Patient's Guide to Day
Surgery
Please read the following information very
carefully.
The staff in the Ambulatory Surgery Department
at Mason General Hospital is pleased to serve you during your
upcoming surgery.
 We
hope that your entire experience with us will be a positive
one. We feel that you need to be as informed as possible to partner
with us in your care . So please read the following carefully.
If you have any questions, please call us.
Preparing for Day-Surgery
Prior to your surgery, you will need to visit
our Pre-Admission Clinic at MGH to pre-register. Be
prepared to give the phone numbers and addresses for yourself
and next-of-kin.
- Please bring any insurance numbers, cards
or billing forms with you.
This visit will make your admission for surgery easier.
- The Pre-Admission Clinic at the hospital
is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This is a service offered free of charge to surgery and procedure
patients.
- A visit to the clinic will simplify your
admission the day of your surgery.
The nurse will gather information, make sure all your tests
and paperwork are complete,
and give you information about your surgery.
Your surgeon may require certain lab tests
or x-rays to be performed before surgery. This may be done
at the same time you pre-register in the Pre-Admission Clinic. Please
call (360) 427-2395 for an appointment or questions.
The Evening Before Day-Surgery
- No food within six hours of surgery. Clear
liquids only may be taken up to 4 hours before admission. This
is to reduce the chance of vomiting associated with anesthesia,
and particularly, the chance of stomach acid damaging the
lungs.
- Take a thorough bath or shower, and wash
your hair. Shower facilities are not available in
the unit, so please take care of this at home.
- If you have a fever, cold or infection
of any kind, you must notify your surgeon.
- Try to get a full night's sleep the night
before your surgery.
- Eat a light dinner early in the evening
prior to your surgery date.
What to Bring
Medications
- Unless otherwise directed by your physician,
continue taking all your medications until midnight the night
before surgery.
- If your child is the patient, bring
a favorite toy.
- Any crutches or slings that you already
own should be brought with you, if your surgeon says that
you need them.
What to Wear
Wear casual, loose-fitting clothing
that can be folded and stored in a small closet or special
bag. All patients must wear a hospital gown at admitting
time.
Special Instructions for Children
Patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied
by a parent or guardian. One parent must be in the hospital
at all times, even when the child is in surgery or recovery. Please
make arrangements for other children to be cared for at home.
What to Leave at Home
What Not to Wear
Remove all makeup including nail polish
and perfumes before you arrive. The skin tone of your
face and under your nails is an important indicator to surgery
and recovery personnel during and after your procedure.
Contact lenses (bring your own case), dentures,
hearing aids and wigs may be removed just prior to surgery. Any
foreign object is a hazard during surgery.
Please, No Jewelry
Remove jewelry (this includes wedding rings
and body piercings). With safety in mind, it is very
important to remove ALL body jewelry and body piercings prior
to admission to the hospital for your surgery. Jewelry
left on may cause pressure injuries, depending on your position
during the procedure. It may also become trapped in
a drape, bed or possibly lost.
There is a possibility of receiving a burn
during surgery if jewelry is left on. Electrocautery
is used to control bleeding and increase wound healing. The
electricity from these units can travel along the surface of
the body and my lead to superficial burns if contact with metal
is made.
Jewelry in and around the mouth must be removed
to avoid dislocation and aspiration into the lungs while under
general anesthesia.
You, as the patient, are responsible for
having the jewelry removed before surgery. You may return
to the body piercing establishment to have the jewelry temporarily
removed to prevent damage. For safety purposes, if jewelry
is not removed prior to surgery, we reserve the right to remove
the jewelry, even possibly by cutting the jewelry off.
When you Arrive
Upon arrival, please check in at the Admissions
Desk (at north end of hospital).
When you arrive at the Ambulatory Surgery
Department, the nurse will prepare you for surgery. You
must remove all clothing, including undergarments, and dress
in a hospital gown. You will also receive a visit from
the anesthetist or anesthesiologist. He or she will
want to know your medical history and will discuss anesthesia
with you. You will go to surgery when all these things
are done and the facility is ready for you.
Accompanying Family and Friends
After you are prepared for surgery, one family
member or friend may join you in your room to wait for surgery. Waiting
areas for other family and friends are located throughout the
hospital. They are welcome to use the cafeteria on the
lower level, too.
How long will you be here?
Your stay for outpatient surgery usually
lasts four to six hours from the time you check in to the time
you leave.
Variances are caused most frequently by unforeseen
schedule changes (cancellation or emergency additions) and
by a patient's particular reaction to medications and anesthetic. We
cannot predict exactly when you will be ready to leave. We
have a surgery waiting room for the person who will escort
you home or, if you prefer, we will call that person when you
are ready to leave.
After Surgery
If you have had a general or regional anesthetic,
you will go to the recovery room to wake up following surgery.
We will keep your family/friend informed
of your status. Usually, patients stay for at least one to
two hours in the ambulatory Surgery area after their surgery.
However, this is dependent on your ability to meet the criteria
for discharge and is subject to the discretion of the surgeon
and anesthesiologist.
The nurse will give you written and verbal
instructions regarding your medications and home care. You
will be contacted by one of our Ambulatory surgery nurses the
day after surgery to see how you are doing. If you have
any questions or concerns, be sure to ask at this time.
Other Arrangements
You must arrange for someone (not just a
cab driver) to drive and escort you all the way to your residence. Drugs,
including anesthetics, can alter your judgment and perception
and affect your reactions. You will need someone to drive and
escort you home to avoid injury to yourself and others. We
encourage you to have a responsible adult remain with you 24
hours after surgery.
At Home After Surgery
When you return home, plan to rest the remainder
of the day - your body needs it! You may return to work
and recreational activities when your surgeon feels that you
are capable.
- Do not drink any alcoholic beverages for
24 hours after surgery, or while taking prescription medication.
- Do not drive for at least 24 hours after
surgery, or while taking prescription pain medication.
- Do not sign any legal documents for one
day after your surgery.
- Have a responsible adult available at
your home for the care of any dependents.
- Call your surgeon's office for a follow-up
visit and if you have any questions.
Billing
Planning ahead will alleviate problems following
your hospital stay. Here are some suggestions to do
beforehand.
- Arrangements for payments should be made
prior to services rendered. Billing
information
- DSHS-assisted applicants should make application
prior to services. Pre-authorization may be required
for specific surgeries or procedures. It is the responsibility
of the patient to acquire the needed information.
- Mason General Hospital will bill any insurance
as long as appropriate forms are supplied, and the patient
will be billed for the balance after the insurance company
fulfills its obligation.
- Ask about
our 25% discount to see if you qualify! Visa and MasterCard
are accepted.
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