Surgeries that do not require an overnight stay may be performed either in a hospital outpatient department or at an ambulatory surgery center. Since the CarlinVision Ambulatory Surgery Center was incorporated 4 years ago we have found there are distinct and significant advantages.
Being smaller, care is much more personal. Parking is convenient, the walk is shorter and waiting times are less. Patients are not treated as a number, but as a friend and neighbor. The staff is specially trained and works only with eye surgery so they are more “tuned in” to our patients’ unique needs. Also, we provide amenities like our Patient Appreciation Lounge where family members can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, lunch or snacks while waiting for their loved one. And best of all there is less chance of catching a “hospital acquired” infection.
Additionally, we provide the latest, most up-to-date surgical technology for our patients. For example: Laser Cataract Surgery. Hospitals must provide technology for all specialties, so purchasing power for any one department is limited. Instead of requests, meetings, hearings, approvals and then waiting two years, we are able to move quickly and decisively. Being more focused, we can pay more attention to detail. Protocols do not get lost in a corporate shuffle.
Finally, the ASC is much more cost effective. Our procedures cost much less than at the hospital because our fees do not have to support unfilled hospital beds, laboratories, or an emergency room. Also, our volume allows us to receive favorable pricing from suppliers. These savings are passed along to Medicare, insurance companies and especially our patients.
And for us doctors, we may even provide better outcomes because we use our own dedicated equipment that no one else uses, work with the same exceptional staff each operating day and are able to control each facet of our patients’ care.
