Monday, February 26, 2018

An Efficient Hospital? Really?

Last Thursday Wife had her gall bladder removed...a not uncommon procedure especially among women. It is outpatient surgery. Given my experience with having organs removed from one's body, I was a bit skeptical about that. But the surgeon said the gall bladder is just a balloon really that holds bile from the liver and doesn't have a whole lot of blood vessels and other stuff connected to it so is much less invasive to get out.

Wife had researched surgeons her primary physician had recommended and found one she like that worked at a hospital close by...except he didn't. He worked at one that is completely on the opposite end of town. The hospital doesn't update its website that frequently.  Her surgery was scheduled for 7:30 AM and we were required to be there at 5:30 AM to register and get ready.

What then ensued was one of the more amazing demonstrations of precision I have ever experienced in healthcare. After we checked in we went up to the pre-op lounge. We were almost immediately called in to the pre-op area. We were given maybe five different time points as to when the anesthesiologist would show up, the surgeon, when she would be wheeled to surgery, when surgery would be complete, approximate time she would be out of recovery, and estimated time we would be driving home.

Not only were these times close, they were done to the minute. 7:30 exactly of she goes to surgery. 45 minutes afterward - exactly - the surgeon comes out and tells me everything went well. 30 minutes after that - exactly - I am called back. When we put her in the car and I drove away, it was 9:30 - exactly. Crazy.

And thank you Wife is recovering well and doing fine.

3 comments:

Renee Michelle Goertzen said...

A hospital run by the Swiss, perhaps?

I'm so glad she is doing well.

Bernice said...

How different from years ago when one was on bed-rest in the hospital for two weeks. Hope she recovers quickly.

alexis said...

I think that is pretty amazing!! Amazing how quickly some procedures are advancing.