Rush is on for surgery, treatments [Ventura County Star, Calif.]

Dec. 30--The shadow of the new year, health insurance and uncertainty pushed Sue Simmons to a Thousand Oaks radiology office on Tuesday.

The hairstylist from Newbury Park joined an annual, end-of-the year rush for medical tests and elective surgery that, at some sites in Ventura County, has reached new heights. The surge is driven by people who have paid their insurance deductible for the year and have only two days left to take advantage of it. Some observers also cite the economy and healthcare reform.

Simmons scheduled a bone-density test for Tuesday and a mammogram today because of restrictions by her insurance company on when and how often she can have the procedures. She also met her deductible for the year.

The wild card is limbo. Simmons' husband is an unemployed schoolteacher in Los Angeles Unified School District. If he doesn't work enough days as a substitute, he could lose his family's insurance.

"We don't how much longer we're going to have it," said Simmons, who hopes that healthcare reform eventually brings help not just for her but for others who need protection.

The surge in demand for medical procedures has been uneven. Some hospitals report that although they're busy, they haven't seen a big increase this month. Others have seen a rise. One dentist's office in the county reported sending end-of-the-year notices to patients who need fillings and other treatment. No one responded.

"No, we haven't seen a rush," said an office worker. "When they really have a toothache, they'll call us."

But several outpatient surgery centers throughout the county reported the joint is jumping. So many people have wanted arthroscopic surgery on their knees and shoulders, as well as other procedures, at the Surgery Center of San Buenaventura that records have been set in December -- even with the holidays bringing shorter weeks.

"This is our busiest month in probably over two years," said Chris Behm, administrator of the outpatient center.

She thinks that people may have been so scared by the falling economy a year ago they postponed anything they could. Now she sees a little less anxiety and a growing realization that some procedures can be put off for only so long.

More people are also covered by insurance plans with higher deductibles. Once they've met the threshold, "they're going to want to take advantage of it," Behm said.

Officials at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard said their surgery numbers rose sharply in December, much higher than a year ago. The elective surgeries performed most included arthroscopic procedures, hip and knee replacements and weight-loss procedures.

Business is up about 7 percent compared to last December at the Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, which provides outpatient and inpatient surgery. Admissions for people who will spend at least one night are up about 30 percent, said Robert Shaw, the hospital's CEO.

Shaw thinks one reason for the rush is the ongoing struggle over healthcare reform.

"The general discussion is out there and the final resolution hasn't happened, so it leads to a bit of uncertainty. ... People don't know how it's going to affect their healthcare personally," he said, suggesting some are responding by taking care of their medical needs now.

Elaine Woodruff's reasons for getting her annual checkup in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday weren't quite as involved.

The Thousand Oaks resident had paid her deductible and wanted to take advantage of it, though she realizes that any procedure done after Jan. 1 will help her meet next year's deductible.

"It's six of one or a half-dozen of the other," she said, adding it seemed to make sense "to save a little bit of money right now."

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