Outpatient surgery means your procedure is performed in a hospital or surgery center, and you return home the same day of your procedure. In the past, surgery meant you had to stay in a hospital after the procedure to recover for at least a few days. Nowadays, hospital stays are not required for a lot of procedures. The alternative, known as outpatient surgery, is the preferred option for many.
Outpatient surgery, which includes hand and shoulder surgeries, have substantial advantages and benefits over inpatient surgery.
Less Pain, More Comfort and Convenience
Outpatient surgeries don’t require you to stay overnight. Some of these procedures are minimally invasive, which makes use of smaller incisions and cause less trauma and pain to your body, which translates to less pain and a faster recovery for you.
Because you don’t have to stay in a hospital, outpatient surgery is significantly less stressful on your body compared to inpatient surgery. The experience of recovering in the comfort of your home is invaluable and can make things easier for you and the people who will take care of you.
The locations of the clinics offering outpatient surgery are also typically more accessible, which makes pre- and post-operative care experiences relatively better for patients and their families.
Lower Cost
Outpatient surgeries cost significantly less than inpatient surgeries. An inpatient surgery will cost more because of the hospital room charges and other related fees. Eliminating these costs reduces the amount charged, which benefits patients and insurers simultaneously.
If you are worried about the quality of care because of the lower cost, the quality of outpatient surgeries is the same as inpatient operations. Hospitals, clinics, and outpatient surgery centers offering the service are equipped with the appropriate tools for the procedures being performed. The price difference is only attributable to the improved productivity of these outpatient health institutions and in no way reflects the quality of your care or procedure.
Flexible Scheduling
Most people don’t like staying or even going to the hospital. Since an overnight stay is not necessary for many surgeries, you and your provider will have more flexibility with setting your surgery date that is convenient for your schedule.
Moreover, larger hospitals will inevitably have emergency surgeries and procedures, which may take longer than expected. In effect, this could delay the scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, there are fewer delays in practices or smaller facilities that offer outpatient surgery because the procedures take less time and are more routine.
Safety
Outpatient surgery is safe. A patient’s health history, information, and current condition are checked thoroughly before surgery. The procedures, aside from taking less time, are also associated with less risk for complications.
Outpatient Surgery in Palm Beach County, Florida
Outpatient surgeries provide many benefits to patients who need to undergo hand and surgical operations. At South Palm Orthopedics, we include outpatient surgery in our on-site services. Dr. Steve Meadows uses only the latest surgical and non-surgical techniques to treat hand, elbow, shoulder, and upper extremity problems.
Our clinic welcomes patients from Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and the surrounding areas. If you have any questions concerning outpatient surgeries or if you want to schedule an appointment, call us today at (561) 496-6622. If you have an urgent medical need after our regular hours, a doctor is on call 24 hours a day, and we will return your call promptly. You may also request an appointment using our online appointment request form
