Mediclinic Day Clinic officially opened

POLOKWANE – The corner of Plein and Jorrison Streets now boasts a state of the art building carrying the name Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic.

This day hospital was officially opened on Wednesday, 28 October. Among the guests were local doctors and specialists as well as Mediclinic South Africa’s operational manager of day clinics, Pieter Lotz.

Facts about Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic:

• Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic is Mediclinic Southern Africa’s second clinic of this nature and focuses exclusively on same day surgery.

• The day hospital officially opened its doors for business on 1 September and more than 400 patients have since been operated on.

• Only concentrating on same day surgical procedures enables Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic to be particularly streamlined and ensures minimal waiting time for patients to be admitted. This day care model is also efficient and cost-effective, without compromising the expert care associated with the Mediclinic brand.

Day case surgery refers to patients who are admitted for planned, non-emergency surgical procedures and are then discharged on the same day. Examples of typical day surgery which will be catered for in the new day clinic include ophthalmological surgery such as cataract removals; ear, nose and throat surgery such as a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) and facial and oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth extraction. Some orthopaedic, gynaecology and urology patients will also be admitted for same day procedures in the new facility.

• The day clinic, located 300m from Mediclinic Limpopo, predominantly serves people residing in and around Polokwane.

“The urgent need was identified for a facility that could ease the pressure on existing infrastructure and ensure that both the community and our associated doctors benefit through the availability of more beds and theatres”  MC Botha, Mediclinic Limpopo’s hospital manager.

Some of the advantages patients of the Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic can look forward to, include the following:

• Because patients are selected for planned procedures, the patient will know the date of surgery well in advance. This allows the clinic to be well-prepared to accommodate these patients.

• The Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic features three fully equipped theatres with specialised staff. While the focus is on day surgery only, the 26-bed clinic allows ample time for patients to recover before they are safely discharged.

• The clinic will not operate after hours, over weekends or on public holidays.

• The services of the day clinic are based on the needs of the public – patients can expect the same quality care and expertise they are accustomed to from Mediclinic in a streamlined environment.

• Services are offered in a friendly, non-threatening environment at a lower price

“Patients familiar with Mediclinic Limpopo also know how conveniently it is located.

“For same-day procedures and surgery, the quality care you are used to is still on your doorstep. just in a streamlined, yet familiar environment.”

Stephane Moelich, Mediclinic Limpopo Day Clinic’s manager, agrees.

“We go to great lengths to ensure exceptional care in a nurturing environment. We believe medical procedures needn’t be a stressful experience. Our friendly staff are well-trained to specifically take great care of patients attending this specialised facility,” she adds.

According to Lotz the day clinic concept satisfies the patients’ need for a convenient, efficient and lean-cost facility, without compromising on quality healthcare. “Doctors will, for instance, still be involved in thorough pre-operative assessments to eliminate risks and complications for the patients during and after surgical procedures,” he assures.