If you have made the decision to undergo spine surgery, the next step is deciding where to have this surgery performed. This can be a stressful and overwhelming decision to make, especially if you are preoccupied with your spine condition and the fear of how the surgery will turn out. But you should know that choosing the right surgical facility can actually help mitigate your anxiety. If you know that on the day of surgery you will be going to a comfortable, capable surgical center staffed by helpful personnel and expert surgeons, your mind should rest a bit easier. That’s why it is so important to take the time to research different surgery centers so that you can find the one that best fits your needs.

Do You Already Have a Surgeon?

Many patients find a spine surgeon before they find a spine surgery center. This may occur if you visited different surgeons for consultations as you decided if surgery was the right treatment path for you. If you do have a surgeon already, he or she likely has operating room privileges at one or more facilities. On the one hand, this makes it easier to narrow down the list of surgical centers that you are choosing from, but on the other hand you should not assume that any facility where your surgeon has OR privileges is the right facility for you. Be sure to evaluate each surgical center on its own merit and ask your surgeon if you can choose where your surgery is performed. Tell your doctor that you want to know well ahead of time where the surgery will take place so that you can make sure you feel comfortable there. Visit the facility, meet the staff members who will be helping you, and make sure that it seems clean, modern, and welcoming.

What Type of Surgery Will You Be Undergoing?

If you are choosing a surgical center before deciding on a surgeon, the best place to start is to find facilities that cater to your needs. Spine surgery centers generally specialize in different types of conditions or injuries. For instance, if you are suffering from bone spurs that are a result of spinal arthritis, you will not want to go to a surgery center that specializes in spinal fractures caused by traumatic accidents. Similarly, if you have decided to undergo a minimally invasive spine procedure, you will more than likely want an outpatient surgery center where they do not provide overnight hospitalization to the patients. Once you find a surgery center that does perform the type of surgery you require, call the surgery center and ask the following questions:

– When was the surgery center established?

– How many surgeries have been performed at the facility?

– How many instances of my particular type of surgery have been performed?

– How many surgeons are on staff?

– What are the credentials of the surgeon or surgeons that will perform my surgery?

– How many nurses and anesthesiologists are on staff?

– Has the surgery center ever been known by any other name?

Visit the Facility

Once you have narrowed down your list of surgery centers, you should visit each one. While this may seem like a tedious, time-consuming task, you will be grateful on the day of surgery that you took the time to carefully evaluate each and every facility. Call ahead and make an appointment to visit the surgery centers so that a member of the patient services department can give you a tour. If the facility does not have such a department or offer such a service, this should serve as a red flag that they may not have the resources necessary to fully cater to your needs. During your visit, try to get a sense of how attentive and welcoming the staff members are. You will likely have to deal with nurses and medical assistants throughout the surgical process, so be sure that they seem pleasant and friendly. If the surgical center seems disorderly, chaotic, or as if there are not enough staff members to support the number of patients, look elsewhere – the last thing you need during this stressful time is to feel as if your medical needs are not being met.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to surgical centers.

John Soland has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to surgical centers. http://www.laserspinelocations.com/

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to surgical centers.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: surgical centers