General Information and Patient Checklist

History & Physical

You will be required to have and History and Physical by your primary care physician; see History & Physical section.

Medication List

You will be required to have and Medication List by your primary care physician; see Medication List section.

Arrival

You will be asked to arrive at the center an hour and fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled procedure. This will enable us to spend adequate time with you and your family during the pre-op process.

Exceptions:

• Orthopedic surgery patients, whose surgeon has ordered a regional ‘block’ to help with pain management, will be asked to arrive an hour and forty-five minutes prior to their procedure.
• Needle Localization patients will be asked to arrive forty-five minutes prior to their localization appointment at ProScan.

Eating, Drinking and Misc.

• No solid food or liquids after midnight the night prior to surgery
• No smoking for 24 hours prior to surgery
• No alcoholic beverages for 24 hours prior to surgery
• Remove nail polish and make-up
• Only 2 visitors will be allowed in the pre-op and recovery area with the patient

Who & What Should I Bring?

• ALL patients receiving anesthesia must have a driver, 18 years of age or older, to accompany them home.
• It is recommended that a responsible individual be with the patient for 24 hours following surgery.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing, generally an oversized button-up shirt is a good idea for any patient, as many procedures make pulling a shirt over your head difficult. Elastic waist or sweat pants are a good idea, too.
• All jewelry must be removed prior to surgery and is generally better off left at home. This includes wedding rings and all body piercings.
• DO NOT bring any valuable items with you.
• Bring your insurance card.
• If the patient is of diminished capacity, the person with Medical Power of Attorney must be present and have the appropriately signed documents.
• Bring any surgical garments, slings, crutches, braces, shoes that your surgeon’s office has instructed you to purchase or has provided to you.

Females Age 12-55

Will be required to give a urine sample for a pregnancy test, unless they have undergone a hysterectomy.

Tubal ligation & uterine ablation do not negate the need for a pregnancy test.

Medications

• If you take heart or blood pressure medication, take it as usual.
• Do not take medication for diabetes, as you will not be eating and this can cause serious problems.

Children

• Children having surgery must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
• For small children, having a second adult can be very helpful for the ride home.
• Feel free to bring a ‘security’ item, like a blanket or favorite stuffed animal to the center.
• Children, under the age of ten (10) will be asked to arrive one hour prior to their procedure.
• Infants may be breast fed up to six (6) hours prior to their procedure.

Recovery / Discharge

Once your procedure is completed your surgeon will speak with your family. If you do not wish to have your physician talk to those who have accompanied you, please inform your admitting nurse.

The objective for your care in recovery is:

• monitor your vital signs
• deal with any issues such as nausea
• pain control / management

In most cases patients remain in the recovery (PACU) area for about an hour. This definitely depends on the patient and what issues they are having. However; most patients do much better once they are at home, resting in comfortable, familiar surroundings.