When You Arrive

When You Arrive

It is our goal to make your hospital stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Taking care of your needs is a priority for our team.

On the day of your surgery, please check-in at the Information Desk located in the Outpatient Waiting Area at the front of the Medical Center. From there you will be escorted to the Day Procedure Unit or one of our nursing units.

The Day Procedure Unit

Most patients are escorted to our Day Procedure Unit to prepare for surgery. You may notice that you are asked to arrive at the Medical Center an hour before your surgery. This time is necessary for us to prepare you for your surgery.

You will be given an identification band to wear on your wrist. If not already done, you will be weighed and measured. You may be asked to sign additional forms or releases and we may need to copy your insurance cards.

You will then be escorted to your assigned location until transported to the Operating Room. Two (2) adult family members or friends may stay with you until you are transported. They will be instructed where to wait for you during your surgery.

You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Dentures and partial plates are removed to allow free and easy access to your airway. For your safety, personal items may have to be removed. This includes, but not limited to, prosthetic devices, glasses, and hearing aids. Please wear these items on the day of your surgery. However, contact lenses must be removed.

A registered nurse will review your chart with you and answer all of your questions. Your intravenous catheter (IV) may be inserted at this time. Also, any medications or preparations ordered by your surgeon or anesthesiologist may be administered at this time.

You will usually wait in the Day Procedure Unit for about an hour or so until you are transported to the Operating Room Holding Area. Your family or support person will be instructed where to wait during your surgery.

The Holding Area

The Holding Area is located adjacent to the Operating Room and is a place where final preparations are made for your surgery.

Visitors are not allowed in the Holding Area, except for the parents of minor children and the spouses/guardians of adults with special needs. These visitors cannot proceed beyond the Holding Area.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a registered nurse who will further review your chart, answer your questions, and remain with you while you wait. Warm blankets are available to make your wait more comfortable.

Your Anesthesia Care Team will meet you in the Holding Area. They will obtain your medical history, discuss the type of anesthesia you will receive, and answer any questions you may have. If not already done, your intravenous catheter (IV) will be inserted at this time. Once your interview is completed, the Anesthesia Team may sedate you while the Holding Room Nurse monitors you.

The Operating Room

You may spend about an hour in the Holding Area. Once all preparations are completed, you will leave the Holding Area and be taken into your operating room. There you will be greeted by your Surgical Team which includes your surgeon, nurses and technicians.

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

After your surgery is completed, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) also known as the Recovery Room. There you will be monitored by a team of registered nurses while you recover from your anesthesia.

Visitors are permitted in the PACU on a case by case basis. Parents of small children are allowed limited visitation.

You will usually stay in the PACU about an hour or so, depending upon your condition. Once you are stabilized, you will be transported to the Day Procedure Unit or elsewhere in the Medical Center if you are admitted.

If a PACU stay is not necessary, you will be returned to the Day Procedure Unit where a registered nurse will monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and respiration and assist you in your recovery.

Recovery times vary. Some patients are required to remain in the Medical Center for several hours after surgery before they are allowed to go home. If additional recovery time or medical care is necessary, you may need to stay overnight.