Day of Surgery
Preparing for Surgery
Your doctor will discuss your operation or procedure with you. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking and ask if you should take them on the day of your procedure.
You will receive a phone call from a member of the Apple Hill Surgical Center nursing staff one to three weeks before your procedure. The nurse will assess your health status and give you instructions to prepare for your procedure. The assessment will take about 15-20 minutes. If you are not going to be home, you may contact the Center for your instructions at (717) 741-8631 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will be called again two to four business days before your procedure and will be given your arrival time during that call.
It is important for you to receive your preoperative instructions. Your procedure could be cancelled if we are unable to reach you for your instructions.
If a change occurs in your physical condition prior to surgery, such as a cold, rash, sore throat, cough, fever, or upset stomach, notify your physician. The doctor may wish to reschedule.
If you are having sedation, you MUST make arrangements for someone to drive you home following your procedure. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND someone stay with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure. Patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A waiting room is available for the comfort of your escort, and there is a small snack shop in the lower level serving breakfast and lunch. If you are unable to arrange for an escort, please inform us as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to reschedule.
Day of Surgery
You should bring the following with you:
You should wear loose, comfortable clothing and low-heeled shoes so it is easier to dress following your procedure.
Once you have registered, a nurse will escort you into the preoperative area, where your pulse, temperature, respiration, and blood pressure will be taken. You will be asked to change into a gown provided by the Center. Your clothes will be placed in a secured locker until you are ready to be discharged. Warm blankets will be provided for your personal comfort. Soothing aromatherapy clips are available, upon request, to enhance your body, mind and spirit. For those patients receiving sedation, an I.V. will be started.
The anesthesiologist and your doctor will see you prior to your procedure. Just before going into the operating room, you may be asked to remove your contact lenses and any other prosthesis. Dentures and partial plates may need to be removed prior to surgery. These will be labeled, placed in your locker, and returned to you upon your discharge. You will be in the preoperative area for about one hour prior to your procedure.
After your procedure, you will be taken into the recovery area and/or the patient lounge, where your escort will be allowed to stay with you. Because space is limited, and for other patients’ privacy, we allow only one escort at a time in the patient lounge.
Coffee, juice, soda, and crackers are provided for patients in the patient lounge. We ask that you please do not bring food from home.
You may need to be admitted to the hospital if:
- More extensive surgery was/is necessary.
- Complications arose due to the anesthesia.
- You experience more pain than expected.
For Your Safety
Prior to proceeding to the operating/procedure room the following will occur:
- You will be asked numerous times to verify your name, date of birth, surgeon and procedure. Any discrepancies will be corrected.
- Your surgeon will visit you to mark the surgical site, if applicable, with a permanent marker.
- You are expected to be an active participant in the marking. You should feel comfortable voicing your opinion about discrepancies during the process.
- If there are multiple surgical sites, ALL areas should be marked.
Surgery for Children
Children are encouraged to bring a favorite toy or blanket with them. Parent(s) or legal guardians are required to stay with the child while in the preoperative area and the postoperative patient lounge. It will be necessary for parents to remain in the building while surgery is in progress. Should your child be in diapers and/or utilize a pacifier, bottle, or sipper cup, please bring them along to the Center.
If your child is under the age of 18, the Pennsylvania Department of Health requires that your pediatrician or family doctor give permission for the surgery to be performed in the outpatient setting. The child’s surgeon is responsible for obtaining this permission.
