Day Surgery Hysteroscopy

Dr. Kim, Dr. Uretsky, Dr. Olson, Scott Alberts, Lisa Chisson-Dulaba, Michelle Busse, Cheryl Holt, Jillian Badry, Heather Lanouette, Tonya Whitney, Suzanne Watts, Marie Hurren, Eileen Adams, Vanessa Wilson, Stephen Ewing, Operating/Recovery room nurses, Surgical dayward, respiratory therapy

The day surgery hysteroscopy program is an innovative model of care to improve patient experience with faster recovery times and improved access to surgery allowing for major surgeries to move through the main operating room. This program reduces wait times and helps women have better access to minor gynecological procedures.

During COVID-19, the wait list for hysteroscopies grew exponentially. Obstetrics gynecology leadership determined hysteroscopies could be performed safely under procedural sedation which does not require an anesthesiologist. The program has specific patient eligibility criteria to optimize care. With this change three registered nurses working to a full scope of practice and the gynecologist perform procedures in the surgical day ward rather than an operating room. The program can see eight to 10 patients a day in addition to a full operative slate, using the existing cystoscopy theatre and maximizing staff skill sets safely.

It is important that patients who require a gynecology operation have access to timely surgery. The day surgery hysteroscopy allows the gynecologist to see almost twice as many patients as they could see in a traditional operating room, creating more operating room time for other surgeries. Additionally, referral to this program has the patient meet a gynecologist in their office and sometimes minor procedures can be performed there.