Thank you for choosing Riverside Regional Medical Center for your surgery. Our goal is to give you the best care possible and to make this experience as stress-free and comfortable as possible.

Some physicians prefer to tell the patients when to arrive for surgery. Other physicians prefer to have the hospital nurses call the afternoon before your surgery to give you an arrival time. Generally, you should plan to arrive at the facility 1-2 hours before your scheduled surgery time. It is important that you arrive on time. If you think you will be late, please call One-Day Surgery at (757) 594-2655 or Same Day Surgery/Surgical Prep at (757) 594-3402. If you need to cancel or have questions, you must call your physician.

Sometimes we have unexpected delays in our carefully planned operating room schedule. We will try to avoid any inconveniences to you and your family. We will keep you informed as changes occur. Due to limited space, we ask that only one family member accompany you.

We recommend that you not schedule any other appointments the day of your surgery. In addition, if you have young children, you should make plans for their care on your surgery day, such as having someone pick them up from school.

Medications and Supplements

Discuss your medications with your doctor. You may need to stop taking some medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or blood thinners. You also need to tell your doctor about any vitamins and herbal supplements you take. Some preparations can interfere with bleeding or healing.

Bring a detailed list of your medications with you on the day of surgery and whenever you come to the hospital for testing or treatment. This list should include the name of the medicine, the dose and the frequency (or how often you take it). Riverside offers a free, wallet-sized List for Life/MediCard that you can keep and use to list your medications and other important information. To request a free List for Life/MediCard call Ask-A-Nurse at (757) 595-6363 or (800) 675-6368.

Call your physician immediately if you notice a change in your health between the time you see your surgeon and the day of your procedure.

Pre-Registration and Insurance Verification

Please call Riverside Central Scheduling 10 to 14 days before your surgery date to pre-register and to make your appointment for pre-surgery testing as ordered by your physician. The telephone number for Central Scheduling is (757) 989-8830 option #2. Being pre-registered and having an appointment will speed up your visit to Pre-Assessment Surgical Services on your day of pre-surgery testing.

When you call Central Scheduling, you will also speak to an Insurance Verification Coordinator who will go over your insurance requirements. If you owe an insurance co-payment, the Insurance Verification Coordinator can process your payment by credit card over the phone or you may elect to pay this when you come to the hospital. The telephone number for Insurance Verification is (757) 989-8830 option #1.

Central Scheduling / Insurance Verification is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am until 5:30pm. Please call Central Scheduling if you need to reschedule your testing appointment.

Testing Before Surgery

If your doctor orders testing before your surgery, you can have all of your testing done at Pre-Assessment Surgical Services, located at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Pre-Assessment Surgical Services is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am until 5:30pm. Although drop-ins are accepted, we encourage you to make an appointment for this testing by calling Central Scheduling. In most cases, you should have your testing done 7 to 10 days before your surgery date. If you are having your surgery at Peninsula Surgery CEnter, you may use the outpatient labs.

At Pre-Assessment Surgical Services, our staff will draw your blood, perform an EKG if ordered by your physician, begin the Nursing assessment and answer questions you may have about surgery. If your physician orders a chest x-ray, our staff will take you to the Radiology department for this test. You will also receive information on pain management and on having surgery.

The Day Before Surgery

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY. This includes chewing gum, eating candy and swallowing water when you brush your teeth.

If you are taking medications regularly for heart and lung conditions (such as angina, chest pain, high blood pressure or asthma) or for seizures (such as epilepsy control), we recommend that you continue to take the medications on your usual schedule including your day of surgery. Medications may be taken with a small sip of water. If your physician gives you different instructions, please follow them.

If your physician orders a clear breakfast, you may have one of the following items:

• Coffee or tea without cream or sugar
• Bouillon
• 7-Up
• Ginger ale
• Jell-O
• Apple juice

After having one of these items, you should not eat or drink anything else.

Diabetic patients who do not eat after midnight should not take insulin or other diabetic medications the morning of surgery.

Do not consume alcoholic beverages 24 hours before and after surgery.

Avoid smoking at least 12 hours before and after your procedure.

The Day of Surgery

You must have a responsible adult with you on the day of surgery, to remain at the Center and drive you home after your surgery. We will not allow you to leave the Center alone. For your own safety, do not drive for 24 hours following surgery if you receive general anesthesia or sedation.

Checklist

• Wear comfortable, casual clothing. Low-heeled shoes and jogging suits are ideal. We will provide a hospital gown and slippers. It is not necessary for you to bring additional clothing.
• Other than your co-pay (if applicable), please DO NOT BRING ANY VALUABLES (money, credit cards, checkbook or jewelry) with you. The hospital accepts no responsibility for the possible loss of these items.
• Remember to bring any papers your physician or the admissions clerk has asked you to bring.
• Please remove your contact lenses, glasses and hearing aids before surgery and give these items to the person accompanying you. Please remember to bring storage cases for glasses or contact lenses.
• Remove all makeup, fingernail polish and jewelry including wedding rings. Wigs may not be worn into surgery. Any body piercing must also be removed.
• Bring a detailed list of the medications you are currently taking that includes the name of the medicine, the dose and how often you take it.
• Bring any inhalers you are currently using.
• Bring any x-rays related to your surgery.
• If you are on CPAP, please bring your equipment with you.
• Bring any custom-fitted appliances or orthopedic appliances that you will use after surgery. These may include collars, lumbar corsets, slings, walking boots, post-op shoes, etc.
• If you have Advance Directives, please bring a copy for our records.

If Your Child Is Having Surgery

If your child is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the hospital to sign surgery consent forms. Please be prepared to stay in the hospital until your child is discharged.

If your child has a favorite toy, blanket, cup or sippy cup let him/her bring it.

If your child drinks from a bottle, please bring one bottle of formula and an empty bottle for juice to drink after he/she comes back from the Recovery Room. Nursing mothers may nurse as usual.

Please remember to bring extra diapers.

If You Are Going Home After Surgery

After returning from surgery, you will remain in the One-Day Surgery Center for about 1 hour or until seen by your doctor and discharged. We will offer you beverages and crackers when you return from the Recovery Room.

We will not permit you to drive yourself home after receiving anesthesia. Be sure to make arrangements with an adult 18 years or older to transport you home.

You should also make arrangements for someone to be home with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.

You cannot drive or drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after discharge.

At the time of discharge, you might feel drowsy.

If You Are Being Admitted After Surgery

The unit will notify your family or significant other when you arrive in the Recovery Room and when you receive your room assignment. If family members are unable to be at the hospital, they may call (757) 594-2655 (One-Day Surgery) or (757) 594-3402 (Same Day Surgery/Surgical Prep) for a status report.

To protect your privacy, please provide those family members or friends with a “secret password” of your choosing. We will ask callers for the password before we release any information about your status.

Before You Leave

Please be certain you understand your physician’s instructions. The nurses will review physician discharge instructions to include medications, diet and rest requirements. We will also give you a written copy of these instructions.

At Home

If you experience difficulties or complications once you return home, please contact your surgeon. If you cannot reach your surgeon at his/her office or have any questions, call the hospital Operator at (757) 594-2000 and ask them to page your surgeon. Ask-A-Nurse is also available to answer your questions at (757) 595-6363 or (800) 675-6368.

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