Home Care in Columbia SC
Technical improvement in surgical techniques in the United States has dramatically increased the surgeries possible in an “ambulatory” setting as opposed to requiring hospitalization. An 
Many medical and surgical procedures that used to require a hospital stay are possible in such clinics. After the procedure, the patient goes home the same day. These are “outpatient” procedures.
Common Outpatient Procedures
Tampa Bay Times reported in 2010, there were over 53 million surgeries and medical procedures performed in an outpatient environment, which was more than the number of surgeries performed in hospitals. The most common procedures now performed in a day care surgical center or medical clinic include:
- Cataract Surgery – The surgery is rarely done in a hospital setting unless there are serious complications.
- Endoscopy – This is where the surgeon examines the large or small intestine.
- Drug Infusions – This is an injection of drugs directly into the bloodstream.
- Skin Cancer Biopsy and Removal – The surgeon removes cancerous tumors on or below the skin.
- Arteriography and Angiocardiography – This is an examination of the heart and the coronary artery.
- Arthroscopy of the Knee – This is surgery to repair damage to the knee joint.
- Hernia – This surgery repairs hernias.
- Tonsillectomy and/or Adenoidectomy – This surgery removes the tonsils and/or the adenoids.
- Cystoscopy – This is an examination of the bladder and urethra to remove cysts.
- Colonoscopy – This is an examination of the colon and removal of pre-cancerous polyps.
Seniors at High Risk for Hospitalization
Surgeries and medical procedures, done in an outpatient setting benefit the patient and are supposed to result in costs-savings for health care. New research from Northwestern Medicine was recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society as reported by Medical News Today. It concludes that patients, who are 65-years old or older, frequently end up being admitted to the hospital within 30 days after an outpatient procedure.
This study results, involve more than 9 million surgeries that seniors have each year in an outpatient setting. Regardless of the health conditions prior to surgery, older adults were much more likely than younger adults to end up in the hospital.
One of the main reasons for this is inadequate in-home care as a follow-up for the surgical and medical procedures.
Neglecting Professional In-Home Care is Costly
When seniors undergo a surgery or medical procedure in a clinic and then return home, the frequently made false assumption is that they can take care of themselves while they recuperate. The facts are exactly the opposite. Without adequate professional home care, they are likely to end up in the hospital. This defeats any potential cost-savings benefits entirely as well as causes more discomfort for the elderly patients.
Summary
It is possible with good senior care, to reduce this problem of elderly patients ending up unnecessarily in the hospital. Doctors need to make a true assessment of the elderly patient’s ability to recuperate on their own and recommend professional elder care at home during the period of convalescence.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring home care services near Columbia, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.
Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens,Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.
Source
U.S. outpatient surgery passes inpatient, to 53 million a year
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/us-outpatient-surgery-passes-inpatient-to-53-million-a-year/1124313
Seniors at high risk for readmission after ambulatory surgery
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/298010.php?tw
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