Submitted by the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center
Just the idea of surgery can be scary and intimidating, and there are
always lots of questions. What are the risks? How long will the surgery
last? How quickly will I recover?
If you or a loved one is
considering surgery, use the tips developed by the talented and
experienced staff at the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center to ease your
concerns.
The Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, located at 3400
Dexter Court Suite 200 in Davenport, is the Quad Cities’ leading
independent outpatient surgery center. Physicians from a variety of
practice areas choose to do their outpatient procedures at the Surgery
Center. Because the team specializes in outpatient surgeries and
procedures, they’re experts in the latest, proven techniques that lead
to better outcomes and a faster recovery.
Talk to Caring Experts
One of the best ways to reduce anxiety before a surgical procedure
is to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through. For
patients at the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center in Davenport, that
someone is Pat Baker, RN, Health History Nurse.
Like most of the
staff at the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, Baker has years of
experience in her field. Baker’s experience has taught her it’s the
sharing of information and knowledge that truly helps her patients.
“It’s the back and forth and talking one-on-one that puts patients
at ease,” said Baker. “My job is to listen to patients and carefully go
over their health history information. I also spend lots of time
explaining to patients what they can expect before, during, and after
their procedure.”
Throughout the process, Baker pays close
attention to ensure she is treating all patients as individuals, letting
them open up and share their needs at their own pace.
“A lot of
people aren’t shy about talking and asking questions, but there are
some people who are really quiet,” Baker said. “Sometimes I just sit and
listen, other times I actively engage right away. It all depends on
what the person needs.”
Explore Minimally Invasive, Outpatient Options
Most people think that a long hospital stay is required to recover
from surgery. The good news is that today surgeons can perform extensive
procedures using minimally invasive techniques that result in less
downtime. These types of procedures can be done on an outpatient (or
ambulatory) basis, which means patients are home and resting within a
day — and even hours — after surgery.
According to the
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, last year approximately 23
million surgeries were performed on an outpatient basis in the United
States.
At the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, Baker
acknowledges that many of her patients are very relieved to know they’ll
be resting and recovering in the comfort of their own home.
“I
explain to patients that there are many benefits to having an outpatient
procedure, but it’s the fact that they’ll be home — with family — that
seems to really ease people’s minds,” said Baker.
Seek Out Comfort
Comfort is another factor that helps reduce surgery stress. For
example, Baker said that at the Surgery Center, young patients getting
simple procedures — such as ear tubes — can bring their own blanket from
home.
Often it’s the “little things” that make a patient more
comfortable, such as a convenient parking lot, a welcoming smile when
you walk in, and a medical staff that takes the time to talk to loved
ones who are with the patient.
“The Surgery Center is a relaxed setting where you’ll experience personal interactions,” Baker said. “We want you to leave our facility feeling good about the whole experience.”
Meet the Clinical Managers of the
Mississippi Valley Surgery Center
At the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, it’s all about giving
patients an experience they’ll feel good about. Part of assuring a
successful procedure that gets patients back to the life they love
quicker is making sure the staff is there for them – no matter what it
takes.
Clinical managers are a big part of assuring a
top-notch patient experience. They supervise and delegate tasks to a
variety of clinical, administrative and clerical staff members. These
healthcare professionals have specialized training and experience in
specific clinical areas.
Carole Harris, RN, is
the clinical manager of pre/post-operative care at the Mississippi
Valley Surgery Center. Her staff provides the first impression for a
patient. Harris and her staff are also responsible for the
post-operative care, which means they care for patients when they come
out of surgery.
Though Harris has been a nurse for 17 years,
nursing was her second career. Her career switch was prompted when her
first daughter was in the hospital.
“My first daughter was just a
baby and in the hospital. It was the extras steps taken by nurses that
calmed me down and gave me hope,” Harris said. “I knew then and there I
wanted to be that person — I wanted to be the person who truly made a
difference.”
Elizabeth Hayman, BS, RN, CGRN,
is the clinical manager at the Endoscopy Center, located at 5041 Utica
Ridge Road, Suite 200 in Davenport. At the Endoscopy Center, she
emphasizes that preventative medicine is essential to the welfare of
patients.
“An endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure during which
a physician examines the digestive tract or other internal organs,
including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon or rectum, with an
endoscope,” Hayman said. “It’s a screening that often detects issues
early, which greatly improves our ability to set forth a course of
action that saves lives.”
Hayman wants everyone to feel at ease when they come to the Endoscopy Center.
“It’s about making sure we listen, and treat everyone like a member of our big family,” Hayman said.
Nicole Brinkmeier, BSN, RN, is
the clinical manager of the operating room at the Surgery Center. Like
all of the clinical managers at the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center,
she started her career bedside and moved into management.
“No matter what your role at the Surgery Center – manager,
administrator, nurse, clinician – at the end of the day it’s about using
our expertise and making sure staff is well informed, and completely
prepared regarding both the procedure and the instruments being used.
This assures a better patient outcome,” Brinkmeier said. “This isn’t
just a job for us. It’s what we’re all passionate about.”
Is an Outpatient Procedure Right for You?
Any surgical procedure performed without hospital inpatient
admission and an overnight stay is considered an outpatient procedure —
whether it takes place in a hospital, a doctor’s office, or at an
outpatient surgical center such as Mississippi Valley Surgery Center.
Outpatient surgeries are less invasive than those performed on an
inpatient basis, and technological advances have shortened recovery
times and made them much safer. Patients from around the Quad Cities
choose to do their outpatient procedures at the Mississippi Valley
Surgery Center because most people feel physically and emotionally more
comfortable in an outpatient environment.
While outpatient
procedures were once limited to minor surgeries, the options available
now encompass procedures as varied as hernia repair, tonsillectomies,
colonoscopies, and even total joint replacement.
A few of the most common outpatient procedures performed at the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center are listed below:
- Ear, Nose, Throat:
Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, ear tube placement, repair of eardrum,
repair of nasal septum, sinus endoscopy, sleep apnea correction - Gastroenterology: Colonoscopy, colon cancer screening, upper digestive tract endoscopy, liver biopsy, ultrasound
- General Surgery: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), hernia repair (all types), hemorrhoid surgery
- Gynecological Surgery: Cervical procedures such as hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingogram
- Ophthalmology: Cataract removal, retina surgery
- Orthopedics: Arthroscopic hand and elbow surgery, total joint replacement, arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery
- Spine Surgery: Cervical spine surgery, disc removal/repair
- Pain Management: Epidural injections
- Plastic Surgery: Cosmetic surgery, reconstruction or enhancements, scar and skin abnormality removal
- Podiatry: Bunion correction, hammertoe correction, neuroma removal
- Urology: Vasectomy, cystoscopy, incontinence procedures
- Vascular Surgery: Vein stripping via minimally invasive techniques, surgical phlebectomy, sclerotherapy
There are many additional procedures that can be done on an
outpatient basis. Ask your doctor if outpatient options performed at the
Mississippi Valley Surgery Center are right for you. Visit
mvsurgerycenter.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MississippiValleySurgeryCenter to learn more.
Finding the surgical option that’s right for you and using the tips
above will help relieve stress before surgery. To learn more about the
Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, located at 3400 Dexter Court Suite
200 in Davenport, as an option for your surgery, visit www.mvsurgerycenter.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MississippiValleySurgeryCenter.