THE DAY BEFORE SURGERY:

• Smokers should not smoke for 24 - 48 hours prior to surgery to enhance breathing.
  
  
• If you take daily medication, check with our pre-op nurse or your surgeon about the medications you should or should not take prior to your surgical procedure.

In order to avoid canceling your surgical procedure we ask that you:

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight, including water, chewing gum, chewing tobacco, mints, or hard candy.  (For afternoon surgeries after 1:00 p.m. you may eat and drink clear liquids up to eight hours (8 hrs) prior to your check in time.)
  
  
• Infants may have formula or milk up to 6 hrs before check in.  They may have breast milk up to 4 hours before check in.

THE DAY OF SURGERY:       

• Please report to CENTRAL PARK SURGERY CENTER one and one-half hour (1.5 hrs) prior to your scheduled surgery. 
• If you are having a pain management procedure please report to the surgery center one hour (1 hr) prior to your scheduled procedure time.
• To help reduce the possibility of infection we ask that you bathe or shower with an anti-bacterial soap prior to your arrival.           
• Wear clothing that is easy to take off and put on.  If you are having shoulder surgery please wear a very large front- buttoned shirt.  If you are having knee/hip surgery please bring shorts, or very, very large wide legged pants/sweat pants.  If you are having any type of abdominal surgery please wear very loose and comfortable clothing with non-restricted waistband.
• If you have any signs of an infection, fever, skin rash, cold, or sore throat notify your surgeon prior to coming to surgery center.
• Leave all your valuables, jewelry, and body piercings at home. 
• PLEASE bring your photo ID., insurance card, and any co-pay / deductible that applies.
• If you wear contacts, bring a storage case and solution for them.
• If you wear glasses or hearing aids, bring a case to store them in while you are in surgery.        
• If you wear dentures or have removable bridgework they may be removed before surgery.
  
  

 AFTER SURGERY:

• After leaving the operating room you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).  Here you will be cared for by all RNs.  Due to federal laws regarding HIPPA (Health Information Privacy Protection Act) please inform your family that they will not see you after surgery until you are ready to be discharged.
• You will be asked to assess your pain levels on a scale of 0 - 10.  Zero will be no pain, five will be tolerable pain, and ten will be the worst pain you can imagine.   This scale will assist us in managing your post-operative pain. 
• Please keep in mind that this is an outpatient facility and as a patient you will be having a shorter stay so you may feel rushed.  Your anesthetic is  shorter acting than those used in an inpatient facility, however, it still can induce amnesia.  Please inform your family that this will be temporary.  You may be very sleepy when you are discharged home.  This is why a responsible adult needs to drive you home and stay with you for the first twenty-four (24 hrs).  Your discharge instructions will be given to the person you have named as your responsible party. 

 

SPECIAL TIPS:

• Admission to a hospital may be a possibility if your physician so decides.
• If there is a possibility of you being pregnant, please notify your surgeon.
• Please have no more than two adults accompanying you. 
• We share parking with the heart hospital - fees are $1.00/hr, max $5.00 per day.  It is a seven (7) story parking garage behind the heart hospital.  This facility does not validate parking.
• Children must have parent or legal guardian that remains in the surgery center until the child is discharged.  You may bring their favorite toy or blanket.

           

For further information or instructions your may contact the pre-op nurses @ (512) 439 - 5770, or you may leave a voice mail with a number where you can be contacted.