As U. S. Outpatient Surgery Rates Soar, Ambulatory Surgical Centers Shown to be Safer than Doctor's Offices or Hospitals for Same-Day Procedures
According to Mikhail Zalmanov, MD, MBA, DD the director of Anesthesia at Gramercy Surgery in NY, "Today, four of every five surgeries in the U. S. are performed on an outpatient basis -- an estimated 23 million in 2007 -- and 20 percent of them take place at an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). In addition, the popularity of these independent ASCs is growing, as recent data indicates they are a safer, cost-effective, patient-friendly alternative to hospitals/medical centers and doctor's offices."
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 21, 2007
Thirty years ago, the notion of undergoing any type of surgery in the morning and returning home that evening in time to watch the six o'clock news was unheard of. But today, four of every five surgeries in the U. S. are performed on an outpatient basis -- an estimated 23 million in 2007 -- and 20 percent of them take place at an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). In addition, the popularity of these independent ASCs is growing, as recent data indicates they are a safer, cost-effective, patient-friendly alternative to hospitals/medical centers and doctor's offices.
"Since the first Ambulatory Surgical Center opened its doors in the U. S. in 1970, they've revolutionized how surgical care is delivered in the U. S.," notes Mikhail Zalmanov, MD, MBA, DD the director of Anesthesia at Gramercy Surgery, an ASC in Manhattan, NY. "ASCs offer patients numerous advantages over hospitals and private offices at each step of the surgical process," Dr. Zalmanov adds.
SAFETY DATA SUPPORTS ASCs
The primary reason patients are turning more and more often to Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Dr. Zalmanov stresses, is their overall safety record. Unlike private doctor's offices, ASCs are required to be licensed in every state, which usually involves stringent requirements for initial and ongoing inspection and reporting. What's more, those ASCs that provide services to Medicare beneficiaries must also be certified by the federal government. It is this consistent, rigorous monitoring which has led to a record of fewer surgery-related complications and deaths at ASCs than at doctor's offices or hospitals.
Dr. Zalmanov explains, "Ambulatory Surgical Centers have an advantage over hospitals in that they do not admit ill patients, and so the chances of contracting a post-surgical bacterial or viral infection from a patient who was on the table before you, or waiting in the Emergency Room down the hall, or sleeping in the next bed, is virtually non-existent."
While smaller may be better when it comes to the safety of ASCs over hospitals, Dr. Zalmanov warns that the opposite is true of doctor's offices. "The licensing and monitoring requirements for private physician's offices providing surgical services are far from standardized, and this lack of government oversight can have deadly consequences -- especially when anesthesia or sedation is involved," Dr. Zalmanov notes. "I advise those who need a cost-effective option for elective surgery to weigh their options carefully before agreeing to undergo a procedure in a doctor's office," he adds.
ASCs Have "Patient Service" Advantage
In addition to patient health and safety, Ambulatory Surgical Centers usually offer patients a "kinder, gentler" surgical experience than that of a hospital setting, Dr. Zalmanov points out. Advantages include:
Better Timing: Because ASCs do not handle emergency surgeries, patients' procedures are rarely "bumped" from the schedule -- a phenomenon that occurs frequently in hospitals where operating rooms are used to treat ER cases, inpatient emergencies and less critical elective surgeries.
Sharper Focus: The limited number of surgeons at an ASC, the streamlined scope of the surgeries performed, and the consistency of OR nurses and other support staff foster a heightened level of expertise and focus in the key practice areas for each ASC. "Everything from the right personnel to the specific medical equipment and technologies that match each surgeon's unique style comes together in the ASC operating room to make it a more effective, efficient experience for the patient," Dr. Zalmanov explains.
Easier Atmosphere: Most patients facing impending surgery have varying levels of anxiety which can be exacerbated by long wait times in a hospital setting, often in the midst of sick or injured patients. Stress levels can rise, too, when paperwork, insurance information, a helpful employee -- or even the surgeon him - or herself -- cannot be located. ASCs usually operate on such a scaled-down level that patients find the atmosphere and their dealings with staff and surgeons to be much more relaxing than those of a hospital setting.
BIO: Dr. Mikhail Zalmanov
Dr. Mikhail Zalmanov is the Director of Anesthesia Services at Gramercy Surgery Center. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesia and has over 20 years experience in ambulatory surgery in the New York area. Dr. Zalmanov is founder and President of Mobile Anesthesia Associates, PC which is considered the oldest anesthesia group in New York City dedicated solely to providing services for ambulatory surgery.
About Gramercy Surgery Center:
Gramercy Surgery Center located at 380 Second Avenue in the Gramercy Park section of Manhattan was founded in 2006, to provide patients with friendly, high-quality, and professional care. Gramercy Surgery Center has received approval from NY State Department of Health under Article 28 CON. Gramercy Surgery Center is also Medicare-certified. The facilities offer patients and their families a comfortable, private, and friendly environment, quite opposite to the disturbing emergency and trauma situations that patients might encounter in a hospital environment, while providing the highest quality of care in all aspects of the surgical experience.
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