The Medical Center at Bowling Green Ambulatory Services

Preadmission Testing Visit

Your surgeon’s office will schedule your Preadmission Testing Visit or Telephone Call prior to your surgery date.

We will obtain required information and perform necessary testing at this time to prepare you for your upcoming surgery. To help this process move more quickly and smoothly for you, please review the following guidelines.

• Please allow from 1-3 hours for your Preadmission Testing visit.
• Please do not schedule other appointments close to this time.
• Bring a list of current medications with dosage you are taking including over-the-counter herbs/vitamins.
• Bring a list of your allergies.
• Bring a list of past surgeries and hospitalizations.
  Download form for medications, allergies and surgeries/hospitalizations
• Bring your insurance card and a photo ID.
• You will meet with the pre-op teaching nurse to review your medical, surgical and anesthesia history. You will also meet with a member of the anesthesia team. (Depending on the type of surgery, you may have other specialties to visit you during this time.)
• Lab studies, EKG and Chest X-Ray will be completed if necessary.
• Patients under 18 must have representation by a parent or legal guardian (proof of legal guardianship must be provided if applicable.)
• Patients are taken by appointment first. Patients without appointments will be worked into schedule with as minimal wait as possible.

Preadmission Testing Telephone Call Appointment

• If you are scheduled for a Preadmission Testing Telephone Call, a Nurse will call you within 2 hours of the scheduled time to review your medications and medical history and give you pre-op instructions. Most patients will have their lab work, EKG or Chest X-ray done on the day of surgery.

All Patients

• Please notify your surgeon if you take anti-inflammatory medications (Ibuprofen, Aleve), arthritis medications, weight loss medications, Phentermine or other stimulants, aspirin or blood thinners (Coumadin, Plavix, Ticlid, Pletal, Eliquis, Effecent, Brilinta, Xarelto), ADHD medications or drug addiction treatment medications (suboxone, Naloxone, Naltreoxe) as they may want you to stop these medications.

• We recommend discontinuing vitamin/herbal supplements 2 weeks prior to your surgery. Please notify your physician if these were prescribed.

Before Surgery

• Your insurance company may or may not require precertification. It is recommended that you call your insurance company to determine this.

To make your surgical experience as pleasant and uncomplicated as possible, please follow these basic instructions carefully:

• Follow instructions given to you by your Surgeon’s office or the Preadmission Nurse on when to last eat and drink before surgery.
• You may brush your teeth and gargle on the morning of surgery. Do not chew gum or mints.
• If you smoke, do not do so after midnight. No alcoholic beverages 24 hours before surgery.
• Notify your physician if you develop any signs of cold, flu or other illness before the date of surgery.
• Please leave your valuables and jewelry, including wedding band, at home.
• If you wear contacts or glasses, please bring a case for their safe-keeping.
• Wear casual, loose fitting and comfortable clothing. A gown will be provided.
• Remove make-up and nail polish before you arrive for surgery.
• A consent form must be signed before any medication is given. A parent or guardian must sign for minors.
• To avoid delays or possible cancellation of your surgery, please keep your scheduled Preadmission Testing appointment or Preadmission Telephone Call appointment.
• When surgery begins, your family will be directed to the Ambulatory Surgery Lobby. Following your surgery, your surgeon will talk to them in a private consultation room or your designated contact will receive a phone c all from the surgeon.
• Children having surgery may bring a favorite toy or book.

Outpatients Only

• Arrange for an adult to accompany you to Ambulatory surgery and drive you home. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home after anesthesia or sedation or be released to a taxi.
• If you have a general anesthetic, you must have an adult at home with you the first 24 hours after surgery, though we strongly recommend ALL patients have an adult at home with them the first 24 hours after surgery.

Preparation for Admission to Hospital After Surgery

If your surgeon has said that you will remain in the hospital after surgery:

• Pack an overnight bag with a small amount of personal items.
• Have your family member keep these items in the car until they receive your room number.
• You will be assigned a room while you are in the PACU (recovery room). When you are transferred to your room, the PACU staff will contact your family with the room number and directions on how to get that area.

Cancellations

Surgery may be canceled when:

• Food and drink guidelines are not followed.
• No responsible adult is available to drive you home or stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery.
• There are unexpected changes in your medical condition.
• You arrive late on the day of your surgery.

If you have any questions about your procedure or how to comply with your instructions, please don’t hesitate to ask us, or call 270-745-1880 between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday.

You will have received the best possible care during your surgery stay. Part of the continuation of that quality care is evaluation after surgery. You will be taken to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit for observation. You will be monitored until you are alert and stable. Then you will be taken to the Ambulatory transitional area for discharge instructions and completion of your recovery period.

It is possible that your surgeon could require you to stay overnight if your condition worsens.

When discharge criteria are met, you will be released to go home. Upon discharge, you will be escorted to the departure area. The individual you have arranged to drive you home may pick you up at this location.

Please read and follow the instructions listed below:

1. The medicine which was used to put you to sleep will be active in the body for the next 24 hours, so you may feel tired and/or sleepy. This feeling will slowly wear off. Because the medicine is still in your system, for the next 24 hours you should not:
   • Drive a car or operate hazardous machinery.
   • Drink any alcoholic drinks (not even beer.)
   • Make any important decisions, such as signing papers.
2. You may have some pain. A prescription for pain may be given by the physician. This should be taken as directed, and if it does not improve your pain, contact your physician.
3. Unless otherwise instructed, you may eat anything, but it is better to start with liquids, such as soft drinks, then soup and crackers, and gradually work up to solid foods.
4. On the day of your surgery, you will receive specific written instructions regarding your post-operative home care.
5. You may expect a phone call from the Ambulatory Surgery nursing staff the night following surgery to check on your condition and to answer any questions.
6. You will be given complete instructions on what to do in the unlikely event that complications occur.

Do not take any medications unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your physician.

If you have any questions about your procedure or how to comply with your instructions, please don’t hesitate to ask us, or call 270-745-1880 between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday.