- The night before your surgery, do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- If you have been instructed by our nurse to take your morning medications, take them with only a sip of water.
- Refrain from smoking for 12 hours prior to your procedure.
- Bathe or shower the night before or early in the morning to minimize the risk of infection.
- On the day of surgery, dress for comfort and security. Wear loose fitting clothing that is easily removed and foldable. Wear shoes that are easy to put on and don’t have heels. Do not wear contact lenses.
- Bring your glasses, hearing aids and dentures with storage cases.
- Leave valuables and money at home.
- Bring a list of any medications or supplements (or their containers) you are taking.
- Bring your health insurance card and any required payment.
- Bring a picture ID. If your ID does not include your address, bring another proof of your physical address, such as a current utility bill. A P.O. box is not sufficient.
- Bring all pre-surgery documents and consents you have completed.
At your physician’s office, you will complete a medical history and sign your physician’s informed consent. (We will also ask you to sign surgical and anesthesia consents on your day of surgery.) Leading up to your day of surgery, if you continue to have questions about your procedure, please call your physician. Notify your physician prior to your surgery if you experience any change in your physical condition, such as a cold, cough or fever.
For questions about the surgery center, please ask the nurse from Physicians Adventist Surgery Center who calls before your surgery. Our nurse will call at least one day prior to your surgery to confirm your time for arrival, and ask you about your medical history, anesthesia experiences and any medications and supplements you may be taking. Please inform our nurse if there is a possibility you are pregnant. If you have not received our call by 4:00 PM the day before your surgery, please call 818.863.4225.
Prior to your surgery, our insurance specialist will verify your health insurance benefits. For questions about billing matters, please call our billing specialist.
In planning for your day of surgery, you must arrange to have a responsible adult accompany you to the center, drive you home after surgery and stay with you for the first 24 hours. During your procedure, your companion may remain in the waiting room to receive updates about your progress and your surgeon’s post-surgery report. (For pediatric patients, both parents may remain with their child until surgery.)
You are required to have a responsible adult drive you home after discharge, since you will still be affected by the anesthesia. You will not be permitted to drive yourself home. If you will be using public transport, you must have a responsible adult travel home with you after your discharge—do not rely on the transport driver. Finally, you must have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24 hours at home to monitor your recovery. If this is a problem, tell our nurse when she calls.
