Outpatient Surgery Center FAQs [5 important answers to questions asked by patients]

As a patient, you may be confused as to where and how to seek medical advice, or where to perform a surgical procedure, should you need it. We know about your concerns because we have been asked many questions about these problems – and many of these questions are centered around outpatient surgery centers.

Here are some of the answers to your most common questions:

1. What is an outpatient surgery center?

Outpatient surgery centers are health care facilities where surgical procedures, which do not require an overnight hospital stay, are performed. These surgeries are commonly less complicated than procedures with hospitalization.

Outpatient surgery centers are also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), same day surgery centers, or surgicenters.

2. Is outpatient or inpatient surgery more commonly performed?

Reports from the American Hospital Association suggest that a growing share of all surgeries are performed as outpatients surgeries. In 2014 alone 66% of all surgeries were performed as outpatient surgeries – that’s 11,493,100 in one year!

The number of surgical procedures capable of being safely performed in an ambulatory setting increases yearly, as they benefit the patient financially, medically and in terms of the recovery time.

3. Why is outpatient surgery cheaper than inpatient surgery?

Having your surgical procedure performed at an Outpatient Surgery Center, NC, is significantly less expensive than having the same procedure done at a hospital. The main reason for this is that hospital room charges and related costs are a substantial portion of the bill for a surgical procedure.

4. What kind of anesthesia is used during outpatient surgery?

Anesthesia is administered before and during your surgical procedure so you do not feel pain. Some anesthetics induce sleep, while others cause drowsiness and/or numbness. According to the American Association of Anesthesiologists ®, the type of anesthesia you receive will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of procedure you are having, your health and in some cases, your preference. The possible anesthetic techniques that are used at the Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center are:

• Local anesthesia: Some minor surgical procedures at the Raleigh Orthopedic Surgery Center only require the use of numbing medications and do not require the placement of an intravenous line or use of any sedating medications.  
• General anesthesia: an anesthetic technique in which the anesthesia care team gives you medications to keep the you from feeling surgical pain and completely unconscious and unaware of your surroundings. It may be used as the only anesthetic or in combination with a regional anesthetic based on the surgeon or the patient’s preference.
• Regional anesthesia with sedation: a form of anesthesia in which a part of the body is made numb using a local anesthetic (numbing medicine). This technique is often called a “nerve block”. Because our orthopedic surgeons often operate on part of the patient’s arm or leg, nerve blocks are frequently a recommended type of anesthetic for surgery at the Raleigh Orthopedic Surgery Center (ROSC).

5. How should I prepare for outpatient surgery?

Your surgeon will surely explain everything you need to prepare before your surgery, giving you enough time to get ready. They will most commonly ask you to not eat or drink after midnight the day before surgery, to bring a friend or relative with you (you will, most likely, not be able to drive) and to wear comfortable clothing. You should also plan for the recovery time, as you will probably be moved to a recovery room after surgery. It’s where your physician will continue to monitor your breathing and heart function.

In most cases, you will be able to go home between one to four hours after your procedure. Your recovery time will depend on the type of surgery and anesthesia you had, and on your natural recovery abilities.

Read more details about how to be best prepared for outpatient surgery here (for before surgery tips) and here (for after surgery tips).

SURGERY CENTER, NC

If you have any questions regarding the Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center please call 919-719-3070.

The Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center, which opened in the spring of 2013, brings together two premier organizations to provide patients with a new level of orthopaedic surgical excellence. Because we are the largest outpatient surgery center in the Triangle to specialize exclusively in orthopaedics, our patients receive outstanding patient satisfaction,  superior clinical outcomes and reduced costs.

The Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center is accredited by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality of care available. Status as an accredited organization means Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 5,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.