435-522-7204 conniem@sgsc.net

FAQS

Find answers to common questions about our procedures, pricing, facility, and what to expect before, during, and after your surgery at St. George Surgical Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can St. George Surgical Center (SGSC) provide surgical services so inexpensively as opposed to other Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC’s) and hospitals?

The physician owners, administrators, and affiliated surgeons at St George Surgical Center decided long ago that surgery pricing was trending higher and higher. They agreed that something had to give. Now that many surgical procedures that were limited to the high-cost inpatient setting are allowed to be performed as an outpatient, SGSC passes these savings on to patients and employer-sponsored health benefit programs. SGSC decided to cut costs without sacrificing patient care, safety, and quality. We trimmed salaries compared with what hospitals pay their executives. We carefully monitor costs for each and every procedure to be able to offer cash-based pricing and not charge for all the paperwork, follow-up, and other costs associated with insurance billing. That way, we can offer lower prices to cash-pay surgery patients who deserve the same great care, but at lower prices.

What if a procedure I need is not listed?

There are more than 59,000 surgical procedures. We couldn’t list them all, so we decided to list about 200 that were the most popular, performed by our board-certified surgeons. If you need a procedure that we didn’t list, please contact us.

What if I have insurance, can I still get the cash price?

If you decide to file insurance, you will not be able to get the cash price unless we have a special package price contract with your health insurer. The cash price is for those self-pay patients who make full payment on or before the day of surgery. If you believe your insurer or employer may be interested in a direct contract with SGSC, give us a call and let’s chat about it. We’re always open to innovative ways to help employers and insurers save on surgery costs for their plan participants if they meet our requirements.

How do you come up with one transparent price for surgery?

It’s simple. SGSC-related physicians are committed to a price that is reasonable and fair for their services. With that level of commitment combined with our level of efficiency as an ASC, we are able to combine the surgeon’s fee with the surgery center and anesthesia fee. The cost savings that we are able to realize are then passed on to our patients and their families. We promise you that the price we offer will be some of the most competitive you will find.

Why should I choose an ASC over a hospital?

This is an excellent question that is becoming more commonly asked by patients. Simply stated, an ASC is an excellent example of high-quality healthcare at a fraction of the price. In their defense, it is often more difficult for hospitals to quote you a transparent, reliable bundled price for one of 59,000 possible surgery procedures. We made the effort to calculate our costs, supplies, staffing, and overheads so we could post reliable, transparent prices online for all patients to see.

And in terms of quality and safety, one benchmark universally compared is the rate of infection. Our reported infection rate is extremely low at 0.037%. One reason this occurs is because of the way we operate. The other reason is that there are fewer sick people around you compared with the hospital inpatient or outpatient setting, so you are less likely to catch a hospital-acquired infection in the ASC setting.

Here at SGSC, the same surgeons and specialists who are doing procedures at the hospital perform procedures here at the ASC. They love working here because of our record for safety and efficiency and the professionalism of our clinical and administrative staff. It reflects well on them, and it keeps their patients safe and well-cared for.

If I need an implantable device such as a knee or hip implant, mesh for a hernia repair, or a lens for cataract surgery, how much more will that cost?

St. George Surgical Center strives for Total Price Transparency. This means that all standard and customary implants, hardware, plates, screws, meshes, slings, and tissues that are normal and necessary for the surgery will be included in the listed price for our bundled price procedures.

We strive to be as transparent as possible so you, as the healthcare consumer, can make the most informed decision about your surgery and know your out-of-pocket costs before you schedule your procedure.

Some Surgery Centers advertise “Total Price Transparency”, quoting cash prices for surgical procedures that EXCLUDE implants, hardware, and/or the 23-hour Overnight/Extended stay, resulting in additional hidden costs. St. George Surgical Center’s posted pricing INCLUDES all standard costs associated with your surgery, with no surprises. Our posted price for surgical procedures truly represents Total Price Transparency. Make sure to ask about ALL the costs you’ll have to pay so you can avoid nasty surprises.

Why is your surgery center posting prices now?

Nationwide, about 83% of patients, both insured and uninsured, now “shop” healthcare prices. The government also supports this, and new legislation will require it. There’s a sense of urgency to adapt to consumer demand for reliable and transparent pricing, including a breakdown of exactly how much they will be expected to pay out of pocket when it's due and payable.

Back in 2014, it took our administrators nearly 8 months of full-time effort to examine and refine our price lists. It takes additional time each month to maintain those lists for the surgeries we perform. At St. George Surgical Center, we are proud to share our total price transparency to meet consumer demand. We are also committed to continually improving efficiency and reducing waste associated with delivering surgical services. We hope other surgery centers will follow in our footsteps.

How long are surgery procedure quotes guaranteed?

You get a 90-day pricing guarantee at SGSC. We take pride in the fact that we make great efforts to avoid changing our prices randomly. Adjusting prices is done after much thought and analysis. We can promise you that there will be no surprises when it comes to the cost of your surgery.

What if I require multiple procedures, how will that be figured into the price?

If you require multiple procedures, we promise to do our absolute best to price the surgery at the maximum price you will pay. In some cases, this might not be possible until the surgeon has assessed your specific needs. In any case, you, as the patient, will make the final decision in regards to your care based on your consultation with the surgeon.

Please call us with any specific questions so we can address your specific concerns and discuss your options. There’s never any obligation or pressure.

Do I get a pre‑operative and post‑operative visit?
We believe every patient should receive the most comprehensive care possible. Every surgeon wants to know their patient's medical history before any surgical procedure is performed.
A pre-operative visit is the surgeon's opportunity to get to know you and your medical history thoroughly. This pre-operative visit can be accomplished with a telehealth call if you are coming from out of town.
A post-operative visit can be done in person or if you are from out of town, you can request a telehealth call. The surgeons want to check on your progress and to answer any questions you may have. If you prefer a telehealth call, be sure to have your questions in front of you so you can discuss them with the doctor. It is a good idea to let us know who your PCP is so we can talk with them if any issues arise. Your care is our #1 concern.
If I need lab tests, who pays for those services?

Lab tests are an additional cost. We do not believe in unnecessary tests and labs. Rest assured that those labs and tests ordered are the minimum needed to ensure your safety.

Because different surgeons require different labs for various procedures, it is impossible to include this in our price, since labs are needed for all patients to a certain degree. You can get the list of the testing and medical/dental clearances you’ll need from us and obtain them at a lab testing site or hospital that is close to your home and may be covered by your insurance, if you like. If you don’t have insurance, always ask about any discounts they may offer to patients who are prepared to pay up front at the time of service.

May I recommend or request a specific surgeon?

Yes, you can recommend a specialist. If they are not credentialed with SGSC, we will need to work through that credential process. Our surgeons are well-known outside of our community and come highly recommended through word of mouth. Since our surgeons are here on specific days for surgery, please be sure that the day you schedule is one on which your surgeon is performing surgeries.

What forms of payment do you accept and who do I pay?

For any out-of-pocket financial responsibilities you’ll have at SGSC, we accept cash, cashier’s checks, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and all major credit cards. We can also connect you with a selection of companies that offer medical financing; some offer 6-month interest-free plans. In order to honor our low cash price, full payment must be received before services are rendered. This allows us to keep our prices as low as possible without the costs associated with collecting payments and insurance program overheads.

Can I stay overnight if I need to?

Yes. We are the only ASC in Southern Utah that has a 23-hour Overnight/Extended-Stay option. Based upon how extensive your procedure is, we can make these arrangements:

If your surgery requires more than a one-night stay, we have partnered with certified acute care and rehabilitation facilities in the area that can accommodate your needs for a fair and reasonable cost.

If you can safely be accommodated in a hotel, we have arranged discounted rates at several hotels and resorts in the area that meet our patients’ requirements for safety, security, and on-site amenities. We can also send a nurse to stay overnight at the hotel in an adjoining room or to have physical therapists come to your hotel if your doctor believes that is necessary. Hotel stays, nursing, and physical therapy are not included in our price quote and are billed separately from charges by SGSC. However, we will usually be able to quote you an estimate of the costs you’ll have to pay.

How long will I have to recover?

Recovery from surgery varies by the surgery procedure and your surgeon's professional judgment. Your surgeon will give you an estimated recovery time based on the surgical procedure performed.

If you fly or drive from far away, you should plan to arrive at least 1-2 business days (M-F*) prior to your surgery and plan to stay at least the night of your procedure and one or two additional nights. If you don’t reside in the local area and you must travel a few hours to return home, your surgeon will provide you a “fit-to-travel” document that summarizes everything in case you need to explain the procedure you had to medical personnel along your journey home.

*Please consider holidays that may fall on a Monday or during the week.

Do you provide travel accommodations?

Although we do not provide actual accommodations, we would be more than happy to help you with suggestions for accommodations for yourself and your companion traveler(s). We have great relationships and exclusive discounts with local hotels, businesses, and our patient concierge is available to help you with those needs.

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