THE IMPORTANCE OF LICENSED AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS

Recently, the Florida Times Union featured an excerpt in their Health Section regarding the benefits of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

“People planning to have a surgical procedure that does not require an overnight stay should consider the option of an ambulatory surgery center, Peter Lohrengal, executive director of the Florida Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, said in an interview this week. Florida has more than 400 such facilities licensed by the state, which last year performed more than 1.5 million surgeries. The most common procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers are gastrointestinal care (34 percent), such a colonoscopies and ophthalmological care (32 percent), such as cataract surgery.”

Inside the Samuel Wells Surgicenter at
Obi Plastic Surgery Clinic

It is of the utmost importance that patients assure their safety by making sure their surgery is being performed by a board certified plastic surgeon as well as it performed in a licensed surgery center accredited by Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Recently, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation that will prohibit liposuction to be performed in any facility other than a hospital or licensed surgery center further underscoring the importance of surgery center licensing. The Samuel Wells Surgicenter was the first licensed and comprehensive surgery center for plastic surgery in the state of Florida. 15 staff members including advanced RNs, a nurse practitioner RN and an RN risk manager round are on present for all surgical procedures.

Dr. Lewis Obi and his staff just recently re-qualified for their Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification. For Dr. Obi, this was his 17th successful certification in the past 34 years. According to Dr. Obi, less than 5 percent of plastic surgeons in the United States are certified for ACLS. This is just another reason that patients should always question the safety and certifications of office-based surgical centers.