Grand Opening - February 18, 2006

Surgery Center

What does the new Surgery Center at Bigfork Valley mean for you?

It means that there is an operating suite close to home that is designed to support many orthopedic and general surgical procedures with the latest technology available.

Why is that important? Having the right operating environment and equipment makes the surgeon's job easier in making sure that your surgery is successful.

Because the operating rooms are designed with a built-in plasma screen, the medical team has access to digital images from your diagnostic X-rays, MRIs or CT scans as well as other resources via the Internet. There are also viewing screens for film images. The surgeon can see these images during surgery.

Many procedures today are done as arthroscopy techniques; surgery inside joints, for instance, can be done with tiny instruments guided by a camera, both on the end of a thin tube inserted through small incisions. Instead of a long, visible scar, this technique means there are a few very small scars instead. To guide the surgery, the doctor watches the camera image. In the Bigfork Valley operating rooms, adjustable screens allow the surgeon to follow the image right in front of him without turning away from the patient.

In fact, state-of-the-art surgical suites today are designed with booms carrying most of the needed equipment that used to require cables snaking across the floor. There are three booms in each of the two operating rooms that move in every direction. The booms carry surgical equipment, vacuum, gases such as oxygen and anesthetics, focused lighting and the screens. Because the booms have such a large range of motion, the patient can be repositioned during surgery and the booms can follow the movement.

Size is particularly important for orthopedic surgeries that require extra equipment for such things as positioning the patient properly. Well-sized rooms mean that the surgical team has ample room to move around during the procedure. The surgery rooms at Bigfork Valley are among the largest in the region.

Other considerations came into the design of Bigfork Valley's new Surgical Center. There is a secure one-way flow through sterilization for the instruments, for instance, and even the air flow is designed to maintain the sterile environment. There are entrance locks that prevent anyone from entering the sterile surgical area from a public area directly - and also limits entrance to those authorized to be there.

As a patient, the design is logical and compact. On check-in, the patient will start in a day surgery room, and return there after surgery. If general or spinal anesthesia is used, patients first go to a post anesthesia care unit where they are monitored continuously. There is also a comfortable waiting room for the family and a private room for consultation with the surgeon after surgery.

In fact, the operating suites are "state of the art, world class," said Dr. Dan Baker, orthopedic surgeon. Currently orthopedic surgeries offered include repair of fractures, dislocations, sports and workplace injuries, carpal tunnel, shoulder reconstruction and hip and knee replacements.

The Bigfork Valley surgeons welcome your consideration if the need should arise. We offer several services; orthopedics with Dr. Dan Baker, general surgery with Dr. Michael Baich and Dr. Dan Margo, and cataract/eye surgery with Dr. Tim Bonner.