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Before your Surgical Procedure
Post Operative Instructions
Referral by your physician: Once your physician decides you need to be admitted, he or she will give you the necessary paperwork to register at our hospital Admissions Department as well as information to take to your insurance provider. There you will receive a Guarantee letter authorizing coverage of your hospital admission. You should be aware that depending on your health plan, your insurance does not necessarily ensure full payment of charges. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the health plan benefits which are applicable to the procedure you will have performed at SMMC.
Pre-Admission Registration: All your information will be inputted in our hospital administration system during pre-admission. The Admissions Department will verify your doctor’s instructions and schedule an operation date and time. At the same time, you are also given a date and time for a screening test with an anesthesiologist. An anesthesia form will need to be filled out for this screening process.
Your insurance paperwork will be verified. Depending on your insurance coverage you will be informed of your financial responsibility.
All patients are requested to read, understand and sign a consent form for surgery by the attending surgeon. In the case of a minor child or dependent adult having surgery, a parent or legal guardian must sign the consent form.
As a patient you should: Notify your surgeon if there is any change in your physical condition, such as a rash, fever or flu symptom. If there is a chance you are pregnant, please notify your surgeon immediately.
Arrange for a responsible adult to come to the hospital, receive your post-operative instructions, take you home and stay with you at least overnight following your surgery. You are not permitted to drive yourself home after receiving any anesthesia.
Before your operation
Before you come in you must:
On the day of your procedure please arrive promptly and report to the admissions department.
Please bring with you:
Although you will have been given a provisional time for surgery, this is subject to change based on numerous variables. The order of the operating list is not confirmed until the day of admission by the surgeon. Planned surgeries before yours can be cancelled or can run late which can affect the time of your surgery. You may want to bring a book, magazine or puzzle if for some reason there is a delay in the time of surgery.
After checking in, you will be escorted to the pre-operative waiting area, where you will be greeted by an admitting nurse who will ask you questions about yourself and your health, take your blood pressure, pulse and temperature. Please inform the nurse if you have dentures, capped or loose teeth or other prostheses, body piercings, or allergies to medication or latex. The admitting nurse will prepare you for surgery, which entails at times, shaving of the operation site and removing of nail polish.
Following your operation, you will be brought to the Recovery Room; this is a monitored care area so family members are not allowed in. The time you spend in the recovery room will vary depending upon the type of surgery performed, the type of anesthesia that was given, and your individual needs. Once you are stable, you will be transferred back to your room and the surgical ward staff will continue your monitored care. Depending on the surgery and your condition a special diet will be assigned to you. Your surgeon will visit you and explain your case, any special instructions, diet, rest, and medications. This is the time for you or your immediate family to ask any questions you may have. It is normal to feel drowsy after receiving general anesthesia so your activities will be limited for the first 8 to 24 hours after surgery. If you have unexpected problems, please inform your primary nurse or surgeon during his rounds. Your surgeon will inform you when you can expect to be discharged.