Food or other substances in your stomach can cause serious complications with anesthesia. Please discuss eating or drinking limitations with your doctor prior to the day before your surgery. If you eat or drink to close to your surgery it may be canceled.

If you take medication on a regular basis for any conditions, discuss with your doctor if you should take it the day of surgery.

To ensure that we are fully prepared for your stay, we like to be thorough in our admissions process. Paperwork must be completed, and lab work may be required prior to surgery. Pre-op nurses conduct a patient assessment, and your physician and/or anesthesiologist will visit with your prior to your procedure.

For those scheduled for an overnight stay, you can bring personal clothing and items to make your stay more comfortable, such as pajamas, gowns, a robe, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries. It is very important that we know each medication you are currently taking, the dosage, and how often you take the medication.

The length of each surgery varies. This may be discussed with your physician and timeframe may be approximated.

The length of stay varies with each patient and type of procedure. For most inpatient surgeries you will be in the hospital overnight and will be discharged the following morning. With more extensive surgeries, you may be in the hospital 3-4 days. Your physician can give you an approximate time frame for your hospitalization.

In our private rooms we do have sleeper sofas, however, we do not have any bathing facilities for families staying at the hospital. Bathrooms are for patient use only. We do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to stay in the patient rooms overnight and we can accommodate only one guest per patient. Special exceptions may be made by notifying us.

As soon as your doctor writes the discharge order. Most discharges are done in the morning, but can vary based on availability of the physician. We ask that you make pre-arrangements to have your family or a responsible adult pick you up and drive you home. Some insurance companies calculate hospital time by the minute and hour, so if you are dismissed and stay longer waiting for a ride, your insurance company may not pay for the extra hospital time.

Probably not, but if you do, your doctor will let you know in advance and offer self donation to you if possible. Your doctor will instruct you on donating your own blood.

You will be up and walking the evening of surgery or the following morning if you had a late surgery.

Most patients are able to go straight home. Sometimes patients may need 2-3 weeks of a skilled rehabilitation facility. Some patients need a front wheel walker or home physical therapy but hospital case management will work with patient/family/insurance company to arrange.