Pre-Operative Phone Call

Our staff will attempt to call you 1–3 days before your procedure to review your health history. Please have your medications with dosages and your past surgical history dates available. If we are unable to reach you, our nurses will request this information when you check in for surgery. Your anesthesiologist will also call you the night before your surgery to review any further instructions.

Transportation and Parking

Parking is free and available in front of the surgery center. Arrange in advance for a responsible adult (18 years or older) to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours following surgery. If you have young children, arrange in advance for their care as well. You may take a taxi if an adult accompanies you, or you may hire a medical transport company if they provide at-home care once you are discharged from our facility and are willing to accept responsibility to sign discharge instructions.

Medications

Talk to your physician in advance about any medications you may be taking. If your physician gives you a prescription for pain medication, it is best to have it filled prior to your surgery. Please let your physician know if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic, taking blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications, or have a latex allergy. It would be extremely helpful and expedite your admission process if you could bring a list of all your medications with doses, including herbs, vitamins and diet supplements, to the center.

Food and Drink

Your physician will instruct you to do one of the following:

  • Adults and children should not eat any food/solids after midnight the night prior to surgery. Your anesthesiologist may allow intake of clear liquids up until 3 hours prior to procedure. Clear liquids include water, fruit juices without pulp, 7-Up, ginger ale, and coffee or tea without milk.
  • Infants and children may have clear liquids up until 3 hours prior to surgery. If nursing, infants may have breast milk until 4 hours prior to surgery. Formula should be stopped 6 hours prior to surgery.
  • Patients undergoing a pain medicine procedure who require sedation should not eat solid food, but may drink clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to the procedure.
  • Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy patients should follow the specific prep instructions provided by your physician.

Check with your physician in advance regarding which dietary instructions apply to you. All patients should refrain from smoking after midnight the night before surgery.