GALLIPOLIS — Holzer Clinic’s new ambulatory surgery unit will soon be complete and surgeries should begin as early as next week, according to Director of Ambulatory Surgery Service Carol Fairchild, RN, CASC.

“It’s an augmentation to the Dr. Charles E. Holzer Sr. Ambulatory Surgery center,” Fairchild said.

Where the HMC ambulatory surgery unit can provide more inpatient care for operations that may require a stay in the hospital, the Holzer Clinic unit will be reserved for those patients who are fully expected to be released the same day.

“It’s a specialty service,” Fairchild said. “It can be anything from a mole removal to having your gallbladder taken out.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been slated for Monday, Feb. 5 at noon.

The new unit will provide closer parking, less chance of being bumped due to emergency surgery, and staff focused on preparing the patient to return home after surgery.

The same doctors and anesthetists will continue to perform the surgeries usually done in the hospital unit. All physicians are board certified, operating room technicians are certified in their field and experienced OR and Critical Care nurses will be on staff.

While the Holzer Clinic Ambulatory Surgery unit is new to Gallipolis, it is not new to Fairchild, who has served as director of Jackson’s Ambulatory Surgery unit since it opened seven years ago.

Over 20,000 cases have been handled in those seven years.

Some of those staff members will be transferring to Gallipolis, said Fairchild.

In addition to extra operating rooms, the pharmacy has been expanded to serve the needs of the new unit and an in-house coffee shop, MoJo Cafe, will give family members a place to wait out the surgeries.

Dr. Randy Watts serves as medical director for both Jackson and Gallipolis, and the unit has already been certified by the state.