What the Center will do prior to the day of surgery

Prior to your surgery, a nurse from the center will contact you by telephone to take a short medical history and answer any questions that you may have.  If necessary, the center will schedule an appointment for you to visit an anesthesiologist prior to the day of surgery.

What you need to do prior to your surgery

Tests Prior to Day of Surgery

• If your physician orders lab tests, prior to surgery you will need to arrange for them to be performed either at your primary care physician's office or an outside laboratory approved by your insurance company.

Food

• We recommend that you do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least 48 hours prior to surgery.
• We recommend eating a light dinner and drinking fluids the evening before your surgery.
• Please do not consume milk products or food after midnight of the evening prior to your surgery.
• If a clear liquid diet is specified, some suggestions include black coffee, tea, apple juice, or pulp free orange juice. 

Dress

• Please wear comfortable, loose clothing appropriate for the procedure being performed.
• Nail polish, makeup, jewelry, and watches should not be worn the day of surgery.  Possible exceptions should be specifically discussed with the pre-op nurse or anesthesiologist.
• Do not bring any valuables with you.  The Surgery Center is not responsible for any lost or misplaced items.
• Bathe or shower the night before surgery.

Transportation

• We recommend that you make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home, and ideally to stay with you the first night following your surgery.

Medical Issues & Tests

• If you suspect that you are pregnant, please notify your physician and anesthesia personnel. A pregnancy test will be performed on all women of childbearing age prior to surgery.  Anesthesia and medications may be harmful to the developing fetus.
• If you experience any health changes between your last visit to your physician and the time of your procedure, please notify your physician immediately.  Please report even minor changes, such as an elevated temperature, cold, or cough.

What will happen at the Center prior to surgery

• At reception you will be asked to complete the forms that apply to your stay with us, such as Assignments of Benefits, estimate of charges, resuscitate consent, and Medicare's 'Advance Beneficiary Notice, if applicable.
• In the pre-operative waiting area, a health care provider will have you read and sign a Consent to Surgery form, acknowledging your understanding of the procedure and granting permission for your physician to perform the scheduled procedure or procedures.  If the person having surgery isa minor, or is unable to sign forms, then the consent form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
• A parent or legal guardian must accompany any minor or impaired adult the day of surgery, and remain at the Center throughout the patient's stay.
• A nurse will obtain and/or verify a health history, including height, weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.  A pregnancy test will be performed on all females of childbearing age.  An EKG will be performed for patients who have a cardiac history, and a blood glucose test will be performed for those patients with a history of diabetes.  Once these have been completed a health care provider will assist in preparing you for your surgery.
• You will be asked to change into a surgical gown.  Your clothes and personal belongings will be placed into a personal belongings bag.  Please remember to leave all valuables at home.
• Once the pre-operative nurse has completed preparing you for surgery, you may invite one person into the pre-op waiting area to wait with you.

What will happen at the Center after your surgery

After your surgical procedure is completed, you will move to the fully equipped, post anesthesia care unit, where you will be closely monitored by the anesthesiologist and the recovery nurses until you are cleared to go home.

Although the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit varies according to the type of procedure that was performed and your physicians instructions, most patients are discharged within two hours following surgery.

There are three different levels of post-operative care.

• Phase 1 Recovery - for patients who have had general anesthesia.
• Phase 2 Recovery
• Phase 3 Final Recovery - Visitors are allowed in Phase 3 final recovery.

What you should do after returning home

Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions regarding diet, rest, excercise, and medications.  Our Center will provide you with a written copy of these instructions.  The anesthesiologists will discharge you when they are confident you are in stable condition.  You may experience sleepiness, dizziness, or nausea.  These are normal side effects, and may continue for 12 to 24 hours.

It is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, therefore, we also recommend that you postpone the following activities for at least 24 hours after discharge:

• Driving and operating equipment or machinery
• Signing important papers
• Making significant decisions
• Drinking alcoholic beverages

On the day following your surgery one of our nurses will call you to check on your progress and answer any questions you may have.

How financial arrangements are handled

The fee for the use of our Center includes equipment, supplies, medications administered at the time of your surgery, nursing care, and the use of the operating and recovery rooms.  There may be additional charges for special or extraordinary items not included in this predetermined fee.  Our fee does not include the surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiology, pathology, or laboratory fees.  These entities will be billing you separately.

The Center will bill your insurance company as a courtesy, however, the balance due is ultimately the responsibility of the patient, and will be requested from you if your insurance company does not pay within 60 days.

Most outpatient procedures performed in the facility are covered in whole or in part by medical insurance.  You may be required to pay a deductible or co-pay as required by your insurance.  Full payment is expected at the time of admission for non-covered procedures and for patients without medical insurance.  The Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or personal checks.  Please note there is a $25.00 fee for insufficient funds checks returned to the facility.