NO OR LOW-OPIOID SURGICAL OPTIONS
Post-Operative Pain Care
Opioids have been the main treatment of Post-Operative pain for a long time, but over the last several years, physicians and patients have noted more adverse reactions or side effects. Potential Opioid risks include substance abuse, confusion, nausea, vomiting, itching, constipation, and respiratory complications. Patients with sleep apnea, particularly undiagnosed, are at an increased risk of respiratory adverse effects with opioids. Additionally, some elderly patients are more likely to suffer adverse cognitive effects.
In an effort to reduce potential Opioid Abuse and the side effects or complications, SGSC is proactively working with our Surgeons to identify other options to reduce or even eliminate the need for Opioids after surgery. SGSC Surgeons performing major surgeries, including Total Hip Replacement and Total Knee Replacement, are implementing several treatments that add little or no additional costs.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures
Can I use my insurance and get these prices?
Payment is due 14 calendar days prior to your surgery date. If, after the cutoff, your account is not settled, your case must be postponed.
How quickly can I have surgery?
How will I meet my surgeon?
If I had a car or work accident, would you work with my employer or attorney for payment?
What if I get sick right before my surgery?
You could develop a respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, COVID, or some other condition that may necessitate postponement. There is no penalty when this happens.
What’s Included:
- Facility fee
- Graft and hardware costs (if needed)
- Surgeon and assistant surgeon fees
- Anesthesiologist
- Time in the recovery unit (at no additional charge)
- Initial consultation visit
- One post-operative visit
*Please note: If you choose not to proceed with surgery after the initial consultation, or if you delay your procedure for more than 6 weeks, you will need to update your consultation at a cost of $375.
What’s not included:
- Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
- Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
- Physical therapy services
- Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
- Wound care
- Bracing supplies
- Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
- Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
- Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops
Exparel
Exparel is a single-dose, non-opioid anesthetic that targets the site of your surgery, which helps control the post-operative pain for the first few days after your procedure. It is typically used for major Orthopedic, Gynecology, Cosmetic & Plastic, and General Surgeries such as Hernia Repair or Gall Bladder Removal.
- EXPAREL is a targeted anesthetic, working directly at the surgical site, unlike opioids, which are systemic and affect the entire body
- EXPAREL requires only one dose, administered by your doctor during surgery, so you have one less thing to manage afterwards
- EXPAREL provides pain control for the first few days after surgery, when you need it most
- EXPAREL is proven in clinical trials to reduce the need for opioids
- EXPAREL patients went longer before needing opioids than those who didn’t receive EXPAREL
- EXPAREL patients required fewer opioids than those who didn’t receive EXPAREL
Exparel can be used in a variety of Surgical cases, including:
- ORTHOPEDIC– Knee, Hip, Spine, Foot, Ankle, Shoulder, Hand
- GYNECOLOGY—Hysterectomy and Fibroid Tissue Removal
- COSMETIC & PLASTIC SURGERY—Breast Reconstruction, Breast Augmentation & Reduction; Tummy Tucks, Facelifts
- GENERAL SURGERY—Hernia Repair, Gall Bladder Removal, Appendectomy, etc.
Talk to your Doctor before having Surgery to see if Exparel works for you.
Iovera
If you are planning on a Total Joint Replacement, such as Total Hip Replacement, Shoulder Replacement, or Total or Partial Knee Replacement, Iovera may be a great option to reduce post-surgical pain.
The Iovera treatment uses the body’s natural response to cold to treat peripheral nerves and immediately reduce pain, without the use of drugs. Treated nerves are temporarily stopped from sending pain signals for a period of time, followed by a restoration of function. Iovera reduces surgical pain in Orthopedic procedures for approximately 90 days. In the case of a Total Knee Replacement, most of your surgical pain is long gone by the time the nerves regenerate.
With the Iovera system, doctors are able to deliver precise, controlled doses of cold temperature directly to the targeted nerve through a handheld device. This needle-based procedure is safe and does not damage or destroy the surrounding tissue. The Iovera treatment does not include the injection of any drugs, opioids, or narcotics. The effect of this treatment is immediate and can last up to 90 days.
Can I Travel to St George for Surgery?
Yes, and we’ll help you make all your arrangements.
- We have arrangements to try to obtain free flights through a non-profit volunteer pilot organization. We can do this with 10 days’ advance notice in most cases.
- We have discount codes for the Holiday Inn in town. This hotel is 1.5 miles from the surgery center and 2 miles from our clinic.
- We’ll arrange to send your after-surgery medications to your hometown pharmacy for pickup before you leave.
What if I would rather drive to St George?
No problem, we can help with those plans as well. When you have surgery with us, we’ll need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable after surgery. We’ll arrange cold compression therapy that requires an AC/DC adaptor/transformer and frequent stops to stretch and refill the ice reservoir on the road.
We’ll ask about the vehicle you’ll travel in to ensure you have a way to elevate and stretch out in the vehicle on the road while someone else does the driving.
How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?
In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.
Transparent Pricing Guide
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