HMO stirs debate with outpatient mastectomy push.
The public furor over outpatient mastectomies may have quieted for the moment, but same-day surgery managers have been left with lingering concerns. Congress currently is considering two bills addressing outpatient mastectomies. One would ensure a minimum length of stay for the procedure, while the other leaves that decision to the physician and patient. Some professionals say outpatient mastectomies fail to provide crucial emotional and psychological support. Patients of one breast center suggested routine outpatient mastectomies with preadmission educational components.
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D019090:Case Management / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014481:United States