Frequently Asked Questions
Generally speaking, if you are staying overnight in the hospital or if your doctor has told you that you need blood tests, X-rays or other diagnostic tests before having surgery, you will need to visit the clinic a few days before your surgery. If no one from the clinic has contacted you for an appointment, feel free to call and talk with the clinic nurse.
Each Providence hospital has a Pre-Surgery Clinic. You need to be seen in the clinic at the same hospital where your surgery is scheduled.
Each patient is different and, depending on your procedure, the anesthesiologist may call the night before your surgery to ask questions about your medical history, especially if you have never had surgery at one of our facilities if you have had other medical problems. If you have questions, write them down ahead of time so you will remember to ask them when you talk with the anesthesiologist.
The surgeon may or may not see you before going to the operating room. This varies with each surgeon, the type of procedure, and the time of day that the procedure is scheduled to take place. We suggest you ask your surgeon before the day of your surgery.
Although we have a safe place to store your valuables, we strongly encourage you to leave valuable items at home, especially jewelry and cash.
We strive to keep the surgery schedule on time, but sometimes situations arise that we can’t control. If your procedure gets delayed, your nurse will inform you.
Yes, you may have your family stay with you in the pre-op area before you go to surgery. The number of visitors you can have will depend on the amount of space available, how busy the unit is, and the specific visitor policy at your hospital. The pre-op staff will inform you and your family when you arrive how many visitors you can have in the pre-op area.
Your doctor will give you after-care instructions, and your recovery nurse will review them with you before you go home. If you spend the night in the hospital, the in-house nursing staff will take care of your discharge instructions.
Pain control is very important to us during your stay. Every patient has a different reaction to pain; therefore, pain control is individualized for each patient. You will be taught how to use the "Pain Rating Scale", and your nurse will ask you several times after your surgery to tell us what type and level of pain you are experiencing. This will allow us to work with you to keep your discomfort under control.
You are always welcome to fill your prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy; however, your insurance company may not pay for the medication. We recommend you contact your insurance company and inquire about locations of pharmacies on your insurance plan.