Cost Efficiency for Patients
One of the biggest selling points for patients to use an ambulatory surgery center is the cost. Unlike a regular hospital which may rack up health cost bills in the hundreds of thousands for one individual, ambulatory surgery centers can afford to not charge so much because of the cost it takes to upkeep a center versus a hospital. In fact, if you look at the numbers the cost for ambulatory surgery centers versus hospitals is quite different. Numbers range from 25% to 33% lower for surgeries and treatments in an ambulatory surgery center setting rather than a hospital setting. That could mean a lot for individuals that choose not to get an important surgery or treatment because money is an issue. 25-33% less might not seem like a huge deal, but if you start to look at surgery and treatment costs; you begin to see that small percentage really does make a large impact on your financials.
Consumer Benefits
Most hospitals where I’m from are in the city. They tend to be a pain to get to; you have to deal with a lot of traffic and crowds. Ambulatory surgery centers are usually quite the opposite. They tend to be in more suburban areas which mean they are easier and quicker to get to which means they have better access to patients than a traditional hospital setting. Also, because ambulatory surgery centers don’t deal with emergency surgeries, it’s almost out of the question that your scheduled procedure will be “bumped” for an emergency surgery or situation. This means you can get your procedure or treatment done on the day it was scheduled which means you can get back to life and your job and not have to keep rescheduling when they can do your procedure!
More Comfortable Setting
One of the biggest benefits for patients when it comes to same day surgery and Ambulatory surgery centers is the comfort centered on the aftercare. Unlike in a hospital setting where you may have to wait a few days after the surgery and a few more to recoup in a hospital room, Ambulatory surgery centers don’t call for the same guidelines. I think we’ve all spent at least one night in a hospital room. They are depressing, cold, you don’t have any of the comforts that you do have at home and worse yet they have strict guidelines on when visitors can come visit you. Thankfully with an outpatient care service like Ambulatory surgery centers you don’t have to deal with any of that. Its less stressful and you have the convenience of going home right after the surgery back to your creature comforts to recoup however you want to recuperate. Not only is this a benefit to adults, but to parents that have children and are getting surgery or treatments. Instead of having to worry about your child alone in a hospital room, you can get them home in their own safe and comfortable bed. That alone, can be worth it for worrisome parents!
More Productivity
Most surgeons working in ambulatory surgical centers are well aware of the increased productivity they can expect in this environment. Unlike in regular hospitals where dedicated janitorial staff handle post-surgery cleaning, in ambulatory centers, nurses and technicians take care of these tasks. This unique arrangement allows for an exceptionally efficient turnover of surgery rooms, which is not commonly seen elsewhere.
Typically, in an ambulatory surgery center operating room, the time between one patient leaving and the next one entering is less than 15 minutes. Although this might not initially appear advantageous to patients, it actually offers several benefits. Firstly, it means there is minimal waiting time for your surgery, as the room is promptly prepared for the next procedure. Secondly, you can swiftly undergo your surgery and resume your daily life without wasting valuable minutes or hours waiting for a room to become available.
By having the surgical team actively involved in cleaning and preparation tasks, the overall efficiency of the facility is significantly enhanced. This streamlined approach allows for a smooth workflow, ensuring that patients can experience minimal delays and optimal utilization of the surgical rooms.
