Health Articles
Dr. Jay Provides Quality Surgical Care for FGH/FMC Patients
In addition to the regular FGH/FMC medical staff, a number of specialists provide regular office hours in Hampton for the convenience and welfare of area patients. One of the most respected of those visiting specialists is Dr. Harsha Jayawardena, fondly called "Dr. Jay" by patients and staff. His proven skill, as well as his professional and kind way of dealing with people, makes him highly respected.
Indeed, it is, in large part, his "bedside manner" which patients appreciate. Dr. Jay says, "I like to treat the patient as a person. I try to spend time with them, explaining their situation and giving them the opportunity to talk and give me feedback. It makes them feel comfortable."
Dr. Jay’s surgeries at FGH are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday mornings, but he also is available for emergencies.
The reason the busy surgeon makes the drive to Hampton rather than have patients come to him is simple. "I enjoy this community," he says. "It is like a home. Providing this service gives patients the same care they would get in a larger hospital. Having quality medical care is good for the county." He also says he enjoys working with the "wonderful, quality staff at Franklin General."
As a general surgeon, some of the procedures Dr. Jayawardena commonly performs are hernia repairs, gall bladder removals, appendectomies, and nissen procedures to repair hiatal hernias. He also performs diagnostic tests with the hospital’s colonoscopes, which allow him to take pictures of the colon, as well as EGD’s to look at the stomach.
Dr. Jay compliments FGH on its up-to-date surgical equipment, which provides him the latest tools with which to work, the same as he would use in a larger hospital. Reflux disease, which formerly required a major surgery, is an example of the way laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized treatment. Laparoscopy is performed through several small incisions instead of a single long one, as in a traditional procedure. When the patient is asleep, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to provide space for the surgeon to work. The laparoscope, with a camera attached, is inserted through one of the incisions to send images to a video screen. Small surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions. At the end of surgery, the carbon dioxide gas is removed. As a result of this less invasive measure, there is less pain, a quicker recovery time, a shorter hospital stay (usually on an outpatient basis), and lower risk of infection.
A native of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jayawardena did his studying in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and Baltimore, Maryland. He also took special training in laparoscopic surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. Originally recruited to this area as a surgeon for Iowa Falls, he began working with the Mason City Clinic for the opportunity to do more surgery. He and his family now reside in Mason City.
For Dr. Jay’s schedule, please call our clinic at 641.456.5050.