Most people would rather never see the inside of an operating room. But sometimes unexpected events happen – a child needs an emergency appendectomy in the middle of the night; a car accident victim needs immediate surgery; or perhaps it’s time for a total knee replacement after years of pain.
No matter what the scenario, Greenwich Hospital’s highly skilled and compassionate surgeons are available around the clock to address every surgical need, from challenging cases to routine procedures.
“We care for surgical patients at Greenwich Hospital who in the past would have been transferred 50 miles away to another facility,” said Karen Santucci, MD, chief medical officer. “It’s important that we provide this level of care to our community.”
The surgical facility at the hospital’s main campus on Perryridge Road includes nine state-of-the-art operating rooms and advanced technology, such as a robotic-assisted surgery system. Stroke patients are treated in a neuroscience interventional laboratory that features neuro biplane three-dimensional imaging for mechanical thrombectomy that removes blood clots. Lifesaving emergency angioplasty is performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The Helmsley Ambulatory Surgery Center on the Holly Hill campus has four operating rooms, including one dedicated to pain management procedures.
At both locations, highly skilled, board-certified surgeons employ the most innovative techniques in advanced and minimally invasive procedures. A staff of board-certified anesthesiologists specialize in all aspects of surgical care. The team includes physician assistants with expertise in surgery and trauma, along with certified perioperative, operating room and post-acute nurses with years of experience. Patient education and support further enhance each patient’s surgical journey.
Surgeons perform a wide range of procedures in the fields of bariatrics, cancer, cosmetic, general, gynecology, heart, lung, neurology, orthopedic, pediatric, plastic and reconstruction, trauma, urology, vascular and more. “Our surgeons and teams are dedicated to improving quality and safety, keeping care close to home while adhering to world-class standards,” said Barbara Ward, MD, chair of Surgery. Dr. Ward is medical director of the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center and the first woman to serve as chair of Surgery.
Greenwich Hospital has strengthened its surgical capabilities in recent years, including expanding its cadre of trauma and specialty surgeons; establishing a Surgical Intensive Care Unit for critically ill patients; and creating a team of surgical/trauma physician assistants to provide coverage 24 hours a day in the Emergency Department, operating room and the Surgery nursing unit.
Two additional Yale Medicine general/trauma surgeons were recruited to handle general emergencies as well as trauma cases caused by falls, vehicle accidents, collisions and other events. Another trauma surgeon will join the Greenwich team shortly. Yale Medicine trauma surgeons rotate at Yale New Haven Hospital. “This allows our trauma surgeons to continuously hone their skills and be on top of their game when they are on the Greenwich campus,” said Dr. Santucci.
We have the resources needed to treat a wide range of emergencies and traumatic injuries,” said Athanassios Petrotos, MD, general surgeon and medical director of the Trauma Unit. The number of trauma cases have increased in recent years due, in part, to the growing number of elderly who are vulnerable to falls and a growing population bolstered by the move of New Yorkers to Connecticut during the pandemic. The hospital is currently seeking designation as a Level III Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.
Daniel Kim, MD, is a trauma surgeon with 20 years of experience caring for injured soldiers on the battlefield. Today he is co-medical director with Michael Franco, MD, of the hospital’s new Surgical Intensive Care Unit for acutely ill patients. Dr. Kim finds his work rewarding. “It’s gratifying to see the immediate results of taking care of my patients,” he said.
Working alongside the surgeons are a team of surgical/trauma physician assistants who are available 24 hours a day, explained Dhara Soni, PA-C, clinical manager of the Surgical Physician Assistant program. Physician assistants assess and treat patients in the Emergency Department, assist surgeons in the operating room, and check on patients in the Surgery unit before and after their procedures.
“Patients benefit from the consistency and availability of having a healthcare professional with surgical training at the hospital at all times,” said Soni. “We spend a lot of time with patients and their families. They come to trust us.”
Similarly, the specially trained nurses and nursing assistants in the Surgery unit focus on developing relationships with patients and their families, encouraging them to be part of the care team. Nurses are trained in how to care for all types of surgery patients. “We want to ensure that our patients have the best of everything during their stay,” said Carol Ann Doherty, RN, the unit’s nurse manager. “It’s rewarding to see them move on to the next phase in life after surgery.”
