PRE-OPERATIVE AREA

After you’ve completed registration, a nurse will come to the waiting room for you. At that time, you’ll say goodbye to your friend or family. Upon entrance to the Pre-op/PACU you will be offered the chance to use the restroom before you begin changing. If you are a female of childbearing age, please note a urine pregnancy test will be required before the administration of any medications. The Pre-op/PACU area is kept cold, but you will be given warm blankets to help keep you comfortable during this time.

During your stay in the pre-operative area, a nurse will review your medical history, start an IV, obtain your vital signs and make sure you’re comfortable. Your anesthesia provider will also review your history, answer any questions, and explain which type of anesthesia will be used. Your surgeon will also be over to answer any last-minute questions. You will also meet the nurse that will be with you during your operation at this time.

Throughout your experience at Edgewood, you may notice we ask some of the same questions more than once. That’s on purpose – it’s how we double check everything for your safety. Your surgeon will also mark the correct site before surgery to make sure everyone is on the same page.

PRE-OPERATIVE AREA

After you’ve completed registration, a nurse will come to the waiting room for you. At that time, you’ll say goodbye to your friend or family. Upon entrance to the Pre-op/PACU you will be offered the chance to use the restroom before you begin changing. If you are a female of childbearing age, please note a urine pregnancy test will be required before the administration of any medications. The Pre-op/PACU area is kept cold, but you will be given warm blankets to help keep you comfortable during this time.

During your stay in the pre-operative area, a nurse will review your medical history, start an IV, obtain your vital signs and make sure you’re comfortable. Your anesthesia provider will also review your history, answer any questions, and explain which type of anesthesia will be used. Your surgeon will also be over to answer any last-minute questions. You will also meet the nurse that will be with you during your operation at this time.

Throughout your experience at Edgewood, you may notice we ask some of the same questions more than once. That’s on purpose – it’s how we double check everything for your safety. Your surgeon will also mark the correct site before surgery to make sure everyone is on the same page.

INPATIENT UNIT

After you’ve completed your course in the PACU, you will be transferred to the Inpatient Unit where you will be reunited with your loved one. The inpatient unit is a ten bed unit with private suites. Each room has a private bathroom and television for you and your family. We do have two larger rooms with sleeper sofas to accommodate those who desire to stay with their family. Light snacks and refreshments can be found at the nurse’s station.

INPATIENT EXPERIENCE

After you arrive to the inpatient unit, the nurses will come into your room to meet you. They will take vital signs, perform an assessment, and get you situated. The nurses will offer you snacks, drinks, and/or soup. The nurses will show you where your call bell is located. You will need to ring the call bell for any assistance. Those that need a little extra time will be laid back to rest for a while until they are more awake.

After a little bit of rest, nursing will get you up and dressed. You will generally work with therapy at this time if therapy is available.

If you are scheduled to go home the same day, after you have met all the surgeon’s criteria for discharge, you will be discharged home. You will have to be able to tolerate oral intake, pass therapy requirements, and pee prior to going home.

If you are scheduled to spend a night or two you will still get up and work with therapy the day of your surgery. After working with therapy, you will be able to rest in your room. Home medications should be given to the nurses so they can be entered into our computer system. Dinner will come from DiLorenzo’s around 5:00 pm. There are snacks, drinks, and soup available until that time. The following morning after your surgery, breakfast will be around 8:00 am. You will be seen by the surgeon or their physician assistant early in the morning. If you are to go home after one night you will be discharged after they complete their morning rounding. If you spend more than one night you will stay and complete more physical therapy. Lunch is served around 12:00 pm and then dinner again around 5:00 pm. You will be seen by the surgeon and/or physician assistant again the next morning and then you will be discharged home.

DISCHARGE HOME

You will be provided with discharge instructions prior to going home. These instructions will be physician specific. These will be reviewed with you in its entirety prior to discharge. They will review with you:

· How to change the dressing on your incision.

· Which medicines to take and when to take them.

· How to manage pain and discomfort.

· How to handle everyday activities, such as walking and showering.

· Physical therapy will teach you which exercises you should be doing and how often you should do them.