During 2005, 100 percent of patients surveyed after one-day surgery (a total of 1,079 individuals, excluding endoscopic cases) at Auburn Memorial Hospital were pleased with the care they received, 100 percent said that their discharge instructions were clear and understandable, and 100 percent said they would return to AMH for any future day surgery procedures.
All one-day surgery patients are called by AMH nurses on the first work day after their surgery. When a patient cannot be reached by phone, a survey is mailed.
“We want to make sure they're doing well,” said Vicki Casper, nurse manager of One-Day Surgery and Recovery. “We also give them a chance to ask any questions they have. And we want to know whether the experience was satisfactory for them, or whether there are things we can do better. It's very important to us that we hear from our patients about how we're doing.”
The results of the surveys indicate that the AMH Surgery team is doing very well indeed.
Typical quotes from those surveyed include:
“Excellent, excellent care! Staff is so good. Can't say enough good things.”
“I was very impressed. Pain was minimal. Wonderful care.”
“Everyone was great. Would I return to AMH? Absolutely.”
“I recommend you and the hospital. Wonderful place.”
The one-day surgery unit at AMH was built in the late 1990s, and includes a 14-bed unit and an eight-bed recovery room. The staff includes 15 nurses and patient care assistants with a total of 243 years experience. All surgeons on the AMH medical staff are board certified. Recently, three surgeons have joined the medical staff: Dr. Carl Weiss III, Dr. Matthew Zadrowski and Dr. Deborah Geer. Other general surgeons on the active medical staff are Dr. John Ryan, Dr. Chung Oh, Dr. Pang Kooi and Dr. Joseph McCaffrey.
Other surgical services provided at AMH include orthopedics, by Drs. Norman Krause and Thomas Sullivan; ObGyn, by Drs. William Bock, Ayodeji Lukula, Kenneth Palmer, Eileen Murphy and Kathryn Starkey; urology by Drs. Jack Keiser and William Foresman; ophthalmology by Drs. Richard Freeman, Nancy Oplinger, David Speck and Peter Doane; gastroenterology by Dr. Rayees Nizam; podiatry by Dr. Michael Rynn; and pulmonology by Dr. Rajesh Rao.
Looking at the larger picture, including all surgery and endoscopies, more than 6,545 procedures were performed in 2005; 5,170 of these were outpatient procedures and 3,545 were endoscopies. According to Molly McKeon, R.N., nurse manager of the Operating Room, “We now have the newest laparoscopic systems available, with a high definition video system. We are currently working with architects, preparing to renovate two operating rooms for state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgery. Our goal is to complete the work by the end of 2006.”
McKeon gave special credit to Dr. John Ryan for his strong influence on the OR atmosphere. “He is carrying on a tradition from his father, Dr. Charles Ryan,” she said. “He really cares about every patient. Surgery at AMH is not an assembly line, as in some larger hospitals. We have a personal touch, and we get to know each patient.”
Casper added, “We have an excellent nursing staff and outstanding physicians who give wonderful care. The OR can be a scary place, but when you're a patient here, you're likely to see familiar faces, and that's comforting. We want every patient to feel safe and well cared for. I think our survey numbers show that we're succeeding. But we will continue to ask our patients to tell us how we can do even better.”
Another indication of the high quality of AMH surgical services is the extremely low rate of infections after surgery. In the past three years, out of a total of 21,335 surgical procedures, only one-tenth of one percent reported post-operative infections within 30 days, the reporting time required by NYS and CDC guidelines. On further examination of the data, it was shown that only 0.02 percent of AMH#'s surgical patients had documented infections while the patient was still in the hospital. It seems clear that these numbers compare very favorably to those of other hospitals.
AMH also offers round-the-clock anesthesia services through Sterling Health Care.
Although much public attention has been drawn to the Fingerlakes Weight Loss Program, which includes bariatric surgery, weight loss through surgery is really not new at AMH. It was initiated by Dr. Chung Oh, who has been performing bariatric surgery for 25 years, having completed 2,000 cases. He also performs body contouring procedures after weight loss from surgery. Dr. Oh uses the open method while Dr. Weiss, who also performs bariatric surgery, usually uses the laparoscopic method. The Fingerlakes Weight Loss Program involves an array of health care professionals including a dietitian, a physical therapist, and others who help prepare patients before the procedure and help them recover and succeed with their planned weight loss program afterward.
Whether it's a screening for colon cancer, cataract removal, or major surgery for cancer or other serious problems, the dedicated health care professionals at Auburn Memorial Hospital offer excellent care to our community, close to home.
Beverly Miller is the director of Community Relations and the
Hospital Foundation at Auburn Memorial Hospital
“We want to make sure they're doing well,” said Vicki Casper, nurse manager of One-Day Surgery and Recovery. “We also give them a chance to ask any questions they have. And we want to know whether the experience was satisfactory for them, or whether there are things we can do better. It's very important to us that we hear from our patients about how we're doing.”
The results of the surveys indicate that the AMH Surgery team is doing very well indeed.
Typical quotes from those surveyed include:
“Excellent, excellent care! Staff is so good. Can't say enough good things.”
“I was very impressed. Pain was minimal. Wonderful care.”
“Everyone was great. Would I return to AMH? Absolutely.”
“I recommend you and the hospital. Wonderful place.”
The one-day surgery unit at AMH was built in the late 1990s, and includes a 14-bed unit and an eight-bed recovery room. The staff includes 15 nurses and patient care assistants with a total of 243 years experience. All surgeons on the AMH medical staff are board certified. Recently, three surgeons have joined the medical staff: Dr. Carl Weiss III, Dr. Matthew Zadrowski and Dr. Deborah Geer. Other general surgeons on the active medical staff are Dr. John Ryan, Dr. Chung Oh, Dr. Pang Kooi and Dr. Joseph McCaffrey.
Other surgical services provided at AMH include orthopedics, by Drs. Norman Krause and Thomas Sullivan; ObGyn, by Drs. William Bock, Ayodeji Lukula, Kenneth Palmer, Eileen Murphy and Kathryn Starkey; urology by Drs. Jack Keiser and William Foresman; ophthalmology by Drs. Richard Freeman, Nancy Oplinger, David Speck and Peter Doane; gastroenterology by Dr. Rayees Nizam; podiatry by Dr. Michael Rynn; and pulmonology by Dr. Rajesh Rao.
Looking at the larger picture, including all surgery and endoscopies, more than 6,545 procedures were performed in 2005; 5,170 of these were outpatient procedures and 3,545 were endoscopies. According to Molly McKeon, R.N., nurse manager of the Operating Room, “We now have the newest laparoscopic systems available, with a high definition video system. We are currently working with architects, preparing to renovate two operating rooms for state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgery. Our goal is to complete the work by the end of 2006.”
McKeon gave special credit to Dr. John Ryan for his strong influence on the OR atmosphere. “He is carrying on a tradition from his father, Dr. Charles Ryan,” she said. “He really cares about every patient. Surgery at AMH is not an assembly line, as in some larger hospitals. We have a personal touch, and we get to know each patient.”
Casper added, “We have an excellent nursing staff and outstanding physicians who give wonderful care. The OR can be a scary place, but when you're a patient here, you're likely to see familiar faces, and that's comforting. We want every patient to feel safe and well cared for. I think our survey numbers show that we're succeeding. But we will continue to ask our patients to tell us how we can do even better.”
Another indication of the high quality of AMH surgical services is the extremely low rate of infections after surgery. In the past three years, out of a total of 21,335 surgical procedures, only one-tenth of one percent reported post-operative infections within 30 days, the reporting time required by NYS and CDC guidelines. On further examination of the data, it was shown that only 0.02 percent of AMH#'s surgical patients had documented infections while the patient was still in the hospital. It seems clear that these numbers compare very favorably to those of other hospitals.
AMH also offers round-the-clock anesthesia services through Sterling Health Care.
Although much public attention has been drawn to the Fingerlakes Weight Loss Program, which includes bariatric surgery, weight loss through surgery is really not new at AMH. It was initiated by Dr. Chung Oh, who has been performing bariatric surgery for 25 years, having completed 2,000 cases. He also performs body contouring procedures after weight loss from surgery. Dr. Oh uses the open method while Dr. Weiss, who also performs bariatric surgery, usually uses the laparoscopic method. The Fingerlakes Weight Loss Program involves an array of health care professionals including a dietitian, a physical therapist, and others who help prepare patients before the procedure and help them recover and succeed with their planned weight loss program afterward.
Whether it's a screening for colon cancer, cataract removal, or major surgery for cancer or other serious problems, the dedicated health care professionals at Auburn Memorial Hospital offer excellent care to our community, close to home.
Beverly Miller is the director of Community Relations and the
Hospital Foundation at Auburn Memorial Hospital
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