Faith Regional Surgery Center, Norfolk’s first same-day surgery center, is located in the Faith Regional Medical Offices North Building at 301 North 27th Street, Suite 3. The Surgery Center, which opened in September, 1999, is a joint venture between physicians and Faith Regional Health Services.

The idea for this joint venture was initiated during strategic planning meetings with physicians, community members and Faith Regional in 1996. Advances in technology, surgical technique and anesthetic medications have made it possible for 70 percent of all surgeries done today to be performed the same day. According to Anne Remm, Surgery Center administrator, these advances allow patients to be treated in a safe, nontraditional hospital environment and return home the same day.

Patients can expect to experience minimal waiting time on the day of their procedure, adds Remm. Patient and physician convenience are two of the main advantages of the Surgery Center which offers surgical care in the specialty areas of general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, podiatry, ear-nose-throat, oral surgery, dental care, gastroenterology and pain management.

The Surgery Center staff contacts patients prior to their procedure to make sure they understand what will take place and following the day of surgery to make sure they are doing well. For physicians, surgeries are done according to their scheduled time because there are no emergency procedures being worked in at the last minute.

The Surgery Center also features fixed fees for each surgical procedure done. Generally, fees are 10 to 30 percent lower than what would be charged in other health care facilities, helping to keep health care costs lower for patients, said Dr. Cynthia Ferris, medical director of the center. In addition, all professional staff are certified in advanced cardiac life support and physicians are carefully credentialed for procedures they perform, adds Dr. Ferris.

Patient and physician response has been very positive about the efficiency and professionalism of the staff. The partnership between Faith Regional Health Services and physicians allows for continued collaboration in the development of Faith Regional Surgery Center. The Surgery Center is managed by a national firm—Ambulatory Care Centers of America—which specializes in development and management of outpatient surgery facilities. The firm operates other surgery centers in Nebraska and throughout the United States.

For more information, contact the Faith Regional Surgery Center at (402) 644-7262.