Outpatient Surgery

Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Improved technology and advances in anesthesia and pain control allow many less invasive procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis. Outpatient surgical procedures performed at Kearney County Health Services include:

• Orthopedic Procedures
• General Surgery
• Ear, Nose, & Throat (E.N.T.) Procedures
• Pain Management Procedures
• Podiatry Procedures
• Cataract Surgery

Advantages of outpatient surgery, aside from receiving service close to home, also may include convenience, lower cost, reduced stress, and predictable scheduling. Anesthesia services for surgical procedures are administered by qualified Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA’s) from Kearney Anesthesia Associates. Additionally, as a facility, we are continually monitoring our outcomes and quality initiates to provide the best patient care possible in the surgical setting.

For information on the anesthesia services offered at KCHS, visit:

For more information on the surgical services we can provide at KCHS, contact Kylee Eckhardt, BSN, RN, Director of Surgical Services, or our Outpatient Surgical team at 308.832.3400 ext. 2322

For information on Specialty Clinic services visit:

What To Expect For Surgical Procedures

Orthopedic Procedures

Jeffrey Schopp, MD, is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who can help with a wide range of orthopedic issues.  Generally, he is able to assess, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Diagnostically he can order MRI’s, CT scans, and x-rays. He also works closely with Physical Therapy in order to develop conservative treatment plan options and care following surgery.

Some of the procedures Dr. Schopp performs on site at KCHS include:

• Bracing and casting
• Total knee arthroplasty
• Knee arthroscopy and repair
• Shoulder arthroscopy and repair
• Carpal tunnel release
• Joint injections
• Cyst removals

General Surgery

Caleb Schroeder, MD, is a Board Certified general surgeon and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He always strives to gain new insight and knowledge to better serve his patients and believes that the process of learning new techniques affords him a wide range of expertise to push his practice to the forefront of the surgical arena. 

Dr. Schroeder provides a variety of general surgery services and procedures. He performs surgery to address diseases of the gallbladder, breast, skin, lymph nodes, skin cancer, wound care, hemorrhoids, and small and large bowel. He performs a variety of laparoscopy procedures, as well as colonoscopies and upper endoscopies.

Cade Craig, MD, is Board Certified by the American Academy of Family Practice and is qualified to perform screening colonoscopies in our outpatient surgical setting. Providing colonoscopies for patients in a rural setting is an important factor in maintaining health. Because the majority of rural doctors are family physicians, in order to provide quality care, it is important that properly trained family physicians perform the procedure.

Some benefits to patients of having his or her family physician perform a colonoscopy include less fragmentation of care; increased patient comfort in having the procedure done by a familiar, trusted physician; decreased travel time; decreased cost to the patient; fewer lab tests; and high patient satisfaction.

Otolaryngology – Ear, Nose, & Throat (E.N.T.) Procedures

John Blecha, MD, is Board Certified in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.  He has a special interest in pediatric disorders, chronic sinus disease, facial trauma, neck masses, and chronic ear disease. At KCHS, Dr. Blecha performs:

• Myringotomy (ear tubes)
• Replacement of ear tubes
• Removal of tonsils
• Removal of adnoids

Pain Management

Pravardhan Birthi, MD, Pain Management Specialist, is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. His services at KCHS include:

• Back and Joint Injections – injections typically used on patients who are experiencing arthritic pain in their facet joints or patients with mechanical lower back pain
• Radiofrequency Ablations – radio waves are sent through a precisely placed needle to heat an area of the nerve which prevents pain signals from being sent back to your brain. RFA is considered for long-term pain conditions, especially of the neck, lower back or arthritic joints that haven’t been successfully treated with other methods.
• MILD (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression) – restores space in the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves
• Trial Spinal Cord Stimulator – implantation of a temporary device to allow the patient to assess the level of pain relief experienced before proceeding with a neurostimulator

Benjamin Huls, CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist), is Board Certified by the National Board Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. At KCHS, Ben performs lumbar epidural steroid injections (ESIs). ESIs are a pain relief option for certain causes of chronic low back pain by injecting an anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space around your spinal nerves. Lumbar ESIs are most effective in providing pain relief from a herniated disk and spinal stenosis.

Podiatry

Robert Hinze, DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). Surgical interventions performed by Dr. Hinze at KCHS include:

• HyProCure Sinus Tarsi Implant – this is a minimally invasive surgical remedy for hyperpronation (the inward rotation of the foot during gait)
• Treatment for hammer toe
• Treatment for bunions

Ophthalmology

Daniel Agraz, MD, Ophthalmologist, is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. At KCHS, Dr. Agraz performs Cataract Extractions with IOL (Intraoperative Lense Placement).