By Healthcare Facilities Today

There has been a consistent trend recently to create easily accessible and efficiently planned ambulatory surgery facilities for healthcare systems, according to an article in the september/October issue of Medical Construction & Design magazine. Much of this trend is being driven by the creation of less invasive procedures and minimize recovery time. 

Applying new medical practice and technology, this area of service has changed dramatically due in large part to robotic surgery, minimal-access laparoscopic surgery, advances in procedures and provisions for extended recovery times and recent changes in codes and zoning, the article said.

Facilities are being designed to deliver high-tech robotic surgical services for cases that previously were inpatient procedures, but can now be done in outpatient facilities.

The key to an extended-stay ambulatory surgery facility, which can handle a wider range of surgical cases, is to provide highly flexible prep/PACU areas beyond the usual minimums, the article said.  Private recovery spaces allow more room for family members and caretakers in the patient space than curtained cubicles do and allow family to become part of the care team and assist with some services typically

Read the article.