A Common Saying
There is a common saying in real estate that the 3 most important considerations are Location, Location and Location.
To some degree, I think this also applies to outpatient cosmetic surgery. Years ago when we planned our facility we considered several locations but ultimately decided to build it on the hospital campus of what is now known as Abilene Regional Medical Center. While Dr. Tobin rarely does surgery at the hospital he has maintained a close relationship and remains an active staff member. Our facility, which is an independently licensed ambulatory surgical facility, maintains a transfer agreement with the hospital. Dr. Tobin strives to maintain acquaintanceship with the doctors at the hospital, particularly in the emergency department.
A SMOOTH TRANSITION
This paid off when recently a patient developed difficulty in maintaining adequate oxygen saturation after surgery. The operation and anesthesia were uneventful but when the patient was waking up she showed signs of severe limitation in the oxygen saturation of her blood. As a safety precaution, the breathing tube was reintroduced and plans were made to transfer her to the hospital.
The transfer went smoothly with the paramedics moving the patient from our operating room to the emergency department within a matter of minutes.
An initial evaluation indicated congestion in the lung and a pulmonologist was consulted. Fortunately, the patient’s recovery was rapid.
While incidents like this are very rare, it was very comforting to be adjacent to the hospital and in a position where we could be sure that our patient received the care necessary to properly diagnose and treat her problem.
It was also very satisfying to see that the entire staff as well as the paramedics responded to the emergency in a safe, calm and efficient manner. It shows that all our experience and training paid off in avoiding what could’ve been a much more serious issue.