Choosing a Hospital vs. Surgery Center

The decision to undergo a surgical procedure at a hospital versus a surgery center ultimately comes down to your perception and preference. Indeed, here at Peachtree Surgical and Bariatrics, we perform surgery at both the Atlanta Ambulatory Surgery Center – our outpatient surgical facility – and Atlanta Medical Center, a major hospital in downtown Atlanta. Both facilities have the capability and the staff to perform effective and safe procedures. They do however have their differences, which may have varying degrees of importance to you, depending on your priorities.

Hospitals, of course, tend to be much larger than ambulatory surgery centers and as a result do not offer the level of personalized and individual care that can be achieved at a smaller surgery center. Some patients wish to have a greater degree of interaction with their medical team and often times the hospital is not the best place for them. Hospitals and surgery centers also differ in how they can handle recovery. Hospitals are able to accommodate patients’ overnight while ambulatory surgery centers are usually outpatient facilities but may accommodate patients to stay overnight if necessary. This means that for more complex procedures, including open surgeries, the patient will have to spend at least a couple nights in the hospital for observation. Depending on the procedure, you may also find that a surgery center charges less for a procedure, while a hospital has a greater scope of services in one place.

We suggest that patients speak to their surgeon and the team here at Peachtree Surgical and Bariatrics to learn more about the differences and service offerings of our ambulatory surgery center and our hospital facilities. Understanding the difference between the two can help you make the right decision about the care that you want and need during your upcoming surgical visit.