During COVID-19, many surgeries were postponed or canceled for safety reasons. But sometimes people avoid surgery out of fear or anxiety. They worry about possible complications, pain, loss of mobility or productivity, and medication interactions afterward. At Pacific Surgical Center, doctors use the latest techniques and minimally invasive outpatient procedures to reduce downtime and the need for a long recovery. Within the outpatient surgery community, new techniques and trends help keep patients relaxed and stress-free. Experts explain that “Pain is a dynamic and ever-changing phenomenon that requires multiple providers working closely together to best serve the patient. Leaders of pain management programs must regularly communicate with the patient’s referring provider, who is usually the primary care doctor…[but] there’s still a […]

Between New Year and spring fever, this is the time of year we want to lace up our sneakers and (attempt to!) get into shape. The pandemic has kept us more sedentary than usual, so movement is more important than ever. But too much, too soon can lead to aches and pains. Knowing the difference between overexertion and physical injury is vital. If you’ve managed to do some damage—or reawaken an old injury—a visit to Pacific Surgical Center will have you back on your feet in no time. A strained, or pulled, muscle “refers to damage to a muscle or its attaching tendons,” say doctors. “You can put undue pressure on muscles during the course of normal daily activities, with […]

Every season has a downside. Winter, spring, summer, and fall each bring their own unique variety of aches, pains, grunt work, chores, and things we’d rather live without. With seasonal change always just around the corner, knowing what to expect can help combat the blah. But if your pain is increasing, or becoming constant, speak to a doctor about whether outpatient surgery at Pacific Surgical Center could bring relief. One of the most common seasonal issues is allergies. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that “More than 50 million Americans (1 in 6) experience all types of allergies, including indoor/outdoor allergies, food, and drug, latex, insect, skin and eye allergies. The number of people who have allergies continues to increase across all […]

At first glance, the difference between the two seems obvious. But there are many benefits to seeking an outpatient option if surgery is on the table (pun intended). Not every procedure can be done on an outpatient basis but ask your primary care team if Pacific Surgical Center’s many options are right for you. It could minimize risk and save time, stress, and money. At PSC, they offer outpatient orthopedic, urology, gastroenterology, podiatry, and general surgeries. These specialties are performed by skilled doctors using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques.  Even pre- and post-surgical lab work and visits are often performed under the same roof which reduces timely follow-up visits. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that “With improved technology and advances in anesthesia […]

When you need surgery, the weeks leading up to it feel stressful. There are appointments to schedule, prep like blood tests and lab work, and household chores to accomplish. Little things done beforehand make for a more peaceful, productive recovery period. The staff at Pacific Surgical Center will walk you through all the details but there are a few tricks to help the mind and body heal. As you shop for easy meals to enjoy during recovery, start a little early. Doctors “understand that what patients eat and drink before surgery impacts how well they’ll recover afterward…[Nutritionists] instruct patients to eat nutrient-dense foods and emphasizes the importance of a back-to-basics approach to nutrition: Vegetables, grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats […]

We’re closing in on two years within COVID-19’s bubble. Whether or not you became sick, it impacted nearly every aspect of daily life. Doctors are slowly returning to their normal scope of medical practice, but even that has been changed by the Coronavirus. For outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers like Pacific Surgical Center, 2021 has meant following the latest trends in care and cleanliness. Industry reports show surgery centers were heavily impacted by COVID-19 but face a strong future. Returning to pre-pandemic levels hinges on one thing: safety. Cleanliness, infection control, sanitizing, and screening patients keep staff, doctors, and visitors safe. By keeping surgeries on an outpatient basis, PSC limits the total time involved, reducing the likelihood of exposure. They […]

Spring 2021 has us inching back towards normalcy. Vaccine availability means restaurants, stores, and activities are slowly and carefully starting to reopen. If you postponed surgery because of COVID-19 restrictions, you’re probably inching along too…though in a less positive way. Don’t put off much-needed surgery any longer; reach out to Pacific Surgical Center today. Medical statistics show that “More than 100 U.S. hospitals have put elective surgeries on hold indefinitely” during the Coronavirus outbreak. But they agree that “elective doesn’t mean optional; for some people anticipating operations to ease their pain or halt their disease, hospitals’ decisions about what’s elective involves a grim calculus of how long they can wait.” It’s understandable to postpone things that aren’t life-threatening but that […]