As a Houston Orthopedic ASC surgery patient, you will receive excellent health care from a highly qualified team of professionals. We strive to protect your dignity during surgery and during your stay at HOSC. Because you may be anxious about your forthcoming surgery, we hope this information will assist you through the surgical process.
You may receive two calls from our Center. One will be from our business office staff to discuss your insurance and/or payment options and another from our clinical personnel to review your health status, provide your pre-operative instructions and identify any special needs that you may have. You may be asked to stop by our center to be evaluated or to visit a lab for necessary tests. If you have a Living Will, Advanced Directives or have appointed Medical Power of Attorney, you must inform our personnel and bring the form(s) with you on the day of your surgery.
All of our personnel will be available to either answer your questions or find out the answers for you. If you have not heard from us a few days before your scheduled procedure, please call us. For a specific question, comment or complaint, please do not hesitate to contact our Director.
Prompt Attention, Pleasant Setting
Upon arrival you will receive prompt attention in an atmosphere that is pleasing to patients and family members. It is important to arrive in a timely manner and follow all instructions provided by our personnel. If, at any time you do not understand what is happening, please feel free to ask. It is important to arrive in a timely manner and follow all instructions provided by our personnel. If, at any time you do not understand what is happening, please feel free to ask.
Important Notes About Your Visit
Always wear something comfortable and easy to remove. Do not wear jewelry, if you must wear your contacts; bring a lens box and your glasses. You must have a responsible, adult support person with you to drive you home and help care for you at least for the first 12 to 24 hours. Please remember that space is limited and be aware that all patients will have others with them.
Follow All Directions from Our Staff
Specifically: Medications should be taken only as instructed. If you are taking medications that include a blood thinner, aspirin or herbal supplements, you must discuss this with your surgeon prior to surgery. If you have not, please call us. Be sure to bring all of your medications in their original containers on the day of your surgery.
Bathe or shower the night before or the morning of surgery to minimize the risk of infection. Do not apply lotions or deodorants before your surgery. On the morning of surgery, you may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
You should refrain from smoking at least after midnight the night before surgery.
If you are or could possibly be pregnant, please notify us immediately upon arrival to the Center. Several medications and possible use of radiation for imaging purposes may cause harm to a developing fetus.
Discharge: Following your procedure, HOSC nursing staff will provide your discharge instructions and will review those instructions with you and others designated by you. You should take this opportunity to ask any questions that you have regarding your post discharge and recovery care.
You must have a responsible adult to stay with you after surgery and possibly including the night following.
Transportation: For the public’s safety as well as your own, HOSC requires you to have someone to drive you home after surgery. Some procedures, anesthesia and medications may impair your ability to drive safely for a period of time following surgery. If you do not have a ride, your appointment will be canceled and you will be referred to your physician’s office for rescheduling.
Preparing for Surgery
Arrange for an adult to drive you home and someone to be with you. For your own safety and protection, you will not be allowed to drive after surgery when any sedation, nerve block or general anesthetic has been administered.
Be sure your insurance affairs are in order. Call your insurance provider as soon as your procedure is scheduled. Please make sure you have a copy of insurance card(s). Our staff will need to verify and make a copy of the card(s) when you check-in on the day of your surgery.
Notify your physician if you think you may be pregnant. Anesthesia and medications may be harmful to your developing baby.
Day Before surgery
Follow the EAT or DRINK limitations. Your physician or a surgery center staff member will provide you instructions for the limitations of food and drink your particular procedure will require. Please follow these instructions. Your surgery may be cancelled if you do not follow the required food and drink limitations. In most cases you can eat your usual evening meal, and may eat and drink until midnight. You are not to eat or drink anything after midnight. This is called "NPO." You are also not to chew gum, have any hard candy or throat lozenges. You may receive special instructions to take medications. If so, this must be done with a SIP of water.
Follow the Medications requirements. During your preoperative phone call, a nurse will review the medications you are currently taking. You will be instructed at that time as to which medicines you should take and how to take them on the day of your procedure.
What to expect
A team member will contact you prior to your visit. This will ensure that your pre-operative instructions and tests are complete and your financial matters are addressed before surgery.
Our staff will keep your family and friends informed of your progress. We understand the anxiety family and friends will have while you are having your procedure. We will make every effort to keep them informed of your progress and when they will be able to re-join you after the procedure.
We will handle your financial matters properly and professionally. We will work with your insurance company to expedite your claim for the charges from your procedure. Please remember that your physician fees and anesthesia fees are separate from the surgery center fees.
Our staff will provide you high quality, professional service. We believe that providing high quality care and service consistently requires a constant focus on improving the processes that we use every day. Houston Orthopedic Surgery Center continuously learns from and shares with other surgery centers, so that every day we can give excellence in caring for our patients.