Admissions to a hospital from a surgery center happen occasionally. In certain circumstances, your physician or anesthesiologist may determine that you need to be transferred to a hospital for additional post operative care.

If you are in serious pain, or exhibit warning symptoms described in your discharge instructions, please call your physician, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. We require that an adult be present with the patient for 24 hours post-surgery at home.

Your surgeon may have specific recommendations for your post operative diet. We generally suggest that you eat lightly after surgery, and strongly encourage you to drink plenty of fluids. You should avoid alcoholic beverages.

Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Showering Instructions We take every precaution and use proven practices to help prevent infection, and YOU are an important part of the process.  Beginning two days prior to your surgery date, your doctor needs you to shower with a special soap to help prepare your skin for surgery.  The soap helps to eliminate as many germs as possible to help prevent surgical-site infection. Please follow the instructions below to clean your skin beginning two days prior to your surgery date and the morning of your procedure prior to coming to the surgical facility.  You will continue to use this soap after surgery as well, to keep your skin and your incision clean.  Use the special soap, CHG (also called Hibiclens), for your skin preparation process.  Please buy the 8 oz. bottle as you will be using this for 2 weeks after your surgery. This product should not be used if you are allergic to Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG). Shower Schedule (No baths):

• Two days prior to surgery, shower from neck to feet.
• On the night before surgery, shower from neck to feet.
• On the morning of surgery, shower from neck to feet.
• Every other day after you go home, until the bottle is gone.

  Showering Steps:

1. In the shower rinse your body thoroughly with water. Wash your hair as usual with your normal shampoo.
2. Rinse hair and body thoroughly to remove shampoo residue.
3. Using the shower schedule shown above, apply at least 2 tablespoons (1oz) of the CHG soap to the area of surgery. Lather over entire body, except DO NOT USE CHG on your hair or face; near the eyes, ears or genitals to avoid permanent injury to those areas. (If using the sponges remove the sponge from the bristles and use one per shower.)
4. Do not use a cotton cloth to apply the CHG soap. The cotton fibers will absorb the CHG, rendering the soap ineffective.  Instead, use a new bath scrunchie or your hands for application.
5. Turn the water off to prevent rinsing off the soap too soon. Wash the body gently for five minutes.  Do not scrub the skin too hard.
6. Wash thoroughly with the CHG, paying special attention to the area where the surgery or procedure will be done. Do not wash with regular soap after the CHG is used.
7. Turn the water back on and rinse the body thoroughly.
8. Pat dry with a clean, soft towel. If possible allow the area of the surgical procedure to air dry.
9. CHG soap can be purchased at most large pharmacies.

The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our post operative call at home. During your stay at the facility, you will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain using the Wong Baker Pain Scale. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable – choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc. Prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. Remember that information on pain management gives you the appropriate expectations and hence a smoother, more comfortable recovery. It is important to follow instructions regarding your post operative pain medication closely.  Many pain medications take 20 to 30 minutes to begin to work.  For best results, the pain medication should be taken before the pain becomes too strong.

We are not allowing visitors or family members at this time. After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area. A nurse will monitor your vital signs and make sure you are comfortable as the anesthesia begins to wear off. We require that an adult be present with the patient for 24 hours post-surgery at home.

No. Patients will not be allowed to drive after a procedure and must make necessary transportation arrangements which includes being accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Most patients should continue their usual medications after surgery. Patients who have diabetes and those patients on blood thinners may require some adjustment of their medications. These instructions will be clarified with you before you leave the facility. If you have any questions, please call your surgeon or primary care physician.

The amount of recovery time varies from patient to patient. After your procedure, a nurse will monitor your vital signs and make sure you are alert and stable. You will be sent home as soon as your health care team feels it is safe to discharge you from the facility.