Arriving at the Hospital/Pre-Operative Procedures
For any outpatient surgical procedure, you must be accompanied by an adult so they can drive you home. We also strongly encourage that you have someone with you for 24 hours after anesthesia.
The day before your surgery, once the surgery schedule is finalized, the pre-surgical nurse will notify you of your arrival time. It is important that you arrive at your given time so your nurses can prepare you for surgery.
Please come to the southeast entrance labeled ‘Surgical Center (B).’ A receptionist will be waiting at the desk inside the entrance.
You will then meet with a member of our admissions team and will be checked in. A surgery staff member will escort you and a family member/friend from the waiting area to the pre-operative area.
Our staff will:
- Weigh you
- Take your vital signs
- Ask you to change into a hospital gown and non-skid slippers.
- Apply a heart monitor and oximeter to check your heart and oxygen level. An IV (intravenous line) will be started in your hand or forearm. The IV provides a special water solution to replace the fluid you have not been allowed to drink since midnight.
- Prepare the surgical, including cleansing it with an antibacterial agent.
- Review your medical history and current medications.
- Prepare the surgical site for the surgery, including cleansing it with an antibacterial agent.
- Review your medical history and current medications.
After you are prepared for surgery, your family member may wait with you until you are taken to surgery.
There is a planned surgical time scheduled; however, there may be delays due to unforeseen circumstances with other patients or procedures.
The operating room is cold. Warm blankets are available if you need them.
When you are taken to the operating room, family members will be escorted to the waiting area where reading materials, TVs and vending machines are close at hand. If your family members choose to leave the waiting area briefly, they should check in with the surgery receptionist and provide a phone number if possible.
Your family members will have access to our electronic status board which notifies them of your progress through surgery and when you are in the recovery room. Your family can also elect to have text messages updating them of your progress.
The surgeon will visit with your family members in the waiting area after the surgery is complete.
