety and experience. These include equipment and supplies—feel free to request a tour of the facility and ask about technology on hand in case of an emergency. You may also notice supplies the staff can use to increase your comfort such as warming blankets.
Staff—that’s another advantage you’ll find in a private surgical facility. Your plastic surgeon’s team will be made up of professionals your surgeon has chosen to work with, and chances are they operate side-by-side on a daily basis. You won’t be cared for by whoever is on the schedule that day, as would be the case in a hospital.
The Focus Is on You
Hospitals are busy places by nature—teaching hospitals are even more so. Shared rooms, shift changes and visitors coming and going are all fairly routine. In an outpatient surgical facility, you’ll be able to relax in a quiet, private environment with the full attention of the surgical team. Many patients remark about the stress-free nature of their experience in private surgical centers.
There is an important hospital connection your plastic surgeon must have, even if your procedure does not take place there. You need to verify that your doctor has privileges in a fully accredited hospital near his or her ambulatory surgical facility. This tells you two things: first, that your plastic surgeon is considered in good standing in the local medical community and second that you can be admitted to the hospital in the rare case of an emergency.
Questions about the facility where you’ll have surgery are just some of the things to ask as you prepare for your procedure. It’s important information to know. Be sure to put some questions about this aspect of surgery on the list to take with you to your consultation.
