PREPARING FOR SURGERY
When it comes to patient care, your comfort and well-being are most important to us.
From our Center’s anesthesiologists phone call the day before surgery, simplified admission procedures, to our next-day post-operative follow-up phone call, every aspect of patient care is designed with your needs in mind.
COVID-19 PRE-SURGERY GUIDELINES
Please know we genuinely care about you and will do everything we can to provide you with the safest and best possible care experience.
You can expect to hear from us by phone a day or two after your surgery, within 7 days and around 14 days to assess your condition. If you have any questions or concerns prior to that day, please don’t hesitate to contact your physician’s office.
To help minimize risk of asymptomatic spread of coronavirus during your procedure we ask that you:
- Continue to shelter in place to protect yourself from others in the community.
- Follow physical distancing of at least six (6) feet (equal to two yardsticks long) and handwashing guidelines. This applies to the person who will be bringing you to and from surgery.
- Avoid contact with others or leaving the home as much as possible, for two or three days after your COVID-19 testing, just prior to your surgery.
We want to perform your surgery in the safest possible circumstances to give you the best chance of a smooth recovery. One of our healthcare members will reach out to ask you about symptoms and will schedule you for coronavirus testing even if you do not show symptoms consistent with the virus. We are doing this as a precautionary measure so that we have all of the information we need to provide you with the safest care.
- Fever ≥ 38.0 C (100.5 F) last 24 hours
- New respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, respiratory distress, sore throat)
Your surgery is currently scheduled to proceed on the planned date and time, but we also have to be flexible to deal with any potential changes regarding the capacity of our surgery center and physicians. We would appreciate your understanding if things change, and in return we promise to keep you informed with changes that may occur at Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center, as well as keeping your best interests in mind.
BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE
MEDICATIONS
Please talk to your physician about any daily medications you are currently taking, especially for heart, diabetes or blood pressure problems; be sure to mention any over-the-counter drugs, diet pills or herbal supplements. In many cases you will receive prescriptions from your surgeon, which should be filled and brought to the Surgery Center on your day of surgery.
LABORATORY TESTS
In an outpatient setting it is not always necessary to perform diagnostic tests prior to surgery. If your physician requests diagnostic services such as lab work, X-rays, and EKGs, the Pre-Assessment Nurse from the Surgery Center, will call you to arrange those appointments approximately a week prior to the day of your surgery.
PATIENTS UNDER 18
If the patient is a child, please remember: At least one parent/guardian must remain at Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center while the child is in our facility. A parent (or guardian) must sign release permits for surgery if the child is under age 18. Guardians must bring written proof of guardianship or power of attorney on the day of surgery; without this documentation, surgery may be delayed.
CONFIRMATION
The afternoon or evening before your surgery, (except pain managment and cases performed as “local” only) a doctor from the anesthesia staff will call you in order to confirm your appointment, review your pre-operative medical history, ask you questions and answer any questions you may have. Surgery times may change for a variety of reasons. Please provide us with a number where you can be reached the afternoon and evening before your surgery and the morning of your surgery.
TRANSPORTATION
For your safety and protection, you will not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle after surgery if your surgery involves a general anesthetic or other type of sedation. Please arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and to stay with you the first night following surgery. If the patient is a child, it is best to have someone along with the driver to help care for the child on the trip home. Even those of you using ride services such as Uber or Lyft will require another adult to accompany you home.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
LEAVE US PHONE NUMBERS WHERE YOU CAN BE REACHED the afternoon before your surgery and the day of your surgery. There are many factors that may change the time your physician would like you to be at the Surgery Center. The Surgery Center Anesthesiologist will call you the afternoon or evening before your surgery to confirm the final time you need to be at the Center for your surgery – Don’t forget to check your cell or home phone. If there is a cancellation or a delay on your day of surgery, we may ask you to come in earlier or later depending on the situation. Please be available to our staff by phone.
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK (this includes water and chewing gum) after midnight the night before surgery unless otherwise directed by your anesthesiologist. Your surgery will be postponed if you ignore this precaution.
BATHE OR SHOWER on the morning of surgery to minimize the risk of infection.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH on the morning of surgery, but DO NOT SWALLOW ANY WATER.
DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL 24 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SURGERY. REFRAIN FROM SMOKING 12 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SURGERY. These substances can cause you to have adverse reactions to anesthesia and medication.
WEAR LOOSE COMFORTABLE CLOTHING and shoes.
LEAVE JEWELRY AND VALUABLES AT HOME (Do bring your insurance card, credit card and government issued photo identification such as a driver license).
REMOVE CONTACT LENSES AND ALL MAKE-UP BEFORE ARRIVAL.
HEALTH CHANGES should be reported immediately to your surgeon, even if the changes seem minor, such as fever, cough, rash, or a cold. Please notify your physician if there is a possibility that you are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.
BRING ANY AND ALL PAPERWORK your physician may have given you regarding your surgery.
ARRANGE FOR A RESPONSIBLE ADULT TO DRIVE YOU HOME AND STAY WITH YOU FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS FOLLOWING SURGERY. For most, the effects of anesthesia and sedation will make you drowsy for that period of time.
PLEASE MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN not having surgery.
PEDIATRIC PATIENTS should have two adults available to take them home – one adult to drive and one to attend to the recovering child. We encourage you to bring his/her favorite toy for extra comfort. Children may be brought in wearing their pajamas. Please bring an empty bottle or “sippy” cup if your child cannot drink from a cup.
ARRIVE ON TIME so that your surgery may begin as scheduled.