Scheduling and Pre-Op Instructions

Scheduling

Your surgeon’s scheduler will arrange with you a day for your procedure. In some cases you may require pre-admission testing and/or an anesthesia evaluation. This may include blood tests and/or EKG. Usually done a few days prior to your procedure. Your surgeon’s office will make these arrangements.

• Notify your surgeon of any changes in your physical condition, such as a cold or fever.
• Please inform your surgeon of any medical problems that you may have or any medications you are taking. He will instruct you on which medications that you will need to take the morning of your surgery.
• A member of the surgery center nursing staff will contact you the day before your procedure to confirm your scheduled time, review instructions and answer any questions that you may have. Please let your surgeon know the best way to contact you during the day before your surgery. If you have not received a call by 3pm the day before your surgery, please call (425) 216-7000.
• Please arrange for transportation to and from the surgery center for the day of your surgery.
• Please make arrangements for a responsible adult to accompany you home. Due to medication and anesthesia from surgery your alertness will be reduced and you are not safe to drive.
• Minors under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Admission Policy

The facility staff will make an effort to provide optimal patient care during the admission process. This includes screening of the patient to determine appropriateness of surgical intervention at an ambulatory surgery center. Additionally, this includes ensuring access to surgical services for all patients including low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, handicapped, and other underserved groups.

Procedure

The patient will be informed of their need for surgical intervention and his/her responsibilities:

• The patient will be scheduled for surgery by the clinic scheduler with the ASC at a mutually agreed upon time and date.
• The surgeon meets with the patient pre-operatively for an updated history and physical review within 30 days of the scheduled surgery. The patient will be evaluated for appropriateness of surgery to be done at an ambulatory surgical center. Any laboratory tests determined to be needed will be arranged at that time.
• The surgeon will ask for anesthesia consult in determining appropriateness when deemed necessary.
• Any pre-op prescription deemed necessary will be given to the patient at the time of their pre-op visit.
• The day before the scheduled surgery, a registered nurse from the ASC will contact the patient via telephone and conduct a pre-op interview. Pre-op instructions will be given to the patient at this time. A review of the facility location and opportunity for patient questions will also be done during this call.

Pre-Op Instructions

• The patient will be instructed not to take anything by mouth (food, gum, candy, etc.) after midnight prior to the day of surgery. Exceptions to this include medication taken by the patient deemed appropriate to take with a sip of water the morning of surgery. Diabetic patients will be counseled on an individual basis according to needs and the time of surgery.
• Clothing: Patients are advised to wear loose fitting clothing that will accommodate bulky dressings, soft goods and casting materials.
• Patients are advised to leave all valuables at home and to remove jewelry from the affected limb.
• Nails: Patients are advised to clean their finger and toe nails of the affected extremity and may be asked to remove any artificial nails or fingernail polish.
• Escort: Patients are instructed to arrange for an adult escort (designated driver) to drive them home after their surgery. If having general anesthesia, patients will also need to have an adult stay with them for the first 24 hours after surgery. Failure to make these arrangements may result in cancellation of surgery. Escort’s name and telephone number are obtained at the time of the pre-op interview.
• Soft goods (include braces, slings, post-op shoes, Polar Care units, etc.): The patient is instructed to bring any of these items given at the pre-operative visit for application following surgery in the ASC. If not given before surgery, these will be dispensed by ASC personnel post-operatively and appropriate forms will be filled out.
• Arrival Time: Patients will be instructed as to what time to arrive at the ASC prior to surgery on the given date. This will generally be one hour prior to the surgical start time.
• All consents for surgical treatment and consent for admission for surgical treatment at this facility will be signed prior to entering the pre-op area.