Same Day Surgery Risks 

STATISTICS:
According to statistics, as of 2023, more than 70 million outpatient procedures are performed annually in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the U.S. There are over 5,600 Ambulatory Surgery Centers operating across the United States as of 2023. The average cost savings of outpatient ambulatory surgeries in ASCs compared to hospital outpatient departments is approximately 20-30%.

RISKS:
With every surgery, there are risks being considered. However, where the procedure is done should not change the standard of care provided to each patient.
Risks of all surgeries include:
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Need for further surgery
• Trauma to surrounding tissues or organs
• Anesthesia complications
• Poor healing

Other things that increase the risk include: • Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Poor health of the patient
• Lack of skill or experience of the providers

REGULATORY AGENCIES:
Each healthcare facility is also regulated by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Outpatient surgery centers may be regulated by several accrediting organizations such as Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), and American Osteopathic Association/Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (AOA/HFAP). Regardless of the regulatory agency, all policies and procedures are reviewed during the evaluation process.

STANDARDS:
Policies and procedures for surgery must at least meet the minimal standard set forth by The American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) and the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). These two organizations set the nursing standards of care for preoperative, intraoperative, and immediate postoperative care of the surgical patient. Regardless of where the care is given, the standards are the same.

DISCHARGE CRITERIA:
These should include but are not limited to: • Patient is awake and oriented to person, place, and time
• Vital signs are stable
• Patient is able to ambulate with assistance
• Responsible adult to drive patient home
• Nausea should be controlled
• Pain should be tolerable
• Surgical site has no active bleeding
• Oxygen saturation should be greater than 90% on room air
• Patient should have return of sensation, except to the operative extremity if regional anesthesia is used

Do you have an outpatient surgery case that needs review by a nurse?

Please call Bell Legal Nurse Consulting for a free consultation at 410-660-7025.