Fear of Getting Surgery During The Pandemic? What You Should Know That May Relieve Your Concerns.

The initial wave of the coronavirus that threatened to undermine the healthcare system has passed and the restrictions that prevented elective surgeries from being performed have been lifted. Fear of getting surgery during the pandemic could be the only thing preventing you from enjoying an active lifestyle. Here's what you should know that could relieve your concerns.

The evidence on safety

Research data shows that with better coronavirus testing ability and the implementation of different patient safety protocols, elective surgery can be safely performed with minimal risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

The precautions we take

Effective safety precautions that we implement include use of masks, personal protective equipment, checking everyone that visits our center at the door for fever and other symptoms, frequent use of hand sanitizers, extra care to ensure all contact surfaces are cleaned regularly to avoid contamination, keeping patients at safe distances from each other, and testing for COVID-19 before surgery.

Why minimally invasive surgery helps

Most surgeries are performed using cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques through very small incisions, such as shoulder arthroscopy, minimizing risk of infections. Patients generally recover quickly after surgery and can return home on the same day.

After the surgery, follow-up assessments and physical therapy may be done by telemedicine for ease of convenience and increased safety of the patient.

There is also evidence to suggest that ambulatory surgery centers may be safer than hospitals because of the specialized nature of the services offered and the personalized care that may not be possible at the larger hospital setting.

Dr. Patrick Denard has been voted one of the top 20 Shoulder Surgeons in North America and is the most widely published shoulder specialist in Oregon. Dr. Denard has advanced arthroscopy training and is able to perform the vast majority of shoulder procedures in a minimally invasive fashion, including all types of rotator cuff repairs and instability repair. These techniques allow him to repair tears that some consider "irreparable." Providing every patient with advanced medicine and compassionate care each and every time.