Klagenfurt accident hospital plans 1,000 day surgeries a year

The Unfallkrankenhaus Klagenfurt, an accident hospital, plans to expand its day-surgery services so 1,000 patients a year can have surgery in the morning and return home later the same day, ORF reports.

The hospital currently carries out about 270 day procedures annually, including hand and foot surgery, knee arthroscopies and the removal of screws and other metal implants. Medical director Vinzenz Smekal said about 1,000 procedures a year was the target, although up to 1,400 could potentially be performed as day cases.

The number of day-clinic beds is set to rise from three to eight by the end of the year. Patients can be admitted for inpatient care if they are unable to move after surgery or develop complications.

The procedures take place from Monday to Friday. The hospital said the expansion would not shorten waiting times for planned operations. It also sees a potential for more cost-effective work over the longer term.