Planning for a surgical procedure in 2011? Here are four questions you should be sure to ask before you go too far.
Q. How can I lower my healthcare costs?
Take charge of your health, and don’t put off life-saving screenings. If you exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and don’t smoke, you are more likely to live longer and spend less time visiting doctors’ offices and emergency rooms.
Also, follow screening guidelines for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Waiting allows conditions to become more advanced and more expensive to treat. The top early-detection tests for cancers are: mammograms to detect breast cancer, digital exams for prostate cancer, and colonoscopies for colon cancer.
Q. If I get sick, how can I control treatment costs?
If you need surgery, explore the most cost effective options. Ask if your surgery can be minimally invasive or performed in an outpatient setting. In many instances, minimally invasive procedures are the most cost-effective, and usually result in a faster return to your normal activity level. Mississippi Valley Surgery Center’s minimally invasive procedures usually get patients home the same day. At most, it keeps them for overnight observation only. That’s a huge savings over staying in a hospital following a more traditional open operation.
Q. What is Mississippi Valley Surgery Center?
Mississippi Valley Surgery Center is the Quad Cities’ first multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center. It was founded in 1996, and offers outpatient procedures and surgeries where patients are home within a day or less, and avoid potentially expensive hospitalization. Today, MVSC performs over 12,000 procedures a year.
Ask your doctor or surgeon if your procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Q. Can I choose my own specialist?
Yes, most patients can choose their specialist. Most insurance plans allow patients to choose and secure their own specialists directly. In the Quad Cities, the Mississippi Valley Health Network of specialists and Mississippi Valley Surgery Center work together so patients can make their own choices regarding the quality of care they receive in a setting respectful of their time and circumstances. Most of the Network’s specialists are board-certified and fellowship trained. They are dedicated to providing health care as it should be, employing the most effective treatments that get patients back home and recovering quickly.
Want to learn more? Call (563) 344-6653 to speak with a patient advocate today or visit the websites for the Mississippi Valley Health Network or Mississippi Valley Surgery Center.
