Patient Information | Endoscopy Services | Evendale Medical Center at Westside

PATIENT INFORMATION - PREPARING FOR SURGERY

Your physician will discuss your surgery with you during your office visit. Your surgical procedure will be scheduled at that time. Please be sure to tell your doctor about any existing medical conditions and any medication that you are currently taking.

After your surgery has been scheduled with your physician, the office will give your information to our scheduling coordinator. You will then receive a phone call from a member of our nursing staff to obtain a basic health history and to receive our preoperative instructions. You may also call us at 513-454-2515 to receive your instructions. It is very important that you speak with someone from the Center prior to your surgery.

A member of our business office staff will contact your insurance company to verify benefits and eligibility. You may be contacted by a member of our business office staff regarding your insurance coverage and your portion of the bill due on the date of service. They will discuss the fee for your surgery, as well as your copayment, coinsurance, or deductible that may be payable by you. It is suggested that you contact your insurance company as well to verify your benefits.

If you have had any preoperative tests or a history and physical performed within 30 days prior to surgery, please ask your physician to fax or send the reports to us (Attn: Pre-Op Call Nurse) prior to the date of your surgery. Our fax number is 513-454-2500.

Before surgery, you should follow these important safety rules which are critical to your well being. If you do not follow these guidelines, you operation may have to be delayed or cancelled.

  • Make arrangements for a responsbile adult, over the age of 18, to drive you home after surgery.
  • It is our policy that the responsible adult remain in the building for the duration of your surgery.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery unless your doctor or anesthesiologist instructs otherwise. This includes foods, liquids, water, candy, gum and breath mints.
  • If guardianship or a power of attorney is in effect, you must provide it to the center in advance or on the day of your surgery.
  • Do not smoke or use any tobacco products after midnight the night before your surgery.
  • Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before or after your surgery.
  • You may brush your teeth or rinse your mouth the day of surgery, provided nothing is swallowed.
  • Medications
    • If you take insulin or any other routine medication, your doctor or anesthesiologist will tell you how to take your medication the day of surgery.
    • If you take a blood thinner (such as Courmadin, aspirin, Plavix or a generic equivalent), please notify your surgeon when scheduling your surgery. Insufficient notification could cause rescheduling of your surgery.
    • You may take your normal heart, blood pressure, breathing, or seizure medication the morning of surgery with a small sip of water.

Failure to follow these instructions can cause serious complications.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your care, please discuss them with the nurse who calls for your preoperative interview. In addition, feel free to call the center at 513-454-2222.

THE DAY OF SURGERY

If you are unable to keep your appointment or you are delayed, please contact the center immediately at 513-454-2222.

  • All jewelry should be removed prior to surgery. Therefore, it is best to leave all jewelry and other valuables at home or with a family member.
  • Bring your driver's license or identification card and health insurance cards with you. Depending on your insurace, you may also be asked to pay your copay, coinsurance, and/or deductible.
  • Choose low-heeled shoes and loose, comfortable clothing which is easy to put on, take off and that can be easily folded. Avoid garments that pull over your head. Sleeves and pant legs should be loose enough to fit over bandages if necessary.
  • Remove all make-up and your contact lenses, if you wear them.
  • If applicable, bring the following items with you:
    • A protective case for contact lenses or eyeglasses
    • Dentures
    • Hearing aid/s
    • Crutches or walker (ask your doctor if you will need)

During your preoperative interview, you will be instructed about what time to arrive at the Center. Please check in at the front desk upon arrival to register. 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. Until you are ready to be discharged, your valuables will be placed in a secured locker or given to the person who has accompanied you to the Center. It is our policy that a responsible adult remain in the building for the duration of your surgery. Both your anesthesiologist and surgeon will visit with you prior to surgery. Depending on the type of surgical procedure and other factors, you may walk or ride into the operating room for your surgery. Anesthesia will be administered there.

After your surgery is completed, you will be moved to a recovery area until you are ready to go home or admitted for an overnight stay. Here you will be offered a light snack or something to drink (please do not bring food from home).

Children must not be left unattended in the waiting room and will not be permitted in restricted areas for their own safety and the safety of our patients. If you choose to bring children along to the Center, please be sure that they have adequate supervision.

AFTER YOU LEAVE THE CENTER

In most cases, depending on your procedure, you will be ready to leave the Outpatient Center 1-2 hours following completion of your surgery. Prior to discharge from the center, you will be given specific instructions from your physician regarding your postoperative care.

For your comfort and safety, we remind you of the following:

  • Have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • Take it easy until your physician says you can return to your normal routine.
  • It is natural to experience some discomfort in the area of the operation. You may also experience some drowsiness or dizziness depending on the type of anesthesia you receive or on the amount of pain medication you are taking at home.
  • Follow your physician's instructions regarding diet, rest and medication.
  • Do not drive, operate heavy machinery or power tools, cook, drink alcoholic beverages, make legal decisions, or take any medications not prescribed by your physician for at least 24 hours after your surgery.
  • Contact your physician if you feel you are having problems after surgery. If you cannot contact your doctor but feel your concerns warrant a doctor's attention, call or go to the emergency room closest to you.
  • It is very important to remember -you must have an adult, over the age of 18, to drive you home after the surgery.

The day after surgery, a member of the Center staff will call to see how you are doing. If your surgery is on a Friday, you will be contacted on Monday. If we can't reach you by phone, a letter will be mailed to your home address. You may contact us during business hours at 513-454-2222.

ABOUT YOUR BILL

If you have given complete and accurate insurance information to your surgeon's office, our business office staff will call your insurance company prior to surgery to verify your medical benefits for our facility charge. This covers most supplies and medications, equipment, personnel, and the use of the operating recovery rooms. We will obtain all information regarding your coverage from your insurance carrier. You will be asked to pay any co-pays or past due balances at registration unless other arrangements have been made prior to your arrival.

If you have no insurance or if your insurance does not cover the surgery to be performed, you will need to pay the Center facility fee prior to or on the day of the surgery. Special prior financial arrangements can be made with our business office.

For your convenience, we accept cash, cashiers checks, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover and personal checks.

You may receive a statement of a balance due from our billing office for any deductible, coinsurance or copayment that has not been satisfied. Any questions regarding this statement should be directed to our billing department at 513-247-8813.

In addition to our bill for the facility fee, you may receive separate bills for the following services:

  • Your physician or surgeon
  • Anesthesia, if you received general anesthesia or it was necessary for a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist to be available for your procedure
  • Laboratory tests, if they were required by your physician
  • Radiology imaging before or during your surgery
  • Pathology, if tissues or specimens were removed during surgery

Any questions regarding these services should be directed to the billing offices of the appropriate provider.

Our business office staff can answer any questions you may have regarding insurance coverage or billing practices prior to your procedures if you call 513-454-2222. If you have any questions regarding your bill after your procedure, please contact our billing department at 513-247-8813.

SURGERY FOR CHILDREN

The Evendale Medical Center was designed to accommodate the special needs of our pediatric patients. The Center has highly qualified nursing staff and the anesthesia team has extensive training and experience with children. You may schedule a tour at the Center and ask any questions you may have prior to your child's procedure.

We encourage children to bring a favorite toy or blanket with them. A parent or guardian is required to stay with the child during the preoperative and postoperative processes and must remain in the building during the child's surgical procedure. Parents of small children should bring childcare items such as diapers, bottles, milk and/or formula, and extra underclothes. Legal guardians must bring proof of guardianship.

PARTICIPATING IN OUR PATIENT SURVEY

Before you leave the Center, you may receive a copy of our Patient Satisfaction Survey. Your comments and suggestions are very important to us and will help us to improve the service we provide to our future patients and their families. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope.



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