What to Expect

Prior to your day of surgery, you will be called by a registered nurse from Independent Surgery Center. This pre-operative call will review previous anesthetic experiences, medical conditions, allergies, and medications or herbal products you may use. The nurse will also go over pre-operative instructions. Our team must speak to you or a Power of Attorney directly, prior to your surgery date.

Federal law requires that we ask if you have executed an Advance Directive. This is a document written in advance which states your choices about medical treatment or names someone to make choices about medical treatment for you, if you become unable to make decisions. If you have an Advance Directive, the law requires that we have a copy in your file. Please bring a copy of your Advance Directive with you to the surgery center. All precautions are taken to ensure a pleasant surgical experience. Should an emergency situation occur during your treatment, however, we will initiate resuscitative or stabilizing measures before transferring you to a hospital for admission. After the initial emergency has passed, if necessary, your Advance Directive will be consulted and carried out if indicated.It is not required that you have an Advance Directive. However, if you do not have one and would like to execute an Advance Directive, copies of the form are available at the surgery center.

On the day of your surgery, our entire staff will be ready for your arrival and make every effort to help you feel less anxious throughout your time in our center. Please arrive at your designated time so that you have time for paperwork and to meet our staff. We do appreciate a courtesy call if you are running late: (715) 738-1800. Remember to have an escort accompany you on the day of surgery for the drive home and to ensure comfort for the first 24 hours. You are encouraged to leave your valuables at home, but we need you to bring your I.D., insurance cards and any payment required.

It is important that you not eat or drink as per your pre-operative instructions. Any medications you have been instructed to take that day should be taken with a small sip of water.

What to Bring

• • Health insurance card and a photo I.D. (driver’s license)
• • Any required payment
• • Signed Patient’s Rights & Responsibilities Form
• • Copy of Advanced Directive (if you have one)
• • Inhalers, diabetic medications or insulin
• • A friend or family member to drive you home

Do NOT Bring

• • Money or valuables, such as watches, rings, or cell phones

You will be asked many times during your visit to verify your name and birth date. You may also be asked to give details about your surgery. These questions are being asked for your safety.

Shortly after your arrival, you will be brought back into the pre-op area. Here the nurse will interview you and provide some education on your procedure. Be sure to report any recent illness or unusual symptoms you may be experiencing. In the pre-op area, the anesthetist will discuss the types of anesthesia, and determine the best method for you. Again, it is important to share any information about your history with the anesthetist so that any potential risks may be identified. Then, just before you are taken back to the operating room, your surgeon will visit with you to answer questions, review the procedure, and mark the site of interest.

The anesthetist and your operating room (OR) nurse will accompany you through the automatic doors into our OR. You will notice that all of the staff in this room wear masks, gowns, head covers and gloves. The OR is a sterile environment where the equipment and instruments have been carefully prepared for your surgical procedure. The lights will be bright and the room will be chilly but our warmed blankets will help you stay comfortable.

You will be closely monitored by the nursing staff in the post-op area as you begin to recover from anesthesia. If you have any discomfort, it will be managed by the nursing staff per instructions from your surgeon. The length of your stay in the post-op area is typically brief; the nursing staff will ensure that you are comfortable, able to drink fluids, and sit up at the bedside.

When you are ready to leave, the post-op nurse will review instructions for post- operative care with you and your caregiver/responsible party. You will be given a copy of these instructions and any prescriptions which may have been written for you by your surgeon. You will exit the surgery center through a private door, accompanied by a member of our staff.

On the day following your surgery, you will typically see your surgeon at his/her office (not at Independent Surgery Center). If your surgery does not require a follow-up visit, you will receive a phone call in two to five days from our nursing staff to check on your status since discharge.