The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) incorporated outpatient surgery centers in several medical centers so people can receive treatments without being separated from their families.
Guapiles Hospital, Tony Facio de Limón Hospital, San Carlos Hospital, San Rafael de Alajuela Hospital, San Vicente de Paul in Heredia Hospital, Monseñor Sanabria de Puntarenas Hospital, National Geriatrics and Gerontology, among others, have started to offer this service.
An outpatient surgery center is a health care structure that allows patients to receive the therapeutic treatments they need without having to be hospitalized and without abandoning their families. These centers have been implemented in Chile, Spain and Cuba. Elderly petients and people with mental illnesses and chronic conditions are the most common visitors.
Doctors Edgar Carrillo, director of San Carlos Hospital, Fernando Morales, director of the National Geriatric Hospital and Joseth López, nurse at Guapiles Hospital, mentioned some of the benefits patients have:
-More attention.
-They don’t get stressed by hospitalization.
-Continuity of treatment is guaranteed.
-Viral syndromes are better treated.
-The number of hospitalizations are reduced and those that are unnecessary are avoided.
-The family can join to the therapeutic process.
-Rehabilitation processes are completed.
-The patient has access to all hospital services.
Although the type of patients assisted will depend on each hospital, most of them treat peoplee with urinary tract infections, application of antibiotics, treatments, compensation for patients with chronic diseases, etc.