Years ago, if you needed to have surgery, you would have that surgery in a hospital; it was the only option. That has changed. In recent years, surgical centers have become more common. These are freestanding facilities where only surgeries are performed, and no other medical services are provided. For the most extensive surgeries with long, demanding recovery periods, you may need to go to the hospital. But for an increasing number of less intensive surgeries, patients now get to choose between a surgical center and a hospital. Here are a few benefits of choosing a surgical center.
You'll likely pay less
The cost of having surgery at a hospital tends to be much higher than that of having surgery at a surgical center. Surgical centers simply have less overhead to cover, which means they can charge less. Their buildings are less extensive, they do not have to coordinate overnight stays, and their staff only work in the daytime. To get a clear picture of costs and how they compare, you can usually call your health insurance company. They can give you an idea of what you'd owe both facilities.
The experience will be less stressful
Going to a hospital makes a lot of people anxious. You'll be in a busy environment with a lot of sick patients. At a surgical center, the pace tends to be much slower. The patient-to-staff ratio is often lower, which means the staff can take more time making you feel comfortable. Plus, there tends to be more space, which makes for a more relaxing experience before and after surgery.
You'll be around fewer pathogens
Infection is always a risk after surgery. At a hospital where there are lots of sick patients, you'll be around a lot of infectious pathogens. There are generally fewer pathogens at a surgical center, which means your risk of post-surgical infection will be lower.
You may have more options for anesthesia
Since surgical centers specialize in surgery, they often offer state-of-the-art options when it comes to anesthetics and sedatives. You may be able to undergo a procedure with a regional anesthetic, whereas a hospital would have given you general anesthesia for the same procedure. You might even be able to have certain procedures under twilight anesthesia. Some hospitals do offer these options, but it's not as commonplace.
Consider the benefits above, and decide whether surgery at a surgical center is right for you. Contact a local surgery center to learn more.
Share
