By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
A “Doc Stars: Backstage Pass to Surgical Services” Open House is planned at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo.
Area families are invited to the free event from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. An “Employees Only” tour will be conducted from2 to 4 p.m. on that same day.
The “Doc Stars” open house begins with a stop at the ticket booth, located at the north entrance, followed by guided “red carpet” tours of the Surgery Suite, located on the second floor of the hospital. All participants, children and adults, are invited to explore a “behind-the-scenes” look, including the opportunity to meet the doctors, view actual videos of a robotic total knee arthroplasty (knee replacement surgery), robotic laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), a colonoscopy, and a cataract surgery. As well as view the procedure from the same vantage point a surgeon has while operating the robot.
Information in a news release from Hammond-Henry Hospital states, “People don’t realize the incredible cutting –edge equipment we have here at Hammond-Henry,” said Melissa Braddock, Surgical Services Manager. “They often think since we’re a smaller, independent critical access hospital that we may not have all the amenities of a larger facility. That just isn’t true, you will definitely be surprised.”
The information received continued: The primary goal of this event is to offer education on the surgical services offered at Hammond-Henry. Surgery nurses will serve as tour guides, escorting visitors through two of the hospital’s Operating Rooms, Endoscopy Room, the PAT (Pre-Admissions Testing/Family Living) Room, Surgery Scheduling, the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit), Surgical Clinic, and the Rehab Department, including the Tudi Edwards Rehab Center for Excellence and the Colo Aquatics Center.
Braddock added, “Four surgeons will be featured, and you will be invited to ask questions following their presentations. We will comprehensively explain every step of the process: from surgery check-in to the actual procedure, on through post surgery and physical therapy. We have a top-notch team from start to finish, and this is a golden opportunity to show them off.”
The four presenting surgeons include Dr. Mark Davis, FACS: Dr. Matthew Heberer, Dr. Mark Stewart; and Dr. Thomas Rizzo. Representatives from Intuitive, Zimmer, Olympus, and Vantage will also be present to answer any specific equipment questions. The stations include a focus on total joint replacements, gall bladder removal, podiatric surgeries, cataract surgeries, endoscopic procedures, general surgeries, and physical and occupational therapy.
There will be 10-minute stops at each of the stations, with swag bags distributed, photo opportunities, and light refreshments served at the conclusion of the tour.
For more information about the event, call 309-944-9169.
