Surgical Services

What to expect from your surgery

On the day of your procedure, one of our patient representatives will welcome you and your family with a smile and answer any questions you have about what will happen. 

Next, you’ll be shown to your bed, helped into a gown and given a warm blanket. At that time, you’ll meet each member of your surgical team. Together, they’ll complete a bedside report so you and your family are fully informed about every step of the surgery.

We use procedure tracking boards with your unique patient number. This keeps your family informed of what’s going on at every point of your surgery: presurgery, during surgery and through recovery.

Please follow these before and after instructions for your surgery:

The day before your surgery
  • Shower before arriving; you may be instructed to use hospital-provided soap.
  • Don’t shave your surgical area.
  • Tell your surgeon if you develop a sore throat, fever or cough.
  • If you’re having outpatient surgery, you must make arrangements for transportation to and from the hospital. A responsible adult must be present when you’re discharged to review your care instructions and take you home.
  • If you live alone, ask someone to stay with you that night.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before surgery unless your preadmission nurse instructs you to do so. This means no water, gum, hard candy, lozenges, chewing tobacco or smoking.
  • Do not drink alcohol 24 hours before your surgery.
The day of your surgery
  • Do not wear makeup or lotion.
  • Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
  • As instructed, take medications with a sip of water before you arrive.
  • Use inhalers as you normally would and bring them with you to the hospital.
  • Children who are undergoing a procedure must have a parent or guardian stay at the hospital at all times during surgery.
  • Arrive at your appointed time, which is typically two hours before the surgery is scheduled to begin.
  • After you check in at the registration desk, you’ll be escorted to the preoperative area. A nurse who specializes in preoperative care will be there to greet you.
  • Your anesthesiologist will meet you to discuss the most appropriate anesthesia for your procedure.
The day of your discharge
  • Your hospital stay is determined by your physician and based on the procedure and type of anesthesia you receive.
  • If you’re discharged from the facility the same day you have surgery, your recovery room nurse will give you written discharge instructions.
  • If you’re discharged after an inpatient hospital stay, your care team will give you discharge instructions.
  • Follow-up appointments should be scheduled before you leave.