Surgical and Ambulatory Services
 The
Surgical Services Unit includes the areas of: Pre-Admission
Testing an Consultation; One Day (Ambulatory) Surgery;
Operating Room; Post-Anesthesia Care (Recovery Room);
and Endoscopy & Minor Surgery. The staff in each
of these units is committed to providing excellent care
through upholding Ottumwa Regional Health Center's Mission
Statement.
In the pursuit of excellence, we
dedicate ourselves to providing quality health services
in a caring manner.
Utilizing exciting new surgery advances as well as
the best standard techniques, our experienced surgical
teams provide general and specialized surgical procedures.
Whether you require surgery with a hospital stay or
outpatient surgery with home recovery, we have a team
of experts to meet you needs.
 Pre-Admission
Testing and Consultation
We strongly encourage our patients to meet with our
Pre-Admission Review nurse two-to-five days prior to
their scheduled elective procedures. The appointment
may be scheduled through the doctor's office or by calling
our Pre-Admission Review Nurse at 641-684-2461. She
will assist you with paperwork and direct you to X-ray,
EKG and the Lab if these have been ordered by your physician.
Patient teaching is an important part of your surgical
experience. Your review nurse will instruct you in pre-operative,
inter-operative, and post-operative care. She will also
assist you with discharge planning at this time. We
encourage a family member or significant other to accompany
you to visit with the Pre-Admission testing nurse.
Surgical Site Verification
In the event your surgery involves a bilateral location,
for example: right or left eye, right or left leg, etc.,
surgical site verification will occur. During the admission
phase, your nurse or physician will ask questions and
review your record to verify the correct location of
your surgery. The site will be confirmed by marking
the area with a skin pen or adhesive label. You can
expect the site to be rechecked and confirmed by your
nurse or physician at each stage of the surgery process
- upon admission, upon transfer to the operating room,
and again by the OR nurse and surgeon prior to starting
your surgery.
One Day (Ambulatory) Surgery
 As
you enter the One Day Surgery area, you are surprised
to see such an open, airy atmosphere. Staff smile and
welcome you with a positive, upbeat attitude. You are
relieved, and some of your anxiety disappears. This
was something you were dreading but already you are
beginning to feel hopeful. It looks like you will be
in and out of surgery and on your way to recovery in
hours.
At Ottumwa Regional Health Center, nearly 70% of all
surgeries are now one day outpatient procedures. Utilizing
exciting new advances as well as the best standard techniques,
our experienced surgical teams provide general and specialized
surgical procedures.
Our unit furnishes facilities and care for patients
of all ages having outpatient surgery or procedures.
Optimal care is provided through nursing interventions,
assessment, pre-procedure teaching, post-procedure assessment
and discharge teaching to promote healing and prevent
complications. Our staff recognize that families and
significant others are an integral part of the patient's
care and well-being and encourage a family member to
be present with their loved one during this time.
Pain Management
The management of your pain following surgery is a
big concern for us. It is very important for you to
let us know when you are having pain so that we can
help you in the most effective manner. Pain is very
subjective. Let your nurse know when you are having
pain and if the pain medication given to you has controlled
your pain. We want to work together as a team to make
your recovery period a successful one.
 Discharge
After an assessment that all indicators are met, you
will be discharged in the care of a family member or
significant other. The next working day, Monday-Friday,
a nurse will call your home to see how you are doing
and to answer any questions you may have. Please know
that your well-being is important to us. Feel free to
ask your doctor or nurse any questions your may have.
We will do everything to assure the success of your
procedure and see you on your way to recovery.
We encourage you to always ask any questions you have
regarding your care.
Nursing practice's delineated by the Iowa Nurse Practice
Act and other regulatory agencies.
Operating Room
 Our
operating room provides twenty-four hour surgical and
anesthesia care to all patients requiring elective or
emergent surgical intervention. It is a highly specialized
critical care area serving all ages of patients. Optimal
care is provided to promote healing and prevent complications,
with the nurse acting as the patient advocate in this
setting.
When entering the operating room, you will be taken
to the Holding Area where the nurses will be asking
questions regarding: allergies, diet, name of procedure,
and site verification. If a skin shave or skin scrub
is needed, it will be completed at this time, then you
will be transferred to the OR room.
 Personnel
in the Operating Room :
1. Your Surgeon - responsible for your overall care.
2. Assistant Physician - assists your surgeon, if needed.
3. Scrub Nurse - prepares the instruments needed for
your surgery.
4. Circulating Nurse - prepares the OR room and responsible
for your care.
These people will be dressed in surgical attire.
Services provided in this area include, but are not
limited to the following:
- Orthopedic Surgery (including total joint replacements)
- Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery
- Ophthalmic Surgery (including intraocular implants
and corneal transplants)
- General surgery
- Obstetrics/Gynecology Surgery
- Anesthesia Procedures (including epidural pain
control)
- Urology
- Podiatry
- Vascular Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Dental
Nursing practice is delineated by the Iowa Nurse Practice
Act and other regulatory agencies. AORN standards of
practice and recommendations are reference for Operating
Room Nursing Practice.
 Post-Anesthesia
Care Unit (Recovery Room)
Our unit provides immediate post-surgical/anesthesia
care to patients who have undergone a surgical intervention.
Staff in this specialized unit are trained in advanced
care techniques to meet the individual needs of their
patients as they emerge from anesthesia. Optimal care
is provided to promote healing and prevent complications.
Nursing practice is delineated by the Iowa Nurse Practice
Act and other regulatory agencies. ASPAN standards of
practice and recommendations are reference for Post-Anesthesia
Nursing Practice.
Endoscopy & Minor Surgery
Our Endoscopy & Minor Surgery Unit is designed
as a clinical unit dedicated to providing diagnostic
procedures and minor surgeries in an efficient and high
quality Manner. Each year, more than 2,500 procedures
are performed as our experienced physicians and nurses
serve the medical needs of our region. Our patients
are often surprised and pleased to learn that they can
be on the road to recovery in a matter of hours.
With the latest advances in technology available on-site,
and the most recent clinical information and training,
you can feel confident in the care you will receive.
Endoscopy & Minor Surgery procedures provided include
the following:
1. Endoscopy: All gastro, intestinal and lung endoscopies
are performed in this area. These include the following:
- Upper endoscopy of the esophagus and stomach
- Lower colonoscopy of the bowels
- Flexible sigmoid of the shortest part of the bowel
- P.E.G. feeding tube placement
- Liver biopsies
- E.R.C.P. of the bile ducts - for patients with
stones or strictures of ducts
- Bronchoscopies for examination, biopsies, cultures
and washing of the lungs
- pH Monitoring (24 hour)
- Esophageal manometry
2. Minor Surgeries: These are procedures that are not
required to be done in the main operating rooms. These
include the following:
- Ear tube placements on adults
- Nasal fracture repairs - For broken noses
- Removal of skin cancers - With assistance of the
pathologist making certain that the entire cancer
is seen under a microscope
- Removal of lipomas - Excess fatty tissue
- Blehroplasty - Removal of excess eyelid tissue
- Which can cause visual impairment
- Trigger finger release
- Removal of pins and screws from bone
- Hemorrhoid banding - To remove external hemorrhoids
- Sterile wound cleansing with reapplication of sterile
dressings.
Nursing practice is delineated by the Iowa Nurse Practice
Act and other regulatory agencies. AORN standards of
practice and recommendations are reference for Surgical
Nursing Practice, and SGNA standards of practice and
recommendations are reference for Endoscopy Nursing
Practice.
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