Finger Lakes Surgery Center

To excel, to be excellent, to demonstrate excellence - all these words describe the Finger Lakes Surgery Center (FLSC). To meet the growing need for outpatient procedures while defining a new standard of excellence, Finger Lakes Health operates the most advanced same-day surgery center in the region.

Opened in the fall of 2005, the 16,400 square foot medical facility was designed from the ground-up to encompass three key elements in the delivery of excellence in health care: dedication to patient-focused care and a healing environment, integration of innovative design and cutting-edge technology, and collaboration between physicians and other caregivers to achieve optimal clinical quality. Procedures at FLSC include those that take 90 minutes or less with approximately a three hour stay from start to finish. All types of anesthesia are available with an anesthesiologist on site from the beginning of the procedure until the patient is discharged.

Currently, the center offers surgery in seven areas:

• General Surgery-hernia repair, biopsies, removal of cysts and skin lesions, and hemorrhoidectomy;
• Gastroenterology-colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, esophageal pH testing, and sigmoidoscopy;
• Orthopedics-arthroscopic repair for sports-related injuries of the shoulder and knee, shoulder and knee arthroscopy, and repairs to the rotator cuff and the anterior cruciate ligament;
• Ophthalmology-cataract removal, corneal transplant, and repair of the eyelid and tear duct;
• Otolaryngology-skin cancer surgery, insertion of ear tubes, tonsil and adenoidectomy, middle ear procedures, and sinus surgery;
• Podiatry-ankle arthroscopy, bunion repair, endoscopic plantar fasciotomy for heel pain, hammer toe repair, and reconstructive foot surgery;
• Urology-cystoscopy, prostrate and bladder procedures.

"Our staff, our physicians and our facility consistently receive 98% and above satisfaction scores from our patient surveys," says Lisa Melchiorre, RN, site administrator for the center. "Our center was designed to provide both patients and their families with a very nice, comfortable environment, soft edges and easy access, both inside and out. It's an excellent place."

"The center's design incorporates an abundance of natural light, soft soothing earth-tone colors, noise reduction, art, music and plants-each geared toward reducing the anxiety of the experience," says Mary Ann Eldred, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Finger Lakes Health, as she described examples of the Healing Environment principles incorporated in the surgery center.

From the moment patients enter the FLSC, the focus is entirely on them. The patient's family is welcome to stay with them until they enter the surgical and procedure rooms and they are kept abreast of the patient's progress. The patient always feels connected. From their pre-operative room, the patient can observe the staff and get a feel for the flow of work. There are no surprises or unexpected delays. At the end of the experience, there is a private exit located close to the patient's car and protected from the elements.

Patients regularly mention that the friendliness and professionalism of staff and physicians surpasses their expectations.

 "The humor of the staff was refreshing and soothing."

"The heated blankets were wonderful!"

"The staff and physicians were professional and provided a comfortable and caring atmosphere."

Patients frequently mention the clean and relaxing environment and the speed and efficiency of their visit.

"Everyone should be proud of this facility."

"The location of the facility is convenient."

"This is a state-of-the-art facility."

The healing environment of the FLSC is an integration of innovative design and cutting-edge technology. Designed in partnership with and for physicians and clinical staff, the center employs technologies that allow care givers to deliver the best possible patient outcomes and collaborate on continuous quality improvement. For example, the EnTrak Plus Surgical Navigation system is used to help patients with chronic sinus problems. With the EnTrak system, endoscopic sinus surgeries are now safer, faster and more effective. EnTrak enables surgeons to see areas of a patient's sinuses and skull anatomy in more detail than ever before. The system builds a computerized model of a patient's skull anatomy with CT scans taken prior to surgery. These images are displayed on a computer monitor providing a road map for the surgeon to follow. The electromagnetic tracking system links the instruments used in the surgery to the system's computer so during the procedure, the tip of the instrument appears on the computer monitor, giving the surgeon more confidence in movement and reducing patient risk.

A high volume of cataract surgeries are performed at the Finger Lakes Surgery Center. Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. New technologies and techniques have advanced cataract surgery to be efficient and safe. Modern surgery involves dissolving the cataract with high frequency sound waves. "While ultrasound is used to dissolve the cataract, excessive amounts of ultrasound can cause inflammation or swelling of the eye," says Richard Stout, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Geneva. New technology, such as "white star" technology, harnesses the ultrasound power, emitting it in small, efficient bursts, which is less harmful to the eye and results in quicker healing because less sound energy is needed. "We are fortunate to have this modern technology available to us at Finger Lakes Health," remarks Dr. Stout.

The use of Picture Archival Communication System or PACS is the perfect application for off-site medical facilities, such as the FLSC. This cutting-edge technology represents a seamless integration between medicine, diagnostic imaging and information technology. PACS allows radiologists to upload x-rays, CT scans or MRI images onto local servers or the internet, where they can be accessed by doctors at the hospital, at home or anywhere in the world where there is a wireless signal. PACS eliminates the need for hard copy files of photos which take up a huge amount of storage space and make them much more difficult to access. The system provides an excellent digital high-detail image that can be viewed on a full-size screen. PACS greatly reduces costs and boosts efficiency. In addition, access to PACS is completely protected by passwords, thereby safeguarding a patient's privacy.

The Finger Lakes Surgery Center-a Healing Environment, staffed with skilled practitioners using leading technology-the perfect facility to provide an excellent patient experience.