Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Progressive Model for Surgical Services

You may be wondering what an ambulatory surgical center is and why you should consider having your surgery there instead of a hospital.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) are healthcare facilities that offer patients the convenience of having surgeries and other procedures performed safely outside of a hospital setting. You may not be aware that ASCs have been around for more than four decades. Prior to ASCs, it was not uncommon to wait weeks or even months for surgery. After surgery in a hospital, patients tend to spend days in a hospital bed and weeks out of work recovering. Due to the rigorous demands of our society, this is not something that many of us can accommodate anymore.

Today, physicians continue to improve upon the ASC model. By operating in the ASCs instead of hospitals, physicians gain an increased control over their surgical practices. In an ASC setting, physicians are able to schedule procedures more conveniently, ensure they are using the equipment best suited to their techniques, and design facilities that are best suited for their patients.

For instance, the Surgery Center of Orthopedic Associates (SCOA) is currently building two luxurious recovery suites for patients to relax in while they wait for their anesthesia to wear off before being discharged to recover in the comfort of their own home. Allowing patients to recuperate at home tends to result in a quicker, healthier, and happier recovery than those in a hospital setting.

Not only are ASCs focused on providing the best surgical and recovery experience possible, they also allow patients to save money due to significantly lower co-pay and facility fees. Without the rise of ASCs, healthcare could have cost tens of billions of dollars more. Private insurance companies also tend to save money, which then allows employers to offer lower healthcare costs to their employees. For this reason, employers and insurers have recently been exploring ways to continue to educate patients about this positive movement.

The latest trend in the increase of surgical services at ASCs is the advent of outpatient joint replacement surgery. Due to this exciting new development, total joint replacement can now be performed with better outcomes and at a lower cost. In some studies, infection rates have been shown to be lower as well. We at Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County are proud to utilize rigorous protocols to produce the best and safest joint replacement recovery possible.

Dr. William W. Colman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, specializing in adult reconstructive surgery and joint replacement at Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County. Dr. Colman and his colleagues conduct many of their outpatient surgeries at the Surgery Center of Orthopedic Associates (SCOA). SCOA is a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical facility that has been operating in Poughkeepsie, NY since August 2013. The surgeons and staff at SCOA are committed to providing professional and compassionate care for your orthopedic and pain management needs.