Outpatient Surgery - Pre-Testing
Instructions & Information for Procedures / Tests
Please Note - What you see here is for information purposes only. While physicians have been consulted on this information, your specific condition may require additional instructions. ALWAYS consult with your physician to obtain specific information about the procedure or the instructions for your procedure.
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Procedure Name: Outpatient Surgery - Pre-Testing
Department Responsible for performing Procedure:
Surgical Services
Department Contact Information:
770-991-8495
Where to Report:
Outpatient surgery patients should report to the Surgery Center Registration
for both pre-testing and surgery. Please park in the front parking lot
near the Education Entrance and enter through the Education Entrance.
The Surgery Center will be to your left. If you are coming in after 4:30
p.m. Monday-Friday or on a weekend report to the Main admissions department,
entering through the Main Entrance.
What to Bring:
- Physician Order
- Any forms from your physician relating to this visit
- Your insurance / Medicaid / Medicare card
- Driver's License / Photo Identification
- List of current medications along with the dosages and times taken, including
over-the-counter drugs and herbals
- Please check with your insurance carrier for any authorization requirements.
Patient Instructions:
- Make proper arrangements to have another responsible adult accompany
you to the hospital and drive you back home. You must not drive a vehicle
for 24 hours after anesthesia.
- Do not take any food or fluids (not even water or coffee) after midnight
the night before your surgery. You may brush your teeth, just don't swallow
any water. A small sip of water is permitted in order to take any pre-operative
medications ordered by your surgeon or anesthesiologist. If you take medication
for your blood pressure you may take it with a sip of water the morning
of surgery.
- Notify your surgeon of any changes in your physical condition, such as
cold, fever or sore throat.
- Do not wear any makeup, nail polish, or jewelry to the hospital. If you
have artificial nails you must remove polish from each index finger. Wear
loose comfortable clothing. Do not bring valuables (money, credit cards,
jewelry) with you.
- If you wear contact lens or eye glasses, please bring a case with you
to protect them during surgery.
- After your operation you should not ingest any alcohol or make any important
business or personal decisions for at least 24 hours.
- Parent or legal guardian must accompany children under the age of 18.
- Please follow any other specific instructions given to you by your surgeon.
- Please read the Procedure Information for additional instructions and
information.
Procedure Information:
Your physician's office will schedule an appointment for your pre-testing
at the time they schedule your surgery. During this time you will be registered,
vital signs and medical history are taken and the patient meets with a
member of our anesthesia team. Lab work, chest x-rays and an EKG may be
done if ordered by your physician. Pre-testing should be done 3-7 days
prior to your surgery, especially if you have pre-existing medical problems.
If the physician's office has not scheduled your pre-testing appointment,
please call (770) 991-8144 to schedule your own. Unscheduled or walk-in
pre-testing patients are taken as space is available. Surgical pre-assessment
appointments are from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
Additional Information:
Registration at the hospital will go more smoothly if you call the phone
number on your insurance card, to arrange any necessary pre-certification,
as soon as you are scheduled for surgery. A parent or legal guardian must
accompany any children under the age of 18. To schedule or change a pre-testing
appointment, please call
770-991-8144. Unscheduled or "walk-in" patients are seen, as space is available.
Confirmation of surgery time is available at
770-991-8495 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the day before surgery (Monday-Friday). We
attempt to call all patients, but you may also call us. Please allow 2
hours for the pre-testing process. It includes: (1) Hospital registration;
(2) Any blood work, EKG, or X-rays ordered by your physician; (3) Interviews
with our pre-testing nurse; (4) Interview with a member of the Anesthesia
Department.
Specific Form(s) to remember:
Pre-operative Instruction Form
