Outpatient surgery

Abstract

An Ambulatory Surgical Unit (ASU) is a viable alternative to hospitalization. It provides high quality care, while dramatically reducing inpatient bed utilization and hospitalization costs. In many instances, demonstrated by the undiagnosed breast lesion, outpatient surgery is the procedure of choice. This study of outpatient surgery has suggested a need for evaluating the indications for screening tests, and for determining the cost savings that would result from performing pertinent testing on an outpatient basis. In Milwaukee, hospital based ASUs are in the best interests of controlling the high cost of delivery of medical services. In the interest of good quality medical care, and in the interest of controlling spiraling medical costs, the patient, physician, hospital, and third party payor should insist on the performance of surgical procedures on an outpatient basis when feasible.