Here, we believe patients are an active part of the care team and are instrumental to their own success. As a result, education is the first step and is key to a patient’s care and success.
General Information
We are pleased that you have chosen the Marina Spine & Sport Institute for your upcoming surgery or procedure. Since you are a key member of your healthcare team, we have prepared this information to give you and your family in order to make this experience as easy and comfortable as possible. We encourage you to ask questions whenever anything is unclear, and we wish you a speedy recovery.
<back to top>
Medical Clearance; If your physician has told you that our procedure or surgery requires anesthesia, you will need “Medical Clearance”, from your physician. Without “medical clearance,” you cannot receive anesthesia. Therefore, it is important that you contact your physician at least two weeks before your surgery, so that all necessary examination and tests can be ordered, performed and reviewed by your physician.
As part of “medical clearance,” at least seven days before your surgery or procedure, you need to have an appointment with your primary care physician to have a history and physical examination.
As part of ensuring you have “medical clearance,” your physician may also require that you have laboratory tests performed or other tests (such as a chest x-ray or EKG). All of the tests requested are necessary to assure your smooth course under anesthesia.
Based on your history and physical examination and result from pre-procedure tests, your surgeon or internist will give you “medical clearance” for anesthesia.
Pre-Procedure Patient Profile: In preparation for your surgery or procedure, we would like some information on the current medications you are taking, as well as a history of illness and other procedures. A few weeks before your surgery or procedure, you will be asked to complete some forms. We request that you bring these forms with you on the day of your surgery or procedure.
Medications: In preparation for your surgery or procedure and to ensure that nothing interferes with your anesthesia, please ask your physician if you should take your regular medication on the day of your surgery or procedure. It is generally best to stop taking aspirin or similar anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen®, Advil®, Motrin®, Naprosyn® and Aleve®. Your physician may request that you “taper’ or slowly reduce your normal dose of certain medications, so it is important that you discuss this with your physician in advance of your surgery or procedure. Also, be sure to notify your physician immediately if there is a change in your physical condition (For example, if a cold, fever or persistent cough has developed).
Herbal Supplements, Vitamins and Diet Pills: Herbal supplements, vitamins and diet pills can interfere with anesthesia and other medication that may be prescribed to you before or after your surgery or procedure. With this in mind, it is important to let your physician know if you are taking any herbal or nutritional supplements, vitamins or diet pills. Examples are: ginko biloba, ginger, garlic, ginseng, kava kava, St. John’s Word, vitamins E and C, DHEA, melatonin, etc. it is generally best to stop taking these products at least two weeks before your surgery or procedure.
<back to top>
Transportation: If you are having an outpatient surgery or procedure, you must make arrangement for an adult (escort) to take you home from the hospital. Please make arrangements in advance to have a responsible adult drive or escort you home from the hospital. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home. There is a possibility that your surgery or procedure will be delayed or cancelled if you do not have a responsible adult scheduled to take you home.
Supplies/Equipment: You may need to rent or buy special equipment or supplies before your surgery or procedure. Ask your physician about your specific needs and if you will need to bring them with you to the hospital.
<back to top>
Food and Drinks: It is likely that your surgery or procedure will require you to be sedated or put to sleep. Therefore do not eat or drink anything, including water after midnight the night before your surgery or procedure, unless your physician instructs you otherwise.
<back to top>
What to Bring: Please be sure to bring the following:
Your Pre-Procedure Patient Profile
Please do not bring medication to the hospital unless instructed by your physician.
- Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or dentures. Plan on these items being taken from you before your surgery. Bring their containers, where appropriate, for safekeeping.
- Insurance information, emergency telephone numbers, a phone number to reach your escort at home and identification card or driver’s license.
- A copy of your Advance Directive or Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare if you have one.
We do not anticipate any delays in starting your procedure. However, in the event of an unforeseen delay, we recommend you also bring a book or magazine.
Arrival: Plan to arrive at least two hours before your surgery or procedure, or earlier if instructed by your physician. Whoever accompanies you may wait in the reception area or pick you up after discharge. You may wish to write down your escort’s cell phone or pager number, and provide this information to the nurse admitting you so that your escort will be notified when you are ready to be taken home.
Clothing: Dress comfortably. Wear clothing that can be removed easily, folded and placed in a locker. You will change into a gown and slippers, which will be provided. If you are an inpatient, please put all of your belongings in one small suitcase, It will be necessary to keep this in your car or have it brought in after you have a room assigned following your surgery or procedure.
Registration: Check in with Admitting in the hospital lobby. You will be escorted to the area where you are scheduled to have your surgery or procedure. The Admitting Representative will complete your registration and will ask for a copy of your Advance Directive if you have one.
Valuables and Cash: We cannot assume liability for items such as jewelry, credit cards, wallets, watches or cash. Please leave all jewelry, credit cards or valuables at home. If you need to bring cash, checks or a credit card to make a deposit or co-payment, please have a family member take them home after you are admitted.
Lobby/Waiting Area: Your family may accompany you as far as the Surgery lobby and waiting area. The Centinela Freeman volunteers who staff the lobby and waiting area can serve as a contact for you and the Operating Room staff. The volunteer swill provide your family or significant other(s) updated information regarding the availability of an inpatient room/ICU bed after your discharge from the recovery room or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). After surgery your surgeon will contact your family in the lobby/waiting area. If your family is not in the lobby frequently, the surgeon will call a family member after surgery if that number was provided to the nurse who admitted you.
Pre-Op Preparation: After you are registers, a Pre-Assessment/Pre-Op registered nurse will see you. Your preparation before surgery includes having your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and weight measured. You will receive a hospital identification bracelet and will be asked to change into a hospital gown. If you have any drug allergies, you will also receive a blue bracelet. Your nurse will review your medical records, verify the information on your chart, confirm the surgical procedure and ask you to sign a Consent Form. An intravenous (IV) infusion will be started and any other necessary procedure will be completed.
Anesthesiologist: Your anesthesiologist will see you the day of your procedure (before the time of your surgery or procedure) to discuss the plan for your anesthesia and answer your questions. It is important for the anesthesiologist to know your previous anesthetic experience, alcohol consumption, use of recreational drugs, current medications, herbal supplements, diet pills and other pertinent medical history.
Operating Room: You will meet your operating room (OR) nurse just before the time of your surgery. The OR nurse will reconfirm the surgery or procedure you are having and will discuss what you might experience in the OR. The OR nurses, surgical nurse practitioners and surgery technicians are specially trained to keep you comfortable and safe during your surgery.
<back to top>
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU/Recovery Room): After surgery you will be transferred to the PACU, where the nurses are specially trained to take care of your immediate postoperative needs. It is the nurses’ goal to keep you comfortable and safe during your recovery period. The length of time you stay in PACU/recovery room will depend upon the type of surgery or procedure performed, type of anesthesia received and the availability of hospital inpatient beds or ICU beds. The nurses will be in frequent contact with your family in the lobby/waiting area.
Pain Management: Relieving your pain is important to us following your surgery or procedure. Unfortunately, some pain is unavoidable, but most pain can be reduced or minimized. However, you need to tell us when you are experiencing pain. We will do everything feasible to minimize your pain and not jeopardize your health. For us to understand and treat your pain you are going to be asked to rate the pain using a 0 to 10 scale. (ten is the worst pain you can imagine, and zero is no pain.)
Visitor’s Policy in the PACU/Recovery Room: It is important for you to rest after your surgery or procedure. Family members and visitors are restricted in Pre-Op and the PACU/recovery room except for parents and guardians of pediatric patients or patients requiring an interpreter. Visiting will depend on your status, post-op bed availability and unit activity. Please check with the volunteer at the desk before entering the PACU/recovery areas.
Observation Care Unit (OCU): If you are an outpatient, you will be transferred to the OCU after your stay in the PACU. The nurse there will prepare you to go home. The nurse will also give you instructions regarding your care at home, which will include discussion about any medications you need to continue as well as danger signals of which to be aware. Please ask the nurse to explain any instructions that you do not understand fully. Your escort must pick you up from this area. You cannot drive after receiving any potentially sedating medications. For your own safety, it is recommended you have someone stay with you for a day or two following your surgery or procedure.
Inpatient Beds/Intensive Care Unit (ICU): If you are schedule dot stay in our inpatient beds or ICU, you will remain in the PACU/recovery room until your condition is stable. Occasionally there will be delays in transfer to the next level of care due to bed availability. We will keep you and your family informed of any delays or room changes during the course of your recovery.
<back to top>
Discharge Plan
Outpatients
After you are wide awake and your vital signs are stable and at a normal level for you, you will either be taken back your room or remain in the PSCU until you are ready to go home.
After meeting all of your discharge criteria for you to go home safely, you will be discharged upon the arrival of your escort.
You will receive a call from a nurse within 48 – 72 hours after surgery to follow up on your recovery and to wish you well.
Inpatients
If you are to stay overnight in the hospital, you will be taken to either an intensive care unit or a regular patient care unit, depending on the nature of your surgery. Your family will be notified when you are transferred. Your nurse, along with the other members of the care team, will continue to monitor your progress to full recovery. The length of your stay and what you can eat or drink will depend upon the type of surgery you have had and how quickly your physician feels you are recovering. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything, or your diet may allow liquids or solid foods as you recovery.
Discharge
Regardless of how long you stay, your nurse will review your discharge instructions with you and your family when you are ready to leave the hospital. You will also receive a copy of your instructions to follow while recuperating at home. These instructions will include:
- Information about the surgical procedure performed
- What to expect as you recover from the anesthesia (if appropriate)
- Instructions about your care at home
- How to use any assistive devices you may need (for example, crutches, walker)
- Instructions for your medications and any food and drug interactions
- How to care for your wound and dressings
- When to call your physician for a follow up visit
- What signs and symptoms to report to your physician
- Any additional information or instructions you may need
Please ask the nurse to explain any instructions you do not understand. It is very important for you to follow your physician’s orders once you get home.
You will receive a phone call from staff member. We want to make sure that you are doing well and will be available to answer any of your questions.
<back to top>
|