Preparation for surgery

In order to insure that your experience at the Suffolk Surgery Center is as pleasant as possible, please help us to obtain your medical history, any pertinent test results and billing and insurance information. This information is usually required one week prior to your scheduled surgery and may be provided by your physician.

A member of our preoperative nursing staff will contact you the day prior to your scheduled surgery and may ask you a number of health related questions and also confirm your scheduled appointment time. The nurse will also advise you to bring with you, a complete list of medications that you are currently taking, and also provide you with instructions to follow prior to your scheduled surgery. Please leave any valuables such as jewelry at home.

Arrival time

As mentioned above, you will be contacted by a member of our pre-operative nursing staff one to two days prior to your surgery and at that time; the nurse will provide you with a time that you should arrive at the center. When you arrive, our staff will assist you in completing your registration, change clothing and perform any preoperative orders requested by your physician. The anesthesiologist will meet with you and ask you questions to determine your medical history and will also be available to answer any questions that you may have regarding your anesthesia care. Our staff is also very aware that you may be very anxious concerning your surgery, so please ask questions. We want you to be very comfortable and well informed.

Pre-op

Prior to your surgery, you will be escorted to the preoperative area by your nurse who will assist you in changing your clothing and preparing for the surgery. An intravenous line will probably be placed in your arm or hand and you may be given some medication to ease your anxiety. The physician and anesthesiologist will explain your procedure and the type of anesthesia that you will be receiving and you will be asked to sign consent forms.

Operating room

Once you are in the operating room, your safety and comfort are our primary concern. Your physician and the surgical team will see that your surgery proceeds smoothly.

Recovery room

Following your surgery, you will spend a short time in the recovery room. Your anesthesiologist and the recovery room nurse will determine when you are able to be discharged and go home. The nurse will provide you with individualized instructions and will insure that you understand what you can and cannot do following your surgery. Because you may have received anesthesia as well as post-operative pain relief medications during your procedure at the Center, it is necessary that you have a responsible family member or friend drive you home. After you return home, if you experience any problems or have any concerns, you may contact us at the center or you may contact your physician. Upon your discharge, you will receive a patient satisfaction questionnaire. These questionnaires are extremely important and helpful in determining how we can improve our service, so please take the time to complete and return the questionnaire to us. The day following your surgery, you will receive a call from a member of our nursing staff to see how your are doing and again assist you in addressing any concerns or questions that you may have.

Payment option

FAQs

What is an Ambulatory Surgery Center?

An Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) also known as outpatient surgery centers or same day surgery centers are health care facilities where surgical procedures not requiring an overnight hospital stay are performed. Such surgery is commonly less complicated than that requiring hospitalization.
ASC operating rooms are equipped with similar equipment found in hospitals, however the environment offers a more relaxed feeling since procedures are performed on otherwise healthy people who haven’t been suffering from long-term illnesses. There is rarely interruption by emergency situations and seldom are cases rescheduled to make allowances for emergency surgical procedures.
ASCs are more cost-effective than hospitals since resources received are specifically directed to the surgical center operations rather than to hospital general needs.
Most ASCs are owned by the doctors who perform surgery at the centers. These doctors have a vested interest in that the centers maintain the highest standards of care, comply with all regulations, operate with efficiency and cut down on waste of time and unneeded supplies and equipment.

How common is it to have a surgical procedure performed at an ASC?

There are more than 5000 ASCs in the United States performing over 20 million procedures per year.

What type of anesthesia is performed?

The anesthesia team at Suffolk Surgery Center is composed of experienced, well trained and board certified anesthesiologists who also have experience in dealing with pediatric patients. Types of anesthesia administered include general anesthesia where you are asleep throughout the entire procedure, regional anesthesia where only a portion of the body is “blocked” from feeling any discomfort while you remain awake and local anesthesia, which numbs only the area being operated on. The type of anesthesia you will receive will be determined following a discussion with the anesthesiologist

What accounts for the growth of ASCs?

Suffolk Surgery Center, like other centers has seen tremendous growth for many reasons among which is the high degree of convenience for both the patients and the doctors. Pre admission, admission, the surgical procedures and the recovery and discharge aspects have all been geared to maximize both efficiency, safety and comfort of the patients. There is rarely any wait time due to cases being bumped for emergencies as is common in hospitals. Procedures are broad in scope encompassing diagnostic and preventive procedures such as colonoscopies and arthroscopies as well as surgery involving the eye, knees, shoulders, spine and other areas. Pain management procedures are also quite common.

Are there any special licenses and guidelines for ASCs?

Suffolk Surgery Center is licensed by the State of New York Department of Health and as such is subject to numerous government regulations. We meet the demanding standards of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, which insures safety for the patient

Are all surgeons at Suffolk Surgery Center board certified?

Yes. All attending physicians at Suffolk Surgery Center are fully certified according to the regulations set forth by the New York State for Board Certification or Board Eligibility for whatever medical specialty is applicable to each specific surgeon.

What if there is an emergency situation?

All of the operating and recovery rooms at Suffolk Surgery Center are equipped for any emergencies that may arise. Our staff is fully trained to handle emergency situations.

What are the pre-operative procedures?

Prior to each procedure each patient must complete a number of forms among which are a pre operative history of any medical conditions and medications taken as well as various insurance and consent forms. Any required pre operative testing is ordered by either the patient’s medical doctor or the surgeon.

How are payment handled?

Suffolk Surgery Center will inform you prior to the procedures about your insurance coverage. Patients are generally responsible for deductibles, co-payments and remaining balances.

Compliance HelpLine

Suffolk Surgery Center is committed to providing a culture of compliance. Suffolk Surgery Center desires for all patients, employees, and vendors to be able to freely report suspected fraud, abuse, and/or compliance issues in a safe and reliable manner. The purpose of the Hotline is to provide an alternative method of reporting suspected Suffolk Surgery Center compliance violations of any federal or state laws or Suffolk Surgery Center policies and procedures. The Hotline is an anonymous dedicated line with a private voicemail box.
Tell us about any concerns regarding improper or unethical activity such as violations of professional standards of practice or business ethics, breach of patient privacy or confidentiality, information system security breach, inaccurate billing, or conflicts of interest. This list does not include all of the possible violations that could be reported to the Compliance Officer but provides examples of potential compliance related matters.
Reporting is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone number (855-295-0005) automatically patches you into a voice mailbox where you can leave a message about your concerns. Suffolk Surgery Center employees do not answer your calls. When you call the Hotline you should leave a message describing the suspected compliance problem in as much detail as possible. You do not need to leave your name or any information that may identify yourself. However, providing such information may assist our compliance team in investigating the matter. The Compliance Officer will review the messages regularly. All reports are treated with respect and may be made anonymously. No one will retaliate against any person making a report in good faith