Due to improved pain control, advanced medical techniques--including those that reduce recovery time--and cost-cutting considerations, more and more surgeries are being performed on an outpatient basis.
Outpatient surgery continues to mushroom: in 1984, roughly 400,000 outpatient surgeries were performed.
While many outpatient surgeries are covered by insurance plans, many are not. Candidates for such surgeries should check in advance with their insurance carrier concerning whether their procedures are covered on an outpatient basis.
Preparing for outpatient surgery varies, of course, with the surgical procedure to be performed. There are, however, guidelines common to most outpatient surgeries.
By 2000, the number had risen to 8.3 million.
Among the most frequently performed outpatient surgeries are tonsillectomies, arthroscopy, cosmetic surgery, removal of cataracts, gynecological, urological and orthopedic procedures, wound and hernia repairs, and gallbladder removals.
Outpatient or ambulatory surgery services make up almost half of all surgeries in the United States as a result of advances in surgical equipment and technique that allow for laser treatments and other minimally invasive procedures.
Most ophthalmic surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory surgery centers designed for ophthalmologic surgery are commonly used. Surgery may also be performed in hospital operating rooms designed for outpatient surgeries.
Most laser surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis, and patients are usually permitted to leave the hospital or medical office when their vital signs have stabilized.
A blood draw in the doctor's office is not considered an "outpatient procedure" by definition. This might be placed in the category of "Laboratory Services". Outpatient procedures are typically surgeries or special procedures that require some form of anesthesia (local or general).
Outpatient surgeries are usually done with a scope or are considered a more minor procedure such as an arthoscope an about 60% of elective operations as well. The individuals who usually have to stay at least one night are unhealthy in some way. For example may have fever thanks to gall bladder problems which would keep the patient in the hospital.
Outpatient will allow one to have more responsibilities such as education, work and family life so one will be able to go home each day. An inpatient will be allowed less responsibility and will be treated in a hospital or under therapy and will not be allowed to go home each day. The examples could be for drug addiction.
40 million inpatient surgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2000, followed closely by 31.5 million outpatient surgeries.