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chemistry with one another that is unique for a surgical center, and that positivity impacts the way we treat our patients." Cortland Surgical Center also works in tandem with CNY Medical Associates, a multispecialty group practice that provides ear, nose and throat (ENT), general surgery and pulmonary services. Conveniently located in the same building, Cortland Surgical Center and CNY Medical Associates' part- nership improves the continuum of care and streamlines the process for patients who would otherwise have to go back and forth between multiple medical offices. COMPREHENSIVE SURGICAL SERVICES Featuring a modern surgical suite, a preop- erative suite with multiple patient bays and a sizable post-anesthesia care unit, Cortland Surgical Center offers patients a compre- hensive range of outpatient otolaryngology procedures, including minimally invasive ENT surgeries, endoscopic sinus surgeries, and head and neck cancer surgeries. "As an otolaryngologist, my main responsi- bilities are protecting my patients' well-being and providing comprehensive surgical care," Dr. Kumar says. "I do routine ENT surgeries, such as ear tubes and tonsillectomies, and complex cases, such as thyroidectomies, parotidectomies and limited neck dissec- tions. Over the past several years, we have also performed hundreds of endoscopic sinus surgeries and endolaryngeal surgeries, as well as microscopic ear surgeries, such as mastoidectomies and tympanoplasties. In sum, I would say we perform an average of 1,000 surgeries every year." To help ensure patient safety and improve surgical precision, surgeries at Cortland Surgical Center are performed with the use of advanced technological tools. The image-guided navigation system, for instance, is often used during sinus surgeries, such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery. It provides the surgeon with real-time images during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to see the instrument's precise location inside the patient's head. The NIM 3.0, on the other hand, is a nerve- monitoring system that allows the surgeon to locate and identify nerves in order to avoid unnecessary nerve damage during the opera- tion. It is often used during parotidectomies and thyroidectomies. AN IMPROVED PATIENT EXPERIENCE In addition to using cutting-edge technol- ogy and regularly implementing changes to patient care based on the latest published studies on surgical methodology, Cortland Surgical Center focuses on providing patients with an individualized, stress-free experience. "We show our patients that we genuinely care for them and work hard to ensure that they have a safe, successful surgery," Darnell says. "We provide patients and their families with unlimited support before and after sur- gery. We have found that educating patients and their families about what to expect on the day of the surgery and afterward reduces a lot of anxiety. Family members are provided with snacks while they wait for their loved ones, and children are separated from their parents for the shortest time possible. We also tell jokes and have train whistles that kids can blow on their way into the operating room, which helps ease the fears of surgery and incites a lot of joy and laughter among the staff." " To this day, we have never used an agency to collect a foregone debt. We realize that, sometimes, patients do not pay because they simply have no means to do so, and that should never be a reason to deny care." — MANOJ KUMAR, MD, FOUNDER OF CORTLAND SURGICAL CENTER AND OTOLARYNGOLOGIST Manoj Kumar, MD DR. KUM A R, FOUNDER of Cortland Surgical Center and otolaryngologist, specializes in the medical and surgical treat- ment of disorders related to the ear, nose, throat and neck. Originally from India, he earned his medical degree from Calicut University in 1989 and his Master's of Surgery in otolaryngology from University of Mysore in 1993. He then moved to the U.K., where he completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Wales' Higher Surgical Training Program in Cardiff, his residency in sur- gery from the West Middlesex University Hospital in London and his Master's of Science by research at the University of Bristol. Afterward, Dr. Kumar moved to the U.S. and com- pleted a fellowship in sleep and endocrine surgery at the Medical College of Georgia and a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Throughout Dr. Kumar's career, he has presented at several medical meetings and conferences — both nationally and internationally — and had research published in numer- ous peer-reviewed journals, as well as two textbooks. Manoj Kumar, MD, otolaryngologist; Deborah Warner, NP, RNFA; and Dr. Settineri M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A l N E W Y O R K ■ 2 019 1 9