Day Hospitals Enables More Surgical Procedures
More Surgical Procedures Could Be Performed in A Day Hospital
Traditionally, when faced with an operation, the average surgical patient could expect to be hospitalised for several days. Given the limited number of beds available in many in-patient facilities, this frequently results in long waits for those undergoing elective procedures, as well as worrying delays in dealing with those trauma patients who require more urgent attention. The day hospital, however, promises to provide an effective solution.
This concept is not new and has been around for many years. These units are in widespread use throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, for example. There and in several other countries, they are used predominately for treating frail and elderly patients, often in need of psychiatric support or physical rehabilitation. In this role, the day hospital is seen as providing a friendlier and less disruptive alternative to undergoing treatment at an in-patient facility. Some of these clinics also provide oncology services for much the same reasons.
In a bid to ease some of the pressure on over-burdened in-patient facilities, a number of these units have begun offering a range of common surgical procedures that can be safely completed without the need for an overnight stay. In South Africa, the Intercare group has been spearheading this approach with the establishment of several well-equipped units in Gauteng and the Western Cape. In the process, the group has elevated the concept of the day hospital to a whole new level.
Each of the units established to date boasts no fewer than three operating theatres and between 20 and 24 beds. In addition to embracing cutting-edge technology and the latest equipment, Intercare has taken great care to ensure that its wards and other facilities are child-friendly.
It is a fact that South Africa lags behind other nations in terms of the portion of eligible surgeries performed on a same-day basis. By equipping premises to tackle a wider range of procedures on outpatients, the Intercare day hospital is not only filling an important gap in the healthcare system, but also helping to reduce the cost of these procedures to the patient.
Currently, the group offers close to a hundred different procedures through these outpatient units. These include investigative activities such as bronchoscopy, hysteroscopy, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy. On the surgical front, the units undertake general surgery such as hernia repair, appendicectomy, and haemorrhoidectomy, while offering more specialised procedures in the fields of otorhinolaryngology, orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, ophthalmology, and even plastic surgery.
The day hospital has the potential to eliminate long waiting lists for in-patient procedures while reducing the cost of surgery and the associated inconvenience. Book your appointment today via our easy-to-use online booking facility.