We're glad you've chosen Uniontown Hospital's SameDay Surgery. SameDay Surgery at Uniontown Hospital is designed to enable you to be admitted, treated and discharged without having to stay overnight in the hospital. You can have your treatment completed with little interruption of your daily routine, and at a cost far below an in-hospital stay.
At Uniontown Hospital, we realize that you have individual needs and concerns about your surgery. Our staff has all the specialized training it takes to answer any questions that may arise. Our goal is to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
This guide is designed to answer many of the questions you may have and provide you with information and instructions that you must follow to prepare for your SameDay Surgery procedure.
SameDay Surgery at Uniontown Hospital performs more than 7,000 procedures a year. Patients are admitted in the morning and are released the same day to recuperate at home.
We've found this approach to surgery beneficial for both the patient and the physician. For the patient, there is little separation from family and friends, making it easier to get back into your daily routine. Also, your physician gets the most efficient use of hospital resources and equipment.
SameDay Surgery can also cost significantly less than the traditional inpatient stay. You can save hundreds of dollars on your surgical bill. Because the program is hospital-based, you can rest easy. Should an emergency arise, vital support services are only seconds away. Every day, a variety of surgeries are performed. Outpatient procedures regularly performed include general surgery, orthopedic, gynecology, urology, podiatry, endoscopic, eye, ear, nose and throat surgery.
Advanced skill and medical technology have made many procedures faster and less complicated. State-of-the-art equipment, such as video monitoring, fiberoptics and surgical microscopes, is designed for use in certain procedures to help the surgeon perform his specialty with greater accuracy and efficiency.
SameDay Surgery employs the latest anesthesia techniques to not only minimize pain, but also assist in quick recovery from the anesthetic. Your Anesthesiologist specializes in administering and monitoring anesthesia during your operation. Before surgery, he or she will talk with you and your Surgeon to determine the appropriate anesthetic for you.
So that all is ready when you arrive for surgery at Uniontown Hospital, it may be necessary for you to visit the hospital before admission. For some patients, the Pre-Admission Nurse may conduct your Pre-Admission interview over the phone. You will need to contact the Pre-Admission Office at (724) 430-5930 as soon as your procedure is scheduled.
On the day of your Pre-Admission visit, please report to the Information Desk in the main lobby at your scheduled appointment time. To keep your Pre-Admission visit as brief as possible, please follow these instructions:
- Bring your insurance cards and any necessary referrals.
- Bring a list of current medications.
- Bring diagnostic checklist (Lab Slip).
- Please dress casually and comfortably. Depending on your procedure, you may need to have any of the following:
- Laboratory tests
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
During your Pre-Admission visit, you will be interviewed by one of our Pre-Admission nurses and our anesthesiologists. Please be prepared to ask any questions, and listen to instructions that will be given to you. The better prepared you are, the more relaxed you'll be for your procedure.
What Not to Do Before Your Procedure
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. The morning of your surgery, you may brush your teeth, but do not swallow any water. If you eat or drink after midnight, your surgery will be cancelled.
- You may be instructed by the nurse to take some medications prior to surgery.
- Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your surgery.
- Do not wear makeup, hairpins, nail polish, jewelry or any body piercings to the hospital. Wigs, toupees, dentures, glasses and contact lenses may be worn to the hospital, but must be removed just prior to your surgery.
- Do not bring children; they tend to become tired and restless.
- Do not bring a purse, money or other valuables with you.
What to Do Before Your Procedure
- Notify your Surgeon if you develop a cold, sore throat, cough, fever or any other illness prior to your surgery.
- Bathe or shower the night before your surgery. Wear casual and comfortable clothing. We will provide you with a hospital gown, robe and slippers.
- Bring a list of the medications you are presently taking.
- You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home. Your procedure may be cancelled if you have not arranged this.
- Children can bring a favorite toy, stuffed animal or security blanket for added reassurance. Special formulas may also be brought in for use during the recovery period.
The afternoon before your procedure, a Registered Nurse will call and inform you of the arrival time for your procedure. He or she will also review instructions and answer any questions you may have.
When you come in for your procedure, park your car in the lot across from the main entrance of the hospital. Enter through the front entrance of the hospital and report to the SameDay Surgery Department at your scheduled time. Remember to bring your insurance cards with you.
Family and friends may wait in the SameDay Surgery reception area on the third floor. Since space is limited we ask that only one person come with you. Two adults may accompany children. A Recovery Room clerk will call the SameDay Surgery reception area to inform family and friends of your arrival in the Recovery Room.
One to two hours before surgery, you will be escorted to the Pre-Operative Area. Your clothes will be stored in a locker. One adult may stay with you in the Pre-Operative Area. Both parents may stay with a child.
A Registered Nurse will take your blood pressure, pulse and temperature and will complete any special preparations ordered by your doctor.
You will be visited by your Anesthesiologist. An IV (a catheter that goes into a vein to give you fluids during surgery) will be inserted by a nurse or a Nurse Anesthetist. An Operating Room Nurse and a Nurse Anesthetist will be with you in the operating room. They will stay with you during your procedure and will take you to the Recovery Room or back to the SameDay Surgery Department, depending on the type and amount of medications you have received.
Some patients go to the Recovery Room after their surgery. In the Recovery Room, you will be closely monitored by a Recovery Room Nurse. You will be encouraged to breathe deeply and cough. How long you stay in the Recovery Room depends on your condition and the type of surgery that you have had.
It is normal to feel drowsy after your surgery. It is normal to have some pain after surgery. Medication is available to help reduce your pain. When you are fully awake and your Anesthesiologist feels you are ready, you will be taken to the SameDay Surgery Department, where you will meet your friend or relative waiting for you.
You will be given instructions for your home care. Once you return home, relax and take it easy. Because the effects of your anesthesia or medications will not have completely worn off, we strongly suggest the following:
- Someone should stay at home with you the first 24 hours. If you have children or dependent elderly people living with you, make arrangements for someone else to take care of them for the day.
- Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours. Be especially careful climbing stairs or using sharp utensils.
- Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours.
- Do not make any important personal or legal decisions for 24 hours.
- Start with liquids and soft foods and, if tolerated, resume previous diet.
- If a child is having surgery, two adults should go home with the child. One can drive the car and the other can comfort the child. One person should not attempt to drive and care for the child at the same time.
Take it easy! Rest and relaxation are important to regain your strength. A SameDay Surgery Nurse will telephone 24 to 72 hours after your surgery to check on your progress. If you have any concerns about your medical condition after you arrive home (fever, chills, severe nausea or vomiting, bleeding or severe pain), please call your doctor. If you cannot reach your doctor, please come to the Emergency Room.
If you have any questions, please call us at (724) 430-5930.
