Outpatient Services

Day Surgery refers to the Operating Room and Procedural care of patients who usually return home after surgical and anesthesia care. Since January 2001 the Day Surgery Unit of the University of Colorado Hospital has been separate from the main Operating Rooms and located in the Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion. Patients in the Day Surgery Unit undergo operative procedures by a variety of surgeons specializing in Sports Medicine, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Otolaryngology, Urology, General Surgery, Interventional Pain Management, and Podiatry. Anesthesia care is also provided for patients undergoing invasive gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

Patients in our Day Surgery must be over 2 years of age and generally less likely to have complicating medical conditions. Procedures are typically of shorter duration than in the main Operating Rooms and often require only regional anesthesia and sedation, although the anesthesiologists are fully capable of general anesthesia care when necessary. Since patients should be able to return to home care after their procedure, the care in the Day Surgery Unit involves collaboration among anesthesiologists, surgeons, pre and post op nurses and operating room nurses. Together we focus on compassionate and efficient patient care.