INS Recovery Care - In The News

NIP N' TUCK OVER THE HOLIDAYS?

Five Reasons Why Recovering "Home Alone" is Not A Good Idea

HOUSTON: The holiday season is not only a busy time for retailers but surgeons as well. Each year the holiday season provides a perfect opportunity for scheduling an elective surgical procedure. But finding someone to look after you following outpatient surgery is not always easy. And recovering home alone should never be an option for those people without family or friends in the area.

"There are five things you should consider in planning for your recovery care and why you should never recover at home alone following outpatient surgery," says Susan Davis, CEO of Innovative Nurses & Sitters.

1. What you should be looking for in and around your incisions
2. The number one cause of nausea and how to treat it
3. The one thing that can upset an otherwise perfect surgery
4. How to plan for the unexpected post-surgical activity and effectively utilize your home caregiver.
5. Avoid doing these simple tasks so you can minimize a serious danger

Dr. Mark Schusterman, a Houston Plastic Surgeon explains, "We have patients who want to have surgery during the holidays when it is common for lots of folks to be out of the office. They can undergo a cosmetic procedure and recover without drawing attention to this personal event."

"There are some individuals who are single or widowed with no family members in the area who think they can go home following an outpatient procedure and recover by themselves," continues Susan Davis, "It is just too risky to go home alone following outpatient surgery. That is why we offer a unique service for these individuals to ensure that they have someone to look after them for a short time after their procedure."

Physicians find that having a trained caregiver to monitor their patients closely after a procedure involving general anesthesia increases overall patient satisfaction. "If there is a legitimate concern, the caregiver will notify our staff immediately for instructions. Having a trained individual at home with our patient, being our eyes and ears, can prevent a trip to the E.R.," states Dr. Schusterman.

The home care market traditionally provides short to long-term care in terms of weeks and months not the few hours that is recommended after out patient surgery. To address this vacuum in care, Davis initiated Recovery Care, a short-term component of her private duty agency, at the end of 2005.

"Patients called me wanting to have transportation to and from the surgical facility and follow up care at home. Our trained caregivers make sure they have what they need when they get home," says Davis. "Our clients' safety and comfort is foremost."

Making a decision to have elective plastic surgery is exciting and a little frightening. At Innovative Nursing we want to maximize your comfort during the critical post operative recovery period by having a trained caregiver help you. To learn more about the unique Innovative Nurses & Sitters Recovery Care program for private duty care, call us at 713 523-2329.

Innovative Nurses & Sitters provides qualified caregivers who will pick up the patient at home, wait for them during their surgery, and take them home after they are able to leave the physician's office or outpatient surgical facility. They then spend from 4 to 24 hours with the recovering patient helping to make them comfortable, preparing their meals, and tending to their needs during the critical first few hours following their surgery.

Dr. Mark Schusterman is a double certified surgeon: Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Board Certified in General Surgery. He can be reached at 713-794-0368, and has offices at 6624 Fannin St., Suite 1420, Houston, TX 77030. His website is: www.alwaysyouthful.com