Ambulatory Surgery. Yes this word conjures up feelings of concern among us all. When a doctor tells us that we need to have a surgical procedure, we think of the discomfort, the expense, unfamiliar surroundings, unfamiliar people, waiting, forms, recovery, hospitals, and many other things. Will we have to stay overnight? Will the insurance cover it? What will happen on the day of my surgery?
We don't usually think about the facility. Is it licensed and certified? Who are the nurses and staff? Do they accept my insurance? How long will I have to wait? Do I have to get pre-surgical tests done? How long will the procedure take? Can my family accompany me? Will I be treated like a person or like a surgical case? Will I be comfortable there? These are common questions and concerns.
Surgery may be performed as an inpatient or an outpatient. Usually the nature and type of procedure, our insurance plan rules and our health status will determine whether the surgery is inpatient or outpatient. More and more procedures are being performed on an outpatient basis. This means that the patient has all pre-surgical tests and work-ups before the day of surgery, reports to the outpatient surgery center (sometimes called an ambulatory surgery center) on the day of surgery and has the procedure, and goes home after a short recovery time in the center. The patient then goes to their doctor's office for follow-up visits after surgery. Outpatient surgery requires an excellent surgical team, minimal use of anesthesia, rapid recovery, excellent follow-up, and a licensed and certified facility.
Surgical facilities need to be licensed. The State of Maryland requires that facilities performing outpatient surgery be licensed by the state. This requires an on-site inspection of the facility, review of policies and procedures, verification of credentials of physicians, nurses, and other staff, review of emergency procedures and equipment, and the verification and validation of many other aspects of operations. A facility is licensed by the State to protect the patients and to assure that the facility and its personnel can provide excellent surgical care to the citizens of the State.
Surgical facilities that accept Medicare need to be certified. HCFA (the Health Care Financing Administration) is the agency of our Federal Government responsible for the Medicare program. HCFA is under the Department of Health and Human Services of our Federal government. Any facility wishing to provide surgical services to a Medicare recipient must obtain certification from HCFA. This may be performed in conjunction with the State licensure, as is the case in the State of Maryland. Only licensed and certified facilities can provide reimbursable care for Medicare recipients. Most other insurance companies and managed care companies require that a surgery center be licensed and certified before they will contract for reimbursable services.
The Surgery Center®, associated with Maryland Eye Associates in Prince Frederick, is a licensed, Medicare certified ambulatory surgery facility. The Surgery Center® underwent the rigorous inspection necessary and earned State licensure and Medicare certification. We are in the process of working with most insurance companies and managed care companies to negotiate contractual participation. The Surgery Center® is the first and only licensed and certified outpatient Ophthalmic surgery center in Southern Maryland.
The Surgery Center® is a fully equipped state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center. The 4,500 square foot facility is located at 800 Prince Frederick Blvd. The new facility was designed and constructed by Marshall Erdman & Associates. Marshall Erdman & Associates is a design-builder of medical facilities and is nationally renowned. The operating room within The Surgery Center® is 400 square feet. The facility also contains a pre-op and post-op area with nurses' station, Anesthesia office, a large procedure room for laser surgery, both soiled and clean prep rooms, equipment storage area, medical waste room, and a medical gas room. All necessary medical gases are internally supplied to the pre-op and post-op area as well as the operating room. An external diesel generator supplies emergency power to all essential systems should there be a power failure to the building. Even the heating and air conditioning system are specifically designed for the surgical facility. The system provides temperature and humidity controlled air with multiple external air exchanges per hour. The physical facility meets or exceeds all medical architectural standards.
The Surgery Center® has an all RN staff. This means that Registered Nurses conduct all clinical duties for the center. A Registered nurse performs pre-operative and post-operative care. A registered nurse serves as the scrub nurse. She assists the doctor during surgery. A registered nurse serves as the circulating nurse. She performs surgical prep, provides necessary medical supplies, and documents the procedure. The Head Nurse for The Surgery Center® calls every patient after surgery and performs Quality Assurance activities. Our nursing staff has many years of experience working together in surgical Ophthalmology.
Board Certified Ophthalmologists from Maryland Eye Associates perform surgery in The Surgery Center®. Drs. Dodd and Miller are credentialed to perform surgery in the center.
Our doctors have been performing surgery in The Surgery Center® since late August 2000. Every one of our patients has been very pleased with their experience. Our head nurse provides pre-surgical evaluation and counseling. Patients meet one of the nurses they will see on the day of surgery. The patient gets first-hand information about what to expect from a registered nurse. The nurse performs some testing and collects information from the patient. In a short time, the patient begins to feel comfortable about the upcoming surgery. On the day of surgery, familiar staff and nurses greet patients and their family. They see and talk with the doctor that will perform the surgery. The center is large enough to provide all the necessary support for the surgery, but small enough to encourage individualized, compassionate care to you. There is minimal waiting time for the patient, personalized attention, and comfort for your loved ones. All of these make your surgical experience more pleasant.
When you need vision care services, whether an eye examination, eye surgery, or to purchase a pair of fashion eyeglasses, consider the doctors of Maryland Eye Associates. Surf to our website at www.marylandvision.com to learn about eye care issues and meet the doctors. Visit our office or make an appointment for an eye examination by our Optometrist or our Ophthalmologists. You can reach us at 410-535-2270 or 301-855-1357.
Let Maryland Eye Associates provide for all your vision care needs.