Advance Preparations
Please make the following arrangements prior to your surgical procedure:
- Arrange for transportation home.*
- Arrange to have a responsible adult with you at time of discharge as well as stay with you for 24 hours following your procedure.
- If possible, please arrange for childcare on the day of your procedure if applicable.
*We happily provide complimentary transportation for our patients to and from our facility. Should you need to book this service, please call us between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 708-942-6030 to schedule. If you have not been contacted 24 hours prior to your procedure, please call us between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 708-942-6030.
Pre-Operative Instructions
A pre-admission nursing staff member will contact you by phone prior to your surgical procedure regarding:
- Time of arrival
- Time of surgery/procedure
- A brief medical history
- Special instructions
During the pre-operative phone call, the nurse will give you instructions when you need to stop eating, drinking and chewing gum before your procedure. It is very important for these instructions to be followed or your appointment may be delayed or cancelled. Please provide a phone number where you can be reached during the day. (Whatever number you give the office, is the number we utilize; if additional numbers are needed, please provide all pertinent numbers.) Additional requirements to note:
Do not take Aspirin, Coumadin, or other blood thinners for 7 days prior to the procedure.
No alcohol or cigarettes 24 hours prior to surgery.
If you develop a cold, sore throat, fever or infection, notify your physician before your procedure.
What to Bring
Please bring your insurance card including pharmacy information and check in with the front desk upon your arrival. Worker’s compensation cases must provide all claim information, including date of injury. Identification bracelets are given to all patients; it is important to keep these bracelets on while at the center.
Instructions for personal care items:
- Insulin
If you are a diabetic, please consult with your primary physician regarding your insulin dosage for the day of the procedure. Please bring your insulin and diabetic supplies with you to have on hand. - Inhalers
If you use an inhaler, please bring it with you the day of surgery. - Hearing Aids
Please wear your hearing aids and bring a case for them. - Contact Lenses
Contacts are not permitted. If you typically wear contact lenses, please wear your glasses and bring your case with you. - CPAP
If you use a CPAP machine at home, please bring it with you. (Check with the preadmission nurse during the phone call to see if it needs to be brought into the center or just available in the car.) - Jewelry
Please leave jewelry and valuables at home, including all body piercings. - Cosmetics
Please do not wear make-up or nail polish on the day of your procedure. - Dental
You may brush your teeth the morning of your appointment. If you have dentures, you may wear them. Make sure to bring a container for them. - Clothing
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that you will be able to easily slip off and on as well as fit over any bandages or slings that you may receive. Patients who have shoulder surgery find it easier to have clothes that button down the front and can go over their immobilizer.
You will be evaluated by your nurse, physician and anesthesiologist prior to your surgery to ensure a safe procedure.
Post-Operative Recovery
After your surgical procedure, you will be taken to the post-anesthesia care unit for observation and recovery. Your caregiver will be informed of your progress and will be rejoined with you as soon as you are medically stable. Our goal for you is to return home to familiar, comfortable surroundings. You may have some pain on discharge; please notify your nurse if you feel your pain is worse than expected, or more than you can tolerate. Again, we want you to be comfortable.
Some people also have issues with post-operative nausea and vomiting. Certain types of procedures make the nausea worse; we will work with your anesthesia provider and surgeon to give you the appropriate medications to decrease your nausea. For some people this nausea will remain for several days. Please notify your surgeon if you continue to have nausea 24+ hours after your procedure.
Home instructions will be given to you prior to your discharge. You will need to have a responsible adult available to hear and verify your discharge instructions.
Also, Preferred offers a unique service to its patients called the 23-hour room. If a certain procedure requires overnight observation, patients can safely have their surgical procedure completed at Preferred. Please call our office with any questions about this service.
You will receive a courtesy call from our center to see how you are recovering. If you have any needs or concerns, please contact your physician.