The Surgery Center of Aiken (SCA), a same-day multi-specialty outpatient surgical facility, joined the Aiken Regional Medical Centers’ family this past fall. It’s an option for healthcare services to meet the needs of the community, says Chief Nursing Officer Virginia (Ginger) Hawkins, MSN, RN, NEA-BC.
The recently acquired facility has four operating rooms and two procedure rooms. “We still offer outpatient surgery in the hospital, but some procedures don’t necessarily need to be done in an acute care facility,” Hawkins says. “It depends on the patient’s condition and what they are having done. Their doctor can determine the best facility for them to have their procedure.”
The center also operates under the same federal, state, safety and Medicare regulations as the hospital. In addition, the facility is required to have medical staff with emergency and CPR training onsite, as well as the ability to transfer a patient to a hospital in the event of an emergency. “We have the same robust quality control and standard of care here [at SCA] as we do at the hospital. The doctors, nurses and other clinical staff have the same level of training and credentials as the medical staff at the hospital, and many of them work in both facilities,” says Hawkins. “New equipment has also been installed and the process has been seamless.”
Whether it’s for convenience, a more relaxed environment, scheduling or personal preference, some people prefer an outpatient facility, notes Hawkins. “We are proud to offer more healthcare options to our community and the surrounding region,” she says.
Multiple specialties
Services in a wide variety of specialties are offered at the Surgery Center of Aiken, including:
- Gastroenterology
- General surgery
- Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Pain management
- Plastic surgery
- Podiatry
- Urology