Dozens get free surgeries at Kaiser in S.F. San Francisco

Operating room team, (clockwise from bottom), Robert Czeck, Alan Mercado, Christopher Revilla, Daniel Domer and Dr. James Constant performing a surgical procedure on Juan Serralta, at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, Calif., is conducting free surgeries on several dozen poor and uninsured people, on Saturday Mar. 7, 2009. Ran on: 03-08-2009 A volunteer operating room team (clockwise from lower left): Robert Czeck, Alan Mercado, Christopher Revilla, Daniel Domer and Dr. James Constant. The patient is Juan Serralta. less Operating room team, (clockwise from bottom), Robert Czeck, Alan Mercado, Christopher Revilla, Daniel Domer and Dr. James Constant performing a surgical procedure on Juan Serralta, at Kaiser Permanente in San ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Dozens get free surgeries at Kaiser in S.F. 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Amid a blur of blue surgical scrubs, with doctors and nurses whirling by, a row of patients lay in a pre-op room - their feet swathed in surgical booties, their heads covered in bonnets, their arms hooked to tendrils of medical tubing.

"I want to go back to work," said Adam Mesa, 57, a field worker from Cloverdale who has been unable to earn an income since developing a painful hernia a year ago.

He was among several dozen uninsured people on Saturday who were given free surgical care, from colonoscopies to hernia repairs to tonsillectomies, at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. Dubbed "Super Surgery Session," the medical services were donated by about 84 Kaiser doctors, nurses and hospital technicians.

The high-volume surgery was orchestrated by Operation Access, a nonprofit organization launched 16 years ago to mobilize Bay Area hospitals, community clinics and medical volunteers to donate help to low-income people who need surgery but lack health insurance. Since then, more than 4,300 uninsured patients have undergone medical procedures because of the program.

The Saturday event marked the fifth anniversary of a surgical marathon at Kaiser; but this year, more than others, it reflected the burgeoning economic plight confronting many.

"We're seeing greater demand for services," said John Gressman, president and chief executive of the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, a group of 10 clinics where the vast majority of patients are uninsured. "People are losing their jobs, losing their insurance; businesses are closing."

That's the fate awaiting Enrique Yam, 34, a San Rafael father of three who had a lipoma, a large fatty growth, surgically removed from his hip early Saturday morning.

Yam, who has worked for a furniture store for 10 years, once had medical insurance. But six months ago, he went on part-time work status and can't afford $550 monthly in health insurance premiums for his family. Next month, he said, he'll be out of a job.

"I feel so lucky to get this operation - there are people worse off than me," he said after surgery. "Everyone here treated me so well, with such respect."

The medical services provided Saturday were worth about $260,000 in all.

The average annual income of each of the 26 patients is $7,800.

"It's a wonderful way for us to give back to our community right here in our backyard," said Dr. Elaine Yutan, a general surgeon at Kaiser who serves on the advisory council of Operation Access. She performed three surgical procedures Saturday.

"The patients here are a microcosm of what's going on all over," she said. "There's such a need for health insurance, but people aren't able to afford it."

Crowding into a small lunchroom on the hospital's surgical floor, several local politicians, including Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and city Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, bestowed kudos and certificates of commendation on Kaiser and Operation Access.

"With 7 million Californians (lacking) health insurance,

1 million of them children, we have to be as innovative as possible," said state Sen. Mark Leno, who quoted a Hebrew phrase about the importance of healing an ailing society.

"You are indeed repairing the world," he said.

Renee Timp, an assistant nurse manager at Kaiser, symbolized the spirit of the medical team involved in the surgeries. She has donated her medical expertise many times to Operation Access.

"Whether it's a hernia repair or a biopsy, this could help people get back to the workplace and have a better chance," she said. "There's nothing worse than not having health insurance, but being able to look at these patients' lumps and bumps can really be a help."

On Saturday morning, just before Mesa was taken into surgery, his anesthesiologist dropped by for a bedside visit.

"Are you nervous?" asked Dr. Daniel Kong.

"I don't feel nervous. I feel thankful," answered Mesa.

"I'm going to give you a little medicine now and we'll go in," said Kong. "You'll go to sleep."

Nearly two hours later, a groggy Mesa was wheeled back into the unit. Waiting for him was his wife of 44 years, Socorro.

"You've been so worried," she said, stroking his face. "Now you're OK."