Meet the New Face of Surgical Care PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY
Welcome to PMC s Surgery Center We are dedicated to ensuring your upcoming surgery is as comfortable and as pleasant as possible. Please take a moment to review our brochure, which contains many helpful reminders and explanations. We thank you for entrusting us with your care, and we send our warmest wishes for a quick recovery! Before Your Surgery Pre-Admission Testing The Pre-Admission Testing department will call you the afternoon before your surgery (or on a Friday afternoon for Monday surgeries). The information you can expect to receive when called includes the following: When to arrive: Where to report: Other special instructions: If it is difficult to reach you or if you have not received a call by 4:00 p.m. the business day before your surgery, please call (570) 476-3317. If calling after 6:00 p.m., please call (570) 476-3594. Pre-Surgery Check List After midnight prior to the day of your surgery: Do not eat anything (including gum/mints) Do not drink any liquids (including water) Do not smoke Eating, drinking or smoking prior to having surgery could create serious, even life-threatening complications, including aspirating gastric contents. It is extremely important to comply with these instructions. Arrange for transportation, childcare and someone to say with you for the 24-hour period following surgery. Complete and follow Your Medication Instructions You should not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make important decisions for 24 hours after anesthesia. If your transportation cannot wait during your surgery, please make sure they are available by phone and can return to the hospital to pick you up within one hour of being called. Your Medication Instructions Please consult with your physician and update the following prior to your surgery. Take the following medication(s) with a sip of water before leaving home the morning of your surgery: Do not take the following Bring/use the following Stop taking the following
Day of Your Surgery Upon arrival, you will be assessed and prepared by nursing and anesthesia staff, and your surgeon will see you before your surgery. Depending on your procedure, most same-day surgery patients are discharged one hour after they return to same-day surgery. Before your discharge, a nurse will review and give you a copy of written instructions specific to your surgery. Afterwards, you may receive a survey in the mail about your experience. We appreciate your completing the survey, so we can provide world-class care! Surgery-Day Check List Follow Your Medication Instructions. Bathe or shower the morning of your surgery. Follow any instructions given to you for cleansing your skin. Do not wear make-up or jewelry, including body piercings. Cleaning your skin and avoiding make-up and jewelry minimizes bacteria and, thus, the risk of infection during surgery. Wear loose fitting clothing. Leave valuables at home. Arrive on time (usually 2 hours before your surgery). Bring one family member or friend to have available in the waiting room to speak with the surgeon. To avoid having to cancel or reschedule your surgery, you must arrive on time. Arriving 2 hours prior to your surgery gives us adequate time to complete pre-op paperwork and protocol, including answering any questions you may have, in a timely manner.
For Our Pediatric Patients Infants may have formula or breast milk until 6 hours before surgery. Children 8 years old and younger may have clear liquids (e.g., watered down juice or water) until 3 hours before surgery. If your infant takes a bottle, or your child uses a sippy cup, please bring an empty one for use after surgery. Both parents of pediatric surgery patients are welcome on the day of surgery. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite toy or blanket. Rescheduling Your Surgery If you develop a cold, fever, or respiratory problem before surgery or if you need to reschedule your surgery, please call your surgeon s office right away! For your safety, your ID will be checked at various times throughout your stay at PMC.
Surgery Center 206 East Brown Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 (570) 476-3433 PoconoMedicalCenter.org