ABOUT US
The Ambulatory (Outpatient) Surgery Center at United Hospital Center is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You may reach us by calling 624-2685 or 624-2301.
What is ambulatory surgery?
Ambulatory surgery is a planned elective surgery that generally does not require an overnight admission to the hospital.
On a daily basis, the department’s staff cares for an average of 40-45 adult and pediatric patients who have had procedures performed at UHC.
The types of surgeries performed include gynecological procedures such as hysteroscopy or laparoscopy, cataract extractions, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, hernia repairs, breast biopsies and thyroidectomies. Orthopedic and hand procedures as well as Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and plastic surgery are also performed on an outpatient basis.
What does the Ambulatory/ Outpatient Surgery Center look like?
The Outpatient Surgery patient registration and waiting area is located on the first floor to the left of the hospital’s main entrance. If you are pre-registered and have a white pass, you may go directly to this area and bypass the main registration area. If you are not pre-registered you will need to stop and sign in at the desk at the hospital’s main entrance. We recommend all patients pre-register to expedite their admission process the morning of surgery. There will be a receptionist who will assist patients in both these areas.
Once you are registered you will be taken to a private room in the department where a nurse will start your preparation for your procedure according to your physician orders.
There is a minor procedure room where local anesthesia cases are performed.
For your convenience there are pay phones, a gift shop and The Coffee Stop located adjacent to the main lobby. (Remember the coffee is only for family and friends!)
The Staff
The nursing staff provides nursing care according to guidelines set by the American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses and the American Association of Operating Room Nursing.
The department of anesthesia provides anesthetic care for certain patients undergoing surgery; depending on the type of anesthesia your doctor has chosen for you. They provide pre-operative assessment and medical management in this department as well as the operating room and the post anesthesia care unit (PACU).
The surgical staff at United Hospital Center provides comprehensive surgical services in general and specialty areas.
PREPARING FOR SURGERY
Questions to ask your surgeon
Will I have an incision?
Will I have a dressing, drain, or cast?
How will I feel the days/ weeks following surgery?
How much discomfort should I expect and how will it be controlled?
How long will I be in the hospital?
What do I need to know to care for myself after surgery?
Will I need special equipment such as a sling, crutches, cane or walker?
Is there a special diet, which I need to follow either before or after my surgery?
How will my activity be limited after my surgery and for how long?
When will I be able to drive?
When can I return to work? Be sure to inform your surgeon of the physical requirements of your job such as lifting or prolonged standing.
When will I find out the results or outcome of my surgery?
When will I need to return for a follow up visit?
Please call your surgeon’s office one business day before surgery to confirm the time and location of your surgery.
If you are experiencing any health changes such as cold or flu, please contact your surgeon’s office.
Please have a list of your current medications and dosages available for your health care team. Your surgeon will instruct you as to which of those medications to take or not take prior to your surgery.
If you have a ‘medical’ power of attorney or living will please bring a copy to the hospital with you.
Aspirin, Motrin/ibuprofen and herbal products should be avoided 10 days prior to your surgery. If you take aspirin on a daily basis or coumadin you must talk with your surgeon before discontinuing the medication.
If you will be receiving any type of sedation, you must arrange for a responsible adult to escort you home on the day of surgery. Because the effects of anesthesia may last up to 24 hours, you MAY NOT drive yourself home after your surgery. You may NOT ride the bus or take a cab unless accompanied by a RESPOSIBLE adult. If you have not made plans to have someone pick you up, your procedure WILL BE CANCELLED.
What type of anesthesia will I have?
You may be given either local, MAC, regional, general anesthesia or a combination of one or more types of anesthesia. Your surgeon and your anesthesiologist will discuss with you the type that will meet your needs during your surgery.
What are common side effects?
Mild nausea or vomiting for a day or two after surgery is not uncommon. It is more likely to occur if you have a history of nausea and vomiting with past surgeries. If you have had nausea and vomiting with past surgeries, be sure to discuss this with your anesthesiologist so an antiemetic can be administered during your procedure. You may experience a sore throat, headache, drowsiness, muscle ache and/or fatigue for a few days after your procedure. It is important to drink fluids to maintain your hydration status unless your surgeon has advised you otherwise.
DAY OF SURGERY
It is critical that you have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery, unless an anesthesiologist tells you otherwise. Your surgery WILL BE CANCELLED if you do not follow these instructions. This is necessary to prevent serious airway complications during your procedure. Gum, hard candy and mints are also NOT allowed. If you are told to take your medications, you may do so with a small sip of water.
Do not use body lotion.
Leave all your valuables and jewelry at home. This includes body piercings.
Do bring your health insurance cards.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Do not wear nail polish.
Do not wear contact lenses.
Do not smoke the evening prior to and the morning of surgery.
If you are having local anesthetic ONLY for your procedure, please check with your surgeon about your arrival time.
You should arrive one and one-half to two hours prior to your scheduled operating room time in order that we may prepare you for surgery. During this time you will meet with your nurse and anesthesiologist to discuss your care. You will have an opportunity to discuss your questions and concerns. A family member or friend may stay with you during this time until you are ready to go into the operating room. We encourage you to pick one family member to serve as liaison to other family members and friends as it is our policy to protect your privacy.
Unexpected changes in the schedule may result in your surgery starting earlier or later than your planned time. We apologize for any unforeseen delays.
You may wish to bring something to read or do while you wait.
Once you have gone into surgery your family member or friend may wait in the waiting area. If they will not be staying in the waiting area, they should leave a phone number where they can be reached with the receptionist in the waiting area.
After your surgery:
Your recovery time will depend upon the procedure you are having done and the type of anesthesia you receive. Since every individual responds differently to the surgical experience, it is difficult to tell you exactly when you will be ready to go home.
Depending on the anesthetic you receive, you may go to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit prior to returning to the Out Patient Surgery Department. If you are spending the night after your procedure, you will go to your assigned room after you are recovered in the PACU.
What happens in the PACU/recovery room?
You will be placed on a heart monitor that continuously monitors your pulse and blood pressure.
A finger cover is placed on your finger to measure the oxygen in your blood.
Your temperature will be taken by placing a small probe in the outer ear canal.
You will have oxygen on, either by a facemask or nasal cannula. It is important to keep this on until your nurse removes it.
If you have an incision or bandage your nurse will be checking this area for any bleeding.
You must meet certain criteria before you are discharged to home:
You must be reasonably comfortable.
Your blood pressure and pulse must be stable.
You must be able to walk without dizziness.
You must be able to drink fluids and in some cases urinate.
When you are ready to be discharged, your nurse will review the medication and discharge instructions with you and your family or friend.
MANAGING DISCOMFORT
Most patients experience some discomfort after surgery. Each patient experiences pain differently. The amount and type of discomfort you may experience also depends on the type of surgery you are having.
This section of the web site is about pain relief after surgery. It explains the goal of pain control and the type of treatment you may receive. It also explains how to work with your doctors and nurses to get the best pain control.
Be sure to talk with your surgeon and your anesthesiologist about pain control methods that have worked well or not so well for you before. Talk about any concerns you may have about pain medication.
After your surgery you will be asked to rate your pain. This helps us to objectively evaluate how much discomfort you are having. The scale used is the 0-10 scale.
0 is no pain and 10 is the worst possible pain.
*It is important that you fill the prescription for your pain medication. Patients often feel comfortable when leaving the ambulatory surgery unit and do not think they will need anything as strong as a prescription pain pill. Many surgeons use local anesthesia at the wound site so that you will be fairly comfortable until the local anesthesia wears off, which sometimes does not occur until later in the day when you are at home.
Take pain relief drugs when pain first begins. It is easier to control your pain early rather than alleviate it with more medication once you are very uncomfortable. We recommend you fill your prescription as soon as possible.
As your discomfort lessens you may change from taking your prescription narcotic medication to Tylenol or ibuprofen like drug as ordered in your discharge instructions.
As long as you are taking narcotic type medication (Percocet, Lortabs, Tylenol #3 are some examples) you should not drive, drink alcohol or do anything that requires coordination or judgment.
If the pain medication is not effective in alleviating the discomfort, you should contact your surgeon.
Please follow the advice of your surgeon if ice and/or elevation to the surgical area is recommended. If you had surgery on your arm or leg, it is best to rest it on pillows above the level of your heart. This helps reduce swelling and discomfort.
If you have a problem once you get home you should call your surgeon’s office. If you are unable to reach the office you may call us at (304) 624-2301 between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and ask to speak to a nurse. You may also call the hospitals main number at 624-2121. These phone numbers can be found on the information sheet you will receive prior to your discharge home.
What should I call my doctor for?
Your doctor, or someone covering for your doctor, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, please dial 911 or your local emergency service.
Please call your doctor right away, or come to the Emergency Unit for care, if you have any of the following:
Temperature of 101 degrees or higher, and/or chills
Difficulty urinating, or inability to urinate
Nausea and vomiting that last more than 24 hours
Increasing drowsiness
Worsening pain not relieved by pain medicine
Increased swelling around the incision
Redness around the incision that is spreading
Bright red blood, or foul-smelling discharge coming from the wound
When should I see my doctor for a follow-up appointment?
Your surgeon will give you written discharge instructions specific to your procedure, which will be reviewed with you and your family member by a nurse prior to discharge.
You should call your surgeon’s office the day after your surgery to schedule or confirm your follow-up appointment.
Wound care information will be given to you on your discharge instruction sheet. You should check the dressing for any drainage. A small amount of clear or light red staining is normal. If the dressing becomes soaked with bright red blood you should call your surgeon. It is normal to feel a ridge along the incision; this will go away.
You may remove your dressing when directed by your surgeon. Always wash your hands with soap and water. Remove the outer dressing. Do NOT remove the steri-strips that are on your incision, they will fall off on their own. The dressing should remain dry until you are allowed to shower. Baths should not be taken until your surgeon has said that you may do so. The wound should be gently washed with plain soap and water. Pat the incision dry.
For best wound healing:
Maintain good nutrition
Do not smoke
Watch the incision for signs of infection
Keep your incision dry
Do not use deodorants, powders, lotions or sprays on or near the incision
Do not use ointments unless you were told otherwise
Do not expose incision to sun, once healed use a sunscreen over the area.
Signs and symptoms of wound infection:
Redness that is spreading
Increased warmth and swelling
Increased tenderness and pain
Foul smelling drainage
Temperature of 101 degrees or higher and/or chills
**If you have any of these signs call your surgeon.**
GOING HOME
Same day surgery does not mean same day recovery. Many patients feel tired a few days after surgery and in some cases do not regain their energy level for a week or two.
The patient is the best judge of how much activity they can do. If it hurts do not do it! The surgeon will give guidelines about limitations of activities such as exercise and heavy lifting.
It is best to have someone stay with you after you arrive home from your surgery. If this is not possible, we recommend you have someone available by phone. You may need help cooking, cleaning, and caring for children.
You should eat lightly after the surgery. Fluids should start with clear liquids (ginger ale, apple juice, cranberry juice, soup broth). You may then progress to light foods (soup, toast, crackers, noodles). Caffeinated drinks should be limited, as they can be dehydrating. Alcohol should be avoided for 24 hours and/or while taking prescription pain medications.
A nurse from the Outpatient Surgery Department will try to call you the next working day after your surgery to see how you are doing and to answer any questions. If you need to speak with a nurse you may call Monday through Friday 6a.m. to 6p.m. at (304) 624-2301.
Your health care team at United Hospital Center hopes to make this the best possible experience for you and your family members.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
You can best help your family member or friend by offering emotional support. Anticipation of surgery, anesthesia and /or results of the operation can be very stressful. You can also help by making sure that all pre-operative instructions are followed.
One the day of surgery one person may accompany the patient to the OPS area as they are prepared for surgery. After the patient is prepared other family members will be allowed to come into the department. Family and friends are not allowed in the operating room. You may wait in the waiting area or leave a phone number where you can be reached. If you are waiting please check with a receptionist at the desk and inform her if you are going to leave the area. It is important that the staff and the surgeon know where to find you.
You will be able to see your family member again once they come back to the Outpatient Surgery Department. It may be necessary, depending on the type anesthesia they receive, for them to go to the PACU/recovery room prior to returning to the OPS Department. The time the patient is in the recovery room varies, depending on their response to anesthesia and pain control. Family members are not allowed in the recovery room.
The patient will receive written discharge instructions about how to care for him or herself at home. The nurse will review these with your and the patient. Please listen carefully as often the patient may feel tired and not remember the instructions.
PEDIATRIC SURGERY
Your child is having surgery today…
It is very important your child does not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before their scheduled procedure. Gum and mints are also not allowed. Not following this recommendation could cause your procedure to be canceled because of serious respiratory risks.
Your child will be admitted through the Outpatient Surgery Department. You will be asked to give your name so the Recovery Room staff will know whom to look for when the procedure is over.
You will walk with your child to the door of the Operating Room. You are not permitted in the Operating Room. The transport staff will show you where your waiting area is.
You will be notified when your child is starting to wake up and you will be instructed to come to the PACU/Recovery area, which is across the hall from the waiting area. Please ring the bell outside the door and a staff member will assist you in putting on a gown and shoe-covers before going to the child’s bedside.
Two people are allowed in the Recovery Room with the child once they are awake. Quick visitation and switching of caregivers are not permitted. A parent or guardian is expected to stay in this area with the child at all times.
After surgery…
Each child is different as they wake up from anesthesia. Some may be restless and cry, while others may wake up quietly and smile. Do not be alarmed if your child cries as they wake up.
The child will probably have an IV. It is important to keep this in place to give medication for pain or in an emergency situation. A pulse oximeter (red light) will be on the child’s finger or toe. This monitors their pulse rate and respiratory function.
If your child is restless, complains of pain or nausea, the anesthesiologist will be called for medication orders.
The child will probably not be able to have anything to drink immediately after surgery. Once the medications have worn off, they will be encouraged to drink fluids.
If you feel faint, very hot or sick while in the Recovery Room with your child, tell a nurse right away.
The staff at United Hospital Center wants to make your experience as worry free as possible. If you have questions please call us at 624-2301 6am to 6pm Monday through Friday.
. |
