Unexpected Hospital Admissions from a Remote Outpatient Surgicenter

Abstract

Background: A remote nonhospital outpatient surgical facility in the western suburbs of Chicago has been functioning for ten years. A review of their consecutive patients and admission rate was carried out from the day of opening.

Design: A retrospective study of all patients admitted from the facility to the hospital is presented.

Methods: 158,408 surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were performed over a ten-year period.

Results: 128 patients were admitted to the hospital for treatment of their problems consequent to treatment at the Center for Surgery. The causes of admission included pain, nausea and vomiting, cardiac, respiratory and bleeding considerations.

Conclusions: Outpatient surgical treatment may be provided on a large-scale basis away from the hospital with low hospital admission rates and low complication rates. The patients thus are able to return to their homes on the same day of the procedure in an efficient, economic, and less timeconsuming manner.