Preparing for Surgery

Your doctor will give you instructions to prepare for the surgery. The information below should not replace your doctor’s instructions, but it can prepare you for your hospital visit/stay.

Pre-Admission Testing
Pre-Admission Call from Mon Health Medical Center
Day Before Surgery – Plan Ahead
Where To Go and What to Bring for Registration
What To Expect Immediately Before and After Surgery
Information for Friends and Family and Caregivers
Going Home

Pre-Admission Testing

Not all patients require pre-admission testing. Your doctor will notify you if your procedure requires pre-admission testing. If you have pre-admission questions please call: 304-329-1400 extension 3500.

Pre Admission Call from Preston Memorial Hospital

Orthopedic patients: Your doctor’s instructions will tell you when to expect a phone call from the pre-admission nurse, and when to arrive at the hospital for your procedure.

All other surgical patients: A Preston Memorial Hospital nurse will call you the day before your surgery or procedure. If your surgery is scheduled on a Monday, you will be called on Friday. The nurse will tell you:

• What time to arrive at Preston Memorial Hospital.
• When (what time) you should stop eating or drinking.

All Patients:
The pre-admission nurse will ask you for some health information, such as a history of your past surgeries, as well as your medications.

It is helpful to have a list of your medications available for this phone call. Include over-the-counter drugs that you routinely take. It might be easier to gather the medicine containers and read the labels to the nurse.

If you have any pre-admission questions, please call: 304-329-1400 extension 3500.

If you wish to cancel your procedure, contact your doctor's office or you may call 304-329-1400 extension 3500. If it is after hours, you may call Preston Memorial Hospital's house supervisor at 304-329-1400 extension 4190.

The Day Before Surgery – Plan Ahead

We want your visit with us to flow as quickly and smoothly as possible. Please assist us by following these instructions:

• NO solid food, infant formula, milk products or alcohol after midnight before your surgery, unless you are otherwise instructed by your doctor or the pre-admission nurse.
• NO chewing gum or tobacco use after midnight before your surgery.
• DO NOT wear makeup, nail polish, perfume, hairpins or jewelry on the day of your surgery. This includes piercing jewelry.
• If you wear glasses, contact lenses, dentures or hearing aids, remember to bring protective cases.
• Leave ALL valuables at home.

There are some documents you need to bring to the hospital. See below Where To Go and What to Bring for Registration.

For outpatients (going home the same day): Arrange to have an adult (over the age of 18) to:

• Wait for you on the hospital campus for the ENTIRE duration of your stay.
• Drive you home. (You may use public transportation as long as an adult accompanies you.) Failure to comply may cause your procedure to be cancelled.
• Stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.

For inpatients (staying at the hospital overnight): Arrange to have an adult (over the age of 18) to accompany you home when you are discharged from the hospital.

See below Going Home for more information about being discharged from the hospital.

Where To Go and What to Bring for Registration

Please review your doctor's instructions before you come to the hospital for your surgery. Your pre-admission call will reinforce this information. If you have registration questions, please call in advance: 304-329-1400.

The following items/documents are important to bring with you:

• Physician order
• Insurance Cards
• Photo Identification
• Copays and Deductibles
• Living Will/Medical Power of Attorney (also known as “Advance Directive”) if it is not already on file.
• Medicare/Medicaid Card (if applicable)
• List of medications

Even if you stay in the hospital overnight, you may NOT be considered an “inpatient.” Make sure you understand if you are a hospital inpatient or outpatient.

Please check in at the front desk when you arrive at Preston Memorial Hospital. There will be magazines and other amenities in the lobby to provide a comfortable wait.

You will be taken to a private room where the registration process will begin. Registration staff will gather information such as your address, birth date, telephone number, Social Security number, insurance, etc. You will also be issued an ID bracelet. One family member/friend/caregiver is permitted to be with you during the registration process.

We strive for patient privacy. Each patient has the option to have his or her name listed in the hospital information directory. If you choose not to list your name, we will turn away flowers, visitors who don’t know your room number and phone calls (including family members.)

What To Expect Immediately Before and After Surgery

Pre-Surgery
Before your surgery, you will undergo the admission phase of your stay. A nurse will collect your vital signs, such as temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure. After that, you will be brought to a prep room where you will be provided with appropriate hospital clothing. Before you are taken to the operating room, a member of our anesthesia team and your surgeon will check in to review the details of your surgery.

After your preparation is complete and your questions have been answered, you will be transported to your procedure room. Once you arrive, the staff will begin your final surgical prep.

Post-Surgery
When your surgery is complete, you will be transferred to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or “recovery room” for continuous monitoring. Once you are fully awake and alert, you will receive instructions on what needs to happen until you may be discharged.

When you are discharged from the hospital, make sure that you understand the post-surgical instructions given to you by your physician and nursing staff. We can coordinate post-surgical instructions with a caregiver whom you designate, such as a family member or friend, to assist you once you get home.

Information for Friends and Family and Caregivers

Preston Memorial Hospital has comfortable waiting rooms for family, friends and/or caregivers. Different procedures can take different amounts of time. The doctor will usually give waiting family/friends/caregivers an appropriate length of time for the procedure. The staff member or volunteer at the desk can answer questions.

Going Home

After your physician has authorized your discharge, a member of the nursing staff will assist you with the discharge procedure.

There must be an adult (over the age of 18) to:

• Drive you home. You may use public transportation, as long as an adult accompanies you.
• Stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure and/or discharge.

When you return home from the hospital, we hope you will tell us how well we met your expectations. You will receive a questionnaire from the hospital soon after your discharge. We truly appreciate your completing it and returning it to us. Your input will help us make improvements so that we may continue to provide the best possible care.