Pre-Testing

Your surgeon may require pre-testing. Please follow your surgeon’s instructions and have the pre-testing done promptly. If you have any questions, please call your surgeon’s office directly.

 

Smoking, Drugs and Medication

Ideally, patients will quit smoking one month prior to surgery. However, if that is not possible, patients must NOT smoke or chew tobacco at least 24 hours before the procedure. There should be no illegal drugs in your system.

 

Some medications must not be taken for a specific amount of time prior to surgery (i.e. blood thinners). Please discuss your medication list with your primary care physician to determine when and how to reduce / discontinue medications, as well as when and how to restart them after surgery. DO NOT stop taking medications without your physician’s guidance.

 

Billing Information

It is your responsibility to find out if your insurance company or HMO requires pre-certification before you have a procedure performed at our facility. If you fail to do this, you may have charges that an insurance company or HMO does not pay. You can contact your third party carrier by calling the number on the back of your coverage card or through your insurance agent. If you have medical insurance through your job, your Human Resources personnel should be able to give you a number to contact.

 

If you are paying for the procedure yourself, you may have already arranged for payment through our business office. If this has not been done, please contact our business office at 309.683.4807. Self-pay arrangements are required before services are performed.

 

Registered Nurse Phone Interview

A nurse from our Pre-Op Center for Health Chart office (PRECHEC) will call you 3 to 4 days before your procedure. You will be asked about your health and be given special instructions. It is important to speak with one of the PRECHEC nurses.

 

If we haven’t spoken with you 2 days before your scheduled surgery, please call 309.683.4704 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

Confirm Time of Arrival

Your surgeon’s office may have instructed you on what time you need to arrive for your scheduled surgery. If not, a representative from the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center will call with your arrival time 1 business day before your surgery. If you miss this call or do not receive a message from us regarding your surgery arrival time, you may call us at 309.683.4486 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

 

Schedule a Responsible Adult to Take You to the CFH

You will need to have a responsible adult to drive you to and from your procedure. It is recommended that this person remain with you the rest of the day and throughout the next night to monitor any post-op reactions. Now is a good time to plan ahead to make arrangements with someone who can be with you during this time.

 

Pediatric Patients

Surgery can be overwhelming for children and their parents. Our Child Life Specialist and compassionate staff are skilled at making medical procedures a comfortable experience for the entire family.

 

Some children will do better on the day of their procedure if they’ve been prepared by having a Pre-Op tour. If you think this type of preparation would help your child, please call 309.655.7433.

 

Parents, please make arrangements for your other children to stay with family, friends or other caregivers for the day of the patient’s surgery so you can remain focused on your child.

 

Legal Guardianship

A family member or significant other must call the PRECHEC office (Pre-Op Center for Health Chart) at 309.683.4704 at least one week prior to the day of surgery if Legal Guardianship (i.e. Power of Attorney, DCFS, etc.) exists for the patient. This will verify that surgical consent has been addressed.

 

Advanced Directives

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is initiated as the need arises. We do not honor Living Wills.

 

Interpreter / Special Needs

These services are available with advanced notice. Please notify your surgeon’s office of any special needs.

 

Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center, you are guaranteed the right to medical care that respects your personal privacy, values and property. If you have concerns that these rights have been violated, we have a process in place to assist you in addressing this.

 

Change in Health

If your physical condition changes, for example, if you develop a cold, cough, flu-type symptoms, fever or other changes in your health, call your surgeon prior to your arrival at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center. Your surgeon may determine it is not safe to proceed with your surgery and we will reschedule.

Confirm Time of Arrival

Your surgeon’s office may have instructed you on what time you need to arrive for your scheduled surgery. If not, a representative from the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center will call with your arrival time 1 business day before your surgery. If you miss this call or do not receive a message from us regarding your surgery arrival time, you may call us at 309.683.4486 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

 

Change in Health

If your physical condition changes, for example, if you develop a cold, cough, flu-type symptoms, fever or other changes in your health, call your surgeon prior to your arrival at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center. Your surgeon may determine it is not safe to proceed with your surgery and we will reschedule.

 

Diet

Eat a light supper that will not upset your stomach.

 

Do not eat after midnight (or 8 hours before your scheduled arrival time).

 

Do not drink alcohol, take any illegal drugs, chew tobacco or smoke within 24 hours prior to surgery. It is recommended that patients stop smoking at least one month before surgery.

 

Medications

Ask your physician about your prescription drugs. Some medications must not be taken for a specific amount of time prior to surgery (i.e. blood thinners). Please discuss your medication list with your primary care physician to determine when and how to reduce / discontinue medications, as well as when and how to restart them after surgery. DO NOT stop taking medications without your physician’s guidance. Ask your physician what medications you should take on the day of surgery.

 

Responsible Driver

Remind your responsible adult that he/she will be accompanying you to the CFH ASC for your procedure. It is recommended that this person remain with you the rest of the day and throughout the next night to monitor any post-op reactions.

 

Review instructions for Day of Surgery and Returning Home.

If your physical condition changes, for example, if you develop a cold, cough, flu-type symptoms, fever or other changes in your health, call your surgeon prior to your arrival at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center. Your surgeon may determine it is not safe to proceed with your surgery and we will reschedule.

 

Do not eat or drink unless instructed to do so. This includes no mints, gum, or water.

 

Do not take any medications unless instructed to do so. Please ask your primary care physician ahead of time. If you must take medications (per your physician’s specific instructions), take with a tiny sip of water.

 

Do not drink alcohol, smoke, chew tobacco or take any illegal drugs.

 

Take a bath or shower.

 

Wear loose-fitting clothes and comfortable shoes.

 

Do not wear makeup, including lipstick and mascara or perfume. It is recommended that you remove fingernail polish.

 

Leave ALL jewelry and valuables at home. Remove all piercings. The CFH ASC is unable to accept liability for lost valuables.

 

Bring a list of current medications and doses.

 

Bring all papers, X-rays or equipment / devices given to you by your physician.

 

Children may bring one favorite toy.

 

Children ages 17 and under must by accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who will remain on the premises throughout the entire procedure.

 

Parents, please make arrangements for siblings to stay with family, friends or other caregivers.

 

To ensure your comfort for the ride home, bring pillows and a small garbage can in case you feel nauseous from the anesthesia.

 

Parking

Park in the Surgery parking lot. Use the entrance off Route 91 with the smaller sign, north entrance and go straight to the back of the building.

 

Registration

Please check in at the Surgery Registration Desk.

 

Bring your insurance card and any other necessary paperwork.

 

Bring any co-pay your insurance requires. We accept cash, check, credit and debit cards.

 

Bring photo identification.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, our Hostess and Registration staff will be happy to help you.

 

Visitors

Please limit the number of visitors you bring. No more than two visitors are allowed in the Pre-Op and Post-Op areas. These visitors must have your permission to hear your medical information.

 

Visitors should remain in the designated waiting area during your surgical procedure. Your surgeon may speak with them after your surgery has been completed.

 

If your visitors need to leave the waiting area, they should tell the Hostess.

 

Patient Safety

At the CFH ASC your safety is our top priority. Our surgeons, nurses and staff take many steps to make sure your procedure goes as planned. You can play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active member of your healthcare team.

 

ID Bracelet. Before putting your Identification (ID) bracelet on, check your name for correct spelling and your birth date for accuracy. Tell a staff member if anything is wrong. You will be given a new bracelet with corrected information.

 

Consent to Surgery. Review all the information on the Consent Form before you sign it. You or your legal guardian must sign a Consent Form before surgery can take place. Make sure your name, your surgeon’s name and the procedure are correct. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask for clarification. If you don’t understand, ask again.

 

Patient Identification. Our employees will ask you to tell them your name, birth date, surgery to be performed and the location on your body of the surgery or procedure. If it is appropriate, you should point to the part of the body. Expect us to check your ID bracelet when you tell us your name and birth date. Don’t be alarmed if your surgeon asks you to identify yourself. He or she knows who you are. This is how they make sure they have everything correct to ensure your safety.

 

Preoperative Interview. The nurses and surgeons may ask you to answer the same question up to 4 times. Do not be alarmed by the repetition. This is how we make sure we have everything correct.

 

Site Marking. Your surgeon may place an ink mark where the procedure is expected to be done. The mark should not rub off easily. If it does, please tell the nurse. It is very important your surgeons and nurses see the mark before surgery begins. **Do not mark non-operative body sites — this could cause confusion.

 

Time Out. Once you are in the operating room and immediately before your surgery begins, everyone in the operating room will stop all activity and take a short “time out” to check one last time that you are the correct patient and that they are doing the correct procedure on the correct body part.

 

Infection Control. At the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center, preventing infection is a priority. You will receive education on preventing infection after your procedure.

Your surgeon will determine which type of anesthesia is most appropriate based on your procedure, individual medical history and current needs. Regardless of the type of anesthesia you receive, you will be closely monitored throughout the surgery. If you have any questions, please ask your surgeon, nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. Types of anesthesia include:

 

Local Anesthesia: An anesthetic agent (numbing medication) is injected into the surgical area to block pain sensations during the procedure. You may remain awake or you may receive another type of anesthesia to help you relax. Procedures commonly performed under local anesthesia include trigger finger release and cystoscopy.

 

Moderate Sedation: In this technique, you are given medication through an intravenous line or by mouth (a pill) to make you sleepy. You may also be given a local anesthetic. Although patients are not asleep, they usually do not remember much. Procedures such as eye surgeries and carpal tunnel release typically use this form of anesthesia.

 

General Anesthesia: This type of anesthesia is given through an intravenous line or inhaled. It affects your brain and entire body so you are completely unaware; the anesthesia provider will assist your breathing. This will require a tube to be placed to support your breathing. This type of anesthesia is used for procedures such as gallbladder removal, shoulder surgeries and tonsillectomies.

 

Regional Anesthesia: This involves injecting a local anesthetic agent (numbing medication) around major nerves or spinal cord to block pain from a larger part of the body. You will receive medication to help you relax. Patients with regional anesthesia typically are less drowsy after an operation. Often they experience less nausea and vomiting than may be experienced in patients who undergo general anesthesia.

 

Peripheral Nerve Block: This is a type of regional anesthesia that involves a local anesthetic agent (numbing medication) being injected near a specific nerve or group of nerves to block pain from the area of the body supplied by the nerve. Nerve blocks are most commonly used for procedures of the hands, arms, legs, and feet.

 

Bier Block: This is an intravenous regional anesthesia technique in which an extremity is made numb for surgery by injecting a local anesthetic agent (numbing medication) into a vein after a tourniquet has been placed on it. The tourniquet prevents the numbing medication from leaving the extremity and blood from entering it, giving you a numb (anesthetic) extremity and the surgeon a bloodless field to work in. You also receive sedation to keep you relaxed and sleepy during the surgery. This is commonly used with carpal tunnel release.

 

Epidural: This involves a local anesthetic injected near the spinal cord and nerves that connect to the spinal cord to block pain from an entire region of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, or legs. We rarely use this type of anesthesia at the Center for Health.

To ensure your comfort and safety during your surgical procedure, please adhere to the following guidelines:

 

• Wear loose-fitting clothing. Button-down shirts are often easiest to put back on after upper-body procedures.

 

• Wear comfortable, secure shoes.

 

• Do not wear panty hose.

 

• Do not wear make-up including lipstick or mascara. We prefer that you not wear nail polish, especially colored polish.

 

• You may wear contacts, but will need to remove them for eye surgeries or if you will have general anesthesia before leaving the preoperative area.

 

• Leave ALL jewelry at home. Remove all body piercings before arrival.

 

• Your belongings will be secured in a locker. However the CFH ASC is not responsible for personal items.