12/10/2025
Patient Safety: The Non-Negotiables of Surgical Excellence As Chief of Plastic Surgery at Englewood Health, I operate exclusively in hospital-grade facilities. This commitment shapes every aspect of patient care. Pre-operative protocols I never compromise: Complete medical history and physical examination. Every patient undergoes thorough assessment regardless of procedure complexity. Medical conditions that seem unrelated can affect surgical outcomes and safety. Appropriate medical clearance when indicated. Patients over certain ages or with medical conditions get cardiac clearance and additional testing. Better to delay surgery than proceed with unidentified risks. Honest candidacy assessment. Not everyone is a good candidate for every procedure. When I determine surgery isn’t appropriate, I explain why and discuss alternatives. Informed consent that’s actually informed. Patients deserve to understand risks, benefits, alternatives, and realistic outcomes. I spend consultation time ensuring complete understanding. Hospital-based advantages that matter: Board-certified anesthesiologists, not nurse anesthetists working alone. Emergency equipment and protocols immediately available. Peer review and accountability systems. Accredited surgical facilities with rigorous standards. The result? Complications are rare when proper protocols are followed and patients are appropriate candidates. To referring physicians: Thank you for trusting me with your patients. I treat every referral as the privilege it is, with the same safety standards I’d want for my own family. To prospective patients: Never hesitate to ask your surgeon about their facility accreditation, safety protocols, and complication rates. These questions demonstrate wisdom, not distrust.