Dr. Hayder Al-Azzawi
Patients can now recover in the comfort of their own homes
March 30, 2023: Traditionally, colorectal surgeries were major operations that required a hospital stay and a significant recovery period. Advances in surgical techniques and the implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols (ERAS), have decreased the amount of time patients have to spend in the hospital. At Good Samaritan Medical Center, some patients are now even able to go home the same day. Dr. Hayder Al-Azzawi, colorectal surgeon, performs the same day discharge colon surgeries. He sees many benefits for his patients including an easier, more comfortable recovery. West Palm Beach resident, Michael Strager, was one of the first patients to go home the same day after undergoing minimally invasive colon surgery for cancer with Dr. Al-Azzawi at Good Samaritan Medical Center.
“They brought me back to the room, one hour later I was out there walking the halls. I had just had major surgery and I was up talking to the nurses,” recounts Strager. “Dr. Al-Azzawi came in and said, ‘Mike, you’re good to go!’ So I went home the same day I had the surgery.”
“I am honored to be able to perform same day discharge robotic surgeries in our community, which can benefit patients like Michael Strager,” said Dr. Hayder Al-Azzawi, colorectal surgeon. “Because of the efficiency and quality of robotic surgery, patients can recover faster than traditional surgical options, often with less scarring and better outcomes.”
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. While colorectal cancer diagnoses overall are down, there is a trend that is alarming doctors: There is an increase in colorectal cancer diagnosis in people age 55 and younger. In fact, twice as many patients are being diagnosed in these younger age groups than back in 1995. Those younger patients are also diagnosed with more advanced disease than in the past. This is all according to numbers released on March 1, the first day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, from the American Cancer Society.
“Colorectal cancer can be prevented with screening colonoscopy. So, give yourself the best chance by getting checked for it,” said Dr. Al-Azzawi. “If you are diagnosed with colon cancer, we can perform a minimal invasive surgery to remove the cancer and then possibly even get you home the same day of the surgery.”
The Robotic Surgical Institute at Good Samaritan Medical Center offers some of the latest advancements in minimally invasive, robotic-assisted procedures to our community. For more information about our robotic services call 866-306-2225 or go to www.GoodSamaritanMC.com.
About Good Samaritan Medical Center
Good Samaritan Medical Center is a 333-bed acute care hospital providing sophisticated, personalized medical care to Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast for over 100 years.
As one of the area’s leading oncology centers, the hospital’s Norma E. & Miles M. Zisson Comprehensive Breast Center of the Palm Beaches provides general and highly specialized cancer services and is accredited by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons. The center is designated by the American College of Surgeons as a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a designation reserved for breast centers that achieve high standards across the most effective breast cancer treatments. The Norma E. & Miles M. Zisson Comprehensive Breast Center of the Palm Beaches is also a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.
Additional services include general and robotic surgical options through the hospital’s Surgical Institute, a Certified Primary Stroke Center, 24-hour emergency care, advanced cardiac care through the Cardiac and Vascular Institute, diagnostic imaging, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and a Sleep Disorders Center.
Good Samaritan Medical Center is also now partnering with iconic resort wear brand, Lilly Pulitzer, creating the ultimate Palm Beach experience with the design of its new Lilly Pulitzer Birthing Suites and family waiting room. The two VIP suites are redesigned with the signature Lilly Pulitzer aesthetic, to give new moms and their families a joyful and luxurious feel when they deliver their babies.
Good Samaritan Medical Center has been a recipient of the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award four years in a row (2018-2021), placing Good Sam in the top 10% of all hospitals evaluated for L&D services. The hospital has one of the lowest C-section rates in Florida: Good Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be one of only 19 hospitals in the state of Florida to achieve a C-section rate below 23.9% for first time mothers with low risk pregnancies, meeting the AHCA recommended C-section rate.
Good Samaritan Medical Center earned Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. The hospital was also the recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for 2020 and is a designated Center of Excellence for Hidden Scar Breast Cancer Surgery™. Good Samaritan Medical Center also achieved high performance marks in the category of kidney failure and COPD for the state of Florida in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-2022 Best Hospitals rankings for adult clinical specialties.
To learn more about Good Samaritan Medical Center, or for a complimentary physician referral, visit www.goodsamaritanmc.com or call 561-650-6023.
