Elaine S. Larson Surgical Center Campaign - Allina Health

Surgery
A hospital’s Economic Engine
Surgery is the economic engine of any hospital. Most
hospital programs and services that are needed to
ensure a community’s continued health and well
being are not economically viable and must rely on
income from surgery to survive. The bottom line of
any surgery department has far-reaching effects on
all other programs.
In an era of diminishing reimbursements for most
medical services, the need is even greater for
hospitals to ensure that their surgery department
is strong, efficient, well-run and healthy. This
includes upgrading surgical processes and facilities as
technology and other advances are made, a goal that
is even more imperative given that every other east metro hospital has
invested in their surgical facilities over the past few years.
To continue to meet the needs of our community, and our physicians and
staff who provide the surgical service, United Hospital must completely
rebuild its operating rooms. These facilities were last updated in the
1970s and were state-of-the-art for that time. Open surgical procedures
have been replaced with minimally invasive techniques that require
more equipment, training and personnel, all crowded into spaces that
are too small and too antiquated. The fact that our physicians and staff
have continued to provide quality, exceptional health care in undersized
and antiquated facilities is a testimony to their knowledge, expertise and
dedication.
Scheduling and turnover Costs
“When you are limited to certain rooms because of space considerations,
access difficulties arise,” says Jerone Kennedy MD, a neurosurgeon with
United Neurosurgery Associates. He also serves as medical director of
Neurosurgery and Bentson Neuroscience Chair at United Hospital. “Such
difficulties mean delays in scheduling and slower turnover.”
“Scheduling is one of the biggest problems with our operating rooms
configuration,” says Pam Berg, RN, surgical patient care manager at
United. “There are only a limited number of rooms that are large enough
for the technology needed today.” In addition, she cites that with the
increase in equipment is an increase in the number of staff in the room.
“The more complex the procedure, the more staff are in the room.”
SURgICAl CENTER CAMPAIgN
hospital Economics
United hospital’s undersized
operating rooms slow down
procedures as equipment is
moved into and out of each room,
thus increasing surgical time and
reducing the number of procedures
that can be completed in a day.
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