An image of Clay County Hospital's Logo - reads "Clay County Hospital - Nursing Home And Wellness Center"

Clay County Healthcare Authority Surgery

83825 Highway 9
Ashland, AL 36251

Our physicians, nurses, and CRNAs strive to take excellent care of our patients and provide them with a positive experience so they can heal and return to their normal daily activities as quickly as possible.

The Surgery Department of Clay County Healthcare Authority offers numerous procedures that allow patients to stay close to home. The majority of the procedures are done through the Outpatient Department and the patient is allowed to go home the same day. Some surgeries require over-night stays on the Medical/Surgical Floor or in the Critical Care Unit, depending on the patient's needs.

Staff
The Surgical Department is staffed by three Registered Nurses, all certified in Advanced Cardiac Life
Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) with over 20 years of combined surgical
experience and over 50 years of combined experience in nursing. The same RN's work together as a
team to maintain Central Sterile and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Anesthesia care is provided with each surgical case. Our anesthesia providers have over 65 years of combined anesthesia experience.
The Surgical Department team members are:
Shana Shaw
Christine Petrey
Cheryl Palmer
Jason Combs, CRNA
Karen Fischer, CRNA
Meredith Combs, CRNA
Keith Jackson, CRNA

PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)
The Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides one-on-one post-operative care for patients who have had inpatient or outpatient surgery at Clay County Hospital. Our PACU is always staffed with a Registered Nurse. The PACU nurse will monitor patients immediately following a surgical procedure to ensure adequate breathing, vital sign stability, and to monitor and manage pain, hemodynamic issues or other events that may arise.

Central Sterile
Central Sterile is responsible for sterilizing and maintaining all surgical instruments for the operating room, PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit), Medical-Surgical floor, Critical Care Unit, Emergency Department, Outpatient Department, Pharmacy and physicians' offices. Central Sterile is staffed by the surgery nurses. Central Sterile is responsible for making sure that the surgery team is equipped with the proper instruments the surgeon needs for your surgical procedure.

Surgical Procedures Offered
Endoscopy: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), Colonoscopy, PEG tube (feeding tube) placement

General Surgery: Hernia Repair, Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), Appendectomy, Medi-Port placement, Skin Lesion Excision, Colo-Rectal surgery including Hemorrhoidectomy, Amputation, and Wound Care including Debridement

Cataract Extraction with Intraocular Lens Implantation

Podiatry: Bunionectomy, Hammer Toe Repair, Plantar Fascial Release

Our Physicians:
Dr. Scott Cassidy: EGD, Colonoscopy, Hernia Repair, Breast and Colon Procedures, Wound Care including Debridement
Dr. David Hensleigh: EGD, Colonoscopy, PEG tube placement
Dr. George C. Smith, Jr.: EGD, Colonoscopy, PEG tube placement
Dr. David Judge: Cataract removal
Dr. Jeffery Lawler: Orthopedic procedures such as carpal tunnel, trigger fingers, ganglion cysts, etc.
Dr. Tony McLeod: ENT, ear tubes, tonsillectomies, and removal of soft tissue masses on the face, neck or external ear
Douglas Stewart, DPM: Orthopedic procedures such as carpal tunnel, trigger fingers, ganglion cysts, etc.