1 2 1
A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
CUTTING REMARKS
patients for overnight stays, surgeons must determine beforehand
who will likely be admitted. That's about as hard as predicting the out-
come of a visit by one's in-laws. You must consider such factors as
BMI, pre-op medical status and length of surgery. However, you have
a better chance of 5 straight days of on-time starts than I have of suc-
cessfully predicting an admission. Looks like the nerve blocks will be
called into permanent active duty. Extended-release morphine, any-
one?
• Equipment strife.
Since the OR schedule had to be reconfigured,
more orthopedic surgeons will be operating on any given day. I envi-
sion a scramble for instruments akin to getting the best deal on Black
Friday. There will be some growing pains, no doubt, with some sur-
geons adamantly protesting that they absolutely can't go on without
their custom, pearl-handled and autograph-engraved ACL guide. The
"special tray" that Dr. X uses for his lap choles will soon become fair
game. I have been proactive in this regard. I have quietly tucked away
in my car trunk a tray containing all the shoulder instruments I will
ever need. Just kidding.
• Scheduling woes.
Finally, scheduling patients ahead of time has
given my trusted scheduler many Maalox moments. I am sure that her
already taxed brain is being flooded with such thoughts as:
Are we really starting August 25?
Is Dr. Kelly sure this case is not going to be an admission?
What if the patient's BMI is 35.4?
How sick is too sick?
Who will win the fight over the instrument tray?
Do the patients know where the surgicenter is?
Does Dr. Kelly know where the surgicenter is?
