Over the past several years, a variety of exciting changes have occurred on the campus of Salem Community Hospital. The most recent is the expansion of the hospital's Surgery Department, which offers advanced and convenient surgical care to the residents of Salem and the surrounding communities.

The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital was completed after three years of construction and renovation. The $19 million expansion and renovation of the existing Surgery Department created a state-of-the-art facility that combines convenience with high quality care.



Located east of the main hospital entrance, The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital is conveniently accessible with its own entrance and nearby parking.

The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital offers a wide range of surgical procedures, from outpatient surgeries to more complex surgical cases requiring hospitalization. While patients and their loved ones will appreciate the amenities and conveniences that have been added to make their experience as pleasant as possible, the safety of offering surgical services within a full-service hospital is of the utmost importance. Surgical patients at SCH are assured that a highly-qualified staff of professionals and support services are easily accessible should specialized care be required.

FEATURES

The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital offers seven spacious operating suites. The new operating rooms provide the technology needed to perform a wide variety of procedures, including General Surgery and Gynecologic, Gastroenterologic, Laparoscopic, Orthopaedic, Ophthalmologic, Urologic, Ear, Nose and Throat, and Vascular surgeries.



Anesthesiologists prepare a patient for surgery in one of The Surgery Center's operating suites.

Each of the operating suites features modern equipment, as well as boom technology, which is an innovative way to improve safety. Booms are moveable columns attached overhead for the storage of medical equipment and lighting. This innovation helps to manage cords and lines in the OR. Digital imaging displays are also present in each operating suite. This technology assists the surgical team by providing clear, high quality images of internal structures which may be needed to complete a surgical procedure.

Patients in need of orthopaedic surgeries, such as joint replacements, can undergo surgery using the latest technology at The Surgery Center's specially-designed orthopaedic suite. This suite is larger than a traditional operating room to accommodate all of the specialized surgical equipment needed to complete complex orthopaedic procedures.

Another suite has been specially-designed for urologic procedures, such as brachytherapy. The urology suite is specially-equipped with a fixed table that accommodates the use of fluoroscopy during procedures. Fluoroscopy is an x-ray procedure that provides images of moving body structures. The detailed, real-time images captured during fluoroscopy are projected onto a monitor to assist the surgeon with the completion of the procedure.

Spyglass® Direct Visualization Assists with Diagnosis of Gallstones
SCH offers Spyglass direct visualization to view the bile ducts and gallbladder. Using an endoscope equipped with a 6,000 pixel fiberoptic tube, Spyglass has improved the treatment of gallstones, suspicious lesions and certain cancers, while helping to avoid more invasive treatments. Salem Community Hospital is one of only 300 facilities nationwide to have this technology. William Z. Kolozsi, M.D., a gastroenterologist on the SCH medical staff, performs the procedure. More information can be obtained by calling The Gastroenterology Center of Salem, a service of Salem Community Hospital, at 330-337-8709.



Members of the Salem Community Hospital surgical staff prepare for a procedure in the urology suite.

SUPPORT AREAS

The Surgery Center's 10-bed Post Anesthesia Care Unit and 16-bed pre-operative and recovery area feature the latest technology to enhance patient safety and privacy.

In the 10-Bed Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), patients recover from the effects of anesthesia under the watchful care of anesthesiologists and specially-trained nurses. The latest technology and monitoring devices are used to enhance patient safety.

Following a brief stay in PACU, outpatient surgery patients are transferred to the nearby 16-bed pre-operative and recovery area. This dual purpose area is where surgical patients arrive prior to their surgeries, and where some of them will return after surgery to complete their recoveries before being discharged home with a family member. Each private patient bay is equipped with an LCD television to help pass the time and reduce anxiety.

Both of these areas have designated isolation rooms and centralized nursing stations. Their close proximity to the operating suites and staff offices helps to simplify the transport of patients and protect their privacy. Because the family members of surgical patients may wait for several hours while their loved ones undergo surgery, a comfortable, convenient and soothing surgical waiting room was created nearby.




Wide, sunny hallways surround the inner core of operating suites in The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital. This feature provides a cheerful area for patients as they are taken to the operating rooms.

The new surgical waiting room is staffed by hospital volunteers. The area includes two televisions and a beverage station, as well as nearby restrooms. Families may also use the computerized patient tracking system to receive general progress updates about their loved ones, such as "In Recovery." Patient privacy is protected through this system, which uses codes instead of names. If families would like to leave the general area, beepers are available from the volunteer, who will notify them when they should return. The proximity of the surgical waiting room to the cafeteria, gift shop and surgery department is convenient. Nearby consultation rooms allow surgeons to speak to families privately following their loved ones' procedures.

CENTRAL SUPPLY

Located on the lower level of the surgery department addition, the Central Supply Department is responsible for sterilizing, sorting and maintaining the supplies needed for surgery. The department consists of several distinct areas and was specially-designed to ensure that sterile instruments never cross paths with equipment that has already been used. Important areas include a sterile preparation area, where two steam autoclaves are used to sterilize the equipment; four workstations, where staff thoroughly examine instruments before they are assembled; and specialized sterilization equipment for the wide variety of surgical tools used in the modern surgery department, such as endoscopes and non-disposable respiratory devices. Areas for linen folding, breakdown and receiving, and sterile storage complete the department.



Staff members in the Central Supply Department inspect and pack instruments prior to sterilization.

PREPARING FOR A VISIT

Use the following link to view a copy of "Preparing for Your Visit", a guide for surgery patients and their families.


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