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WHAT IS a Surgicenter?
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A Surgicenter is a facility that "admits" a patient early in the morning for the planned, elective
(usually) surgical procedure(s), then the patient is observed until they are recovered from the anesthetic or sedation and sufficiently stable to be sent home later the same day, in care of a
friend or relative who serves as a driver/escort.
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The advantage to this type of arrangement is that costs are lower. It is a safe, affordable alternative for patients who
do not have insurance coverage and/or the ability to pay for an overnight hospital admission . The costs involved in having a procedure done in a single day at a Surgicenter are lower, resulting in
substantial savings to the responsible payer. The outpatient surgery environment is NOT appropriate for complicated cases and/or medically compromised patients, however. Doctors will not schedule cases
in the Surgicenter when the patient's medical status is questionable or more intensive nursing care may be required during recovery.
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About the Baylor College of Dentistry Surgicenter
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When necessary and indicated, patients may be scheduled in the BCD Surgicenter. Contracted Anesthesiologists are utilized
when necessary, and they bill patients separately for any anesthesia-related expenses and fees. There is a fee charged for use of the facility. Facility fees do not include the fees and expenses charged
by the doctor(s) performing the surgery or anesthesia. A complete estimate will be provided to all patients prior to surgery, however patients must bear in mind that it is an estimate, and unexpected
additional charges may be incurred, as dictated by the surgery performed.
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WHAT HAPPENS if I'm not ready to go home?
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All patients are advised that there is always a risk with outpatient surgery that patients may unexpectedly require admission
to the hospital (BUMC) following surgery because of unexpected complications in the surgery, anesthesia, or recovery. If this becomes necessary, the patient will incur additional charges from BUMC for
the admission and treatment. These additional charges are the patient's responsibility, not Baylor College of Dentistry's. Although this happens very rarely, patient safety is the overriding concern at
all times.
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WHAT ARE the exact costs?
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Expenses vary widely, depending on the patient, the procedure(s), equipment and supplies used, and various other factors.
Therefore we cannot provide "ballpark numbers" for the expenses. Each patient is thoroughly evaluated and at that time the evaluating surgeon or resident will counsel the patient on all
reasonably anticipated costs related to the surgery. These are provided on a case-by-case basis and cannot be estimated generically.
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IS IT safe to be operated on at a Surgicenter?
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Generally speaking, we have the same high quality equipment in our Surgicenter as would be found in the Operating Room suites
at BUMC. We are equipped with a full-sized anesthesia machine, monitors, emergency drugs and equipment, and highly trained support personnel. We believe our center is as safe a treatment environment as a
hospital operating room or a hospital-based Surgical Center.
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