What should you know about elective & non-elective medical procedures? 25-10-2020 12:00 AM Share

An elective procedure is a procedure chosen or elected by the patient or physician to address problems that are not life-threatening. Meanwhile, elective surgery is decided by the patient or suggested by his/her doctor and second medical opinions are often helpful in this regard. Elective procedures can be done within a short period of time and can be helpful in terms of raising the patient’s self-esteem, ultimately improving the quality of his/her life.
 
The results of elective procedures depend on the type of procedure performed. The scope of results for an elective procedure should be discussed with the patient before the surgery. In some cases, elective surgeries are also used to yield temporary results.
 
The Health Tourism Department in Dubai offers international patients and their physicians consultation choices from a select group of healthcare facilities that provide both elective and non-elective procedures. The offers come with a complete, packaged medical treatment proposal (including admission, investigations, surgeries, hospital accommodations and more). Through its international medical tourism desks, the healthcare facility offers a packaged elective treatment proposal that allows patients to choose their preferred healthcare facility.
 
Today, elective procedures spanning all the systems of the body are available in the modern medical practice. These include cosmetic or reconstructive surgery that improves appearance and, in some cases, physical function; refractive surgeries such as laser surgery for vision correction; medically necessary or optional gynecological surgeries; and diagnostic surgeries to determine the origin and extent of a medical problem. In addition, non-emergency cardiovascular procedures to improve blood flow or heart function; and orthopedic surgical procedures such as hip replacement and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction are also popular elective procedures.
 
On the contrary, non-elective procedures are those that are considered medically necessary and are often performed with a sense of urgency. They are often part of a long-term treatment plan. When a patient’s condition is life threatening, surgery is considered unavoidable. In emergency or urgent situations when the patient’s condition is constantly deteriorating, such surgeries are performed immediately, even when the patient is unconscious and cannot give consent. Procedures in the areas of Cardiac/Thoracic/Cardiothoracic, General, Gynecology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic and Trauma, Otorhinolaryngology, Pediatrics and Urology specialties are considered non-elective and are needed to save life and health.
 
Furthermore, depending on the seriousness and the complexity of the procedure performed, they are divided into major and minor surgeries. Major surgeries are usually extensive and require an overnight or extended stay in the hospital.
 
Meanwhile, minor surgeries are less complicated relatively risk-free and simple, they are usually performed by a single doctor.
 
Through the Dubai Health Experience's Second Medical Opinion services, patients and their physicians can request for a second online medical opinion. Patients and referring physicians can request for a second consultation via the internet, without leaving their home
 
The service is currently available for selected specialties for both elective and non-elective treatments that are included under the following specialities--GYNECOLOGY, ORTHOPEDICS, IVF/FERTILITY RELATED TREATMENTS, CARDIOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, ONCOLOGY and UROLOGY. The facilities under this program will review the patient's medical records and test results and provide a comprehensive report. The patient will be able to review options or alternatives directly with the referring physician and evaluating recommendations regarding future care needs.