| Times have changed in surgery. About fifteen | | | | been thoroughly inspected for their physical |
| years ago, just about all surgery – no matter | | | | layout, staff training, safety equipment, and |
| how routine or small the procedure – was | | | | emergency protocols to assure they have the |
| done in the hospital. Now, the majority of all | | | | highest level of professionalism and safety. |
| surgical procedures are performed in outpatient | | | | You should ask your surgeon why he chooses to |
| surgery centers. These facilities are usually | | | | use the given surgery center. Has he found the |
| freestanding and are not attached to the hospital. | | | | surgery center to be safe and convenient for |
| Now, even relatively complex and lengthy | | | | patients? You should ask if the surgery center |
| procedures are performed in outpatient surgery | | | | has a transfer agreement with a local hospital. In |
| centers. These facilities are sometimes also | | | | case of a problem, this confirms that you can get |
| called ambulatory surgery centers. More than | | | | quick access to emergency care in the hospital |
| 90% of all plastic surgery procedures such as | | | | setting. You should ask about the safety |
| breast augmentation as well as rhinoplasty and | | | | equipment on hand at the facility. Following your |
| liposuction are performed in outpatient facilities. | | | | procedure in an outpatient surgery center, you |
| This is especially the case with Beverly Hills plastic | | | | likely will go home. You should ask your surgeon |
| surgery. | | | | what provisions are made for contacting him and |
| This shift puts the burden on the patient or | | | | her with questions and concerns during off |
| consumer to choose wisely. Surgery of all kinds | | | | hours. You should also ask who will be |
| has never been safer or more effective. But it | | | | performing your anesthesia. Is the |
| is still a serious undertaking and the facility where | | | | anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist experienced |
| it is performed is a key component of overall | | | | in outpatient surgery? You might also ask to |
| safety. | | | | receive any prescriptions for post-procedure |
| There are several things to look for when | | | | medications prior to your surgery day, so you |
| evaluating whether you should use a particular | | | | need not go to the pharmacy following your |
| outpatient surgery center. The most important | | | | surgery. |
| issue is safety. You should check on the | | | | Outpatient surgery is now routine and safe. But |
| certification of the outpatient surgery center. | | | | it is important to check on the surgery center |
| Some states offer licensure of these facilities, | | | | prior to deciding where to have your procedure |
| while others do not. There are certifying | | | | performed. This is true for small procedures, or |
| organizations that inspect facilities. Some of | | | | something larger, such as a Los Angeles breast |
| these include AAAHC and Medicare. When a | | | | augmentation. |
| facility has these sorts of certifications, they have | | | | |