FLEMING ISLAND – In late 2018, Baptist Clay opened its surgery center, a precursor to its large hospital currently under construction.

A series of technicians, nurses and surgeons, and thousands of dollars in equipment, gave the empty rooms life. Mark Poon, the director of surgical services, is part of that process with Baptist’s new hospital.

Poon said the goal is to provide services to the Clay residents, mentioning that people will avoid a trip over the bridge. He called the new hospital, and its two new operating rooms, an amazing opportunity.

“When it comes to an OR, it needs to meet the needs of myself, staff members and patients,” Poon said. “What I have a lot of say on is how we build that OR, in terms of surgery to make sure it’s right. At the end of the day, I’m not the one benefitting from that. It’s the people that come here.

“At the end of the day, we need to make sure we have the best standards.”

The surgery center used to be a field of dirt, Poon adds. The new hospital used to be a series of blueprints and now it’s a large structure. Having a hand in designing the future is surreal, he said.

“That to me is very satisfying and there’s no money that can pay for that. It’s such an experience. Every single thing, the artwork, the trash cans, your part of building a hospital,” Poon said. “That hospital is going to be here for years, decades.”

By treating patients like family members, you can never go wrong. No one is perfect, but the patients’ trust and cleanliness of the OR have to be placed first. Poon said a mentor told him people in surgery are usually asleep, which is why they should be given the utmost care.

“We are the patient’s advocate,” he added. “We’ll go back to the OR if something’s missing, if a patient hasn’t had the right test.”

Surgery is complicated from the pre-operation preparation, the actual operation, the recovery and dealing with the outcome at home. Surgeries have come a long way. Hysterectomies are now a one-day process handled with surgeon-operated robotic instruments. Doctors now have the tools to peel a grape and suture it back up.

“It takes an hour, maybe an hour and 15 minutes,” he said of hysterectomies.

Before a room is prepared, surfaces need to be wiped down, disposable items checked and tools like cameras ready to go. He refers to a cleaning cabinet that prevents its user from retrieving uncleaned equipment.

“At the end of the day, we need to make sure we have the best standards,” he said.