Ramsay Surgical Centre brings quality care into the
digital age at Wollongong Private Hospital
A new luxurious state-of-the-art day surgery, which has opened at Wollongong Private Hospital, is reimagining the consumer’s experience.
The Ramsay Way 2019 | 01 3
Ramsay Surgical Centre, located on Level 5 of the hospital,
will allow 2000 more patients per year to access high-quality
surgical treatment without having to leave the
Illawarra region.
Wollongong Private Hospital CEO, David Crowe, said the
Ramsay Surgical Centre:
• Includes a dedicated cardiac catheter laboratory service
to enhance cardiac services.
• Includes an efficient stand-alone day surgery providing
first-class treatment to patients in specialties such as
ophthalmology, gastroenterology, urology, and minor
orthopaedics (hand surgery).
• Creates capacity to expand a range of higher acuity surgical
specialties at Wollongong Private Hospital.
“Our mission is to provide efficient, innovative, world-class
treatment – as our customers deserve and expect – in a
supportive and caring environment,” Mr Crowe said.
"Traditional day surgeries are usually designed around the
hospital space. We took a completely different approach
and designed the experience around the patient.
Patients are greeted by a concierge and sweeping
180 degree views of the escarpment and ocean when
they arrive at the Ramsay Surgical Centre.
“We really wanted to make the experience as personalised
and pleasant as possible for our patients – as going
to hospital can sometimes be a daunting prospect.
We decided to emulate a day spa feel with warm, soft colours
taken from nature. We think this creates a more relaxed feel
for patients before they go into the operating theatre.”
Mr Crowe said there are plans to digitise the day surgery
journey at the Ramsay Surgical Centre to make the process
easier and more immediate for patients, staff and doctors.
“The new online platform will have an inbuilt ‘care plan’
to assist with key steps in the hospital journey – from the
moment there is a request to admit a patient,” he said.
The system will have three separate portals that can be
accessed by patients, doctors, and hospital staff. It will
keep track of various actions – such as filling out personal
details, signature checks, pre-admission and post-discharge
instructions.
Patients will be able to receive email or SMS notifications
relating to various activities. Doctors will be able to access a
dashboard which provides real-time information about their
patients, including a view of available operating theatre
sessions, whether their patients have checked in and the
ability to order the operating theatre list schedule.
Once the surgery has finished, the next of kin will be able
to receive email or SMS notifications:
• When the patient exits theatre.
• When the patient is ready for pick-up.
Mr Crowe said the team was excited about the positive
difference the new facility will make to patients' lives.
Ramsay Surgical Centre closes the hole in Illawarra heart services
Wollongong Private Hospital’s robust cardiology services have been further enhanced by the introduction of three new
cardiac procedures, supported by a brand new cardiac catheter laboratory at the Ramsay Surgical Centre.
Patients affected by valve disease or structural heart conditions no
longer need to travel to Sydney hospitals for surgery and can instead
opt to access the following procedures at Wollongong Private Hospital:
• Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects – Corrects a hole
in the heart; a condition which can sometimes be present at birth.
This procedure involves implanting a small device to close the defect
which can be indicated for patients who have suffered a stroke or are
experiencing heart failure
• Aortic valvuloplasty – Addresses a narrowing of the aortic valve
which can be a cause of heart failure in patients with aortic stenosis.
The procedure relieves pressure on the heart by inflating a balloon
catheter across the valve, widening the area for blood flow.
• Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) – a procedure in which the
left atrial appendage is sealed using an implant, reducing the risk of
blood clots that can lead to strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation.
This procedure helps patients who cannot take blood thinners because
of bleeding risks.
These Illawarra firsts have been initiated under interventional
cardiologist, Dr Edward Danson, who specialises in the treatment
of coronary and structural heart conditions. Dr Danson successfully
completed the region’s first percutaneous closure of a septal defect
and valvuloplasty and also performed Wollongong’s first LAAO.
Dr Danson said: “We have a really excellent team here in Wollongong
delivering some of the latest and best treatments for heart disease."
"It’s a very exciting time for the Illawarra. I’m thrilled that our patients
can now be offered these treatments without having to travel long
distances away from their family and loved ones.”
These cardiac procedures are now offered at the newly opened Ramsay
Surgical Centre at Wollongong Private Hospital. The addition of a new
state-of-the-art catheter laboratory, solely for cardiac-related surgery,
allows for more patients to be treated at the facility with a shorter
waiting time.