How can you prepare for your surgery?

Pre-admission Phone Call
One of our registered nurses will call you before your surgery. If your surgery takes place on Monday, we will call you by Friday. If you do not hear from us by 3 p.m. the day before your surgery, please call us. We are available at (320) 229-4997 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please let us know if you have any special requests. We will work closely with you to meet your needs.

Food and Drink Guidelines
Please follow the instructions below for eating and drinking before surgery. It will prevent delays, and possibly even cancellation, of your surgery.

What will happen the day of surgery?

Please make every effort to arrive at your scheduled time at the CentraCare Surgery Center. We are located at the CentraCare Health Plaza, just off of Highway 15 on County Road 120. We are located at the south end of the CentraCare Health Plaza.

Directions to CentraCare Health Plaza

The CentraCare Surgery Center has its own entrance and heated, covered drive-through so your driver can conveniently drop you off at the front door. You may check in at the reception desk. For your health and the health of our patients, all CentraCare Health System facilities are tobacco-free – indoors and outdoors.

Helpful Hints

• Notify your doctor if you have a cold, flu or high temperature during the days before your surgery.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to fit over dressings.
• Remove makeup, nail polish and all jewelry, including body jewelry.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring a glasses case or contact supplies with you.
• Remember to bring your insurance information, photo ID and Medicare or Medical Assistance cards with numbers and addresses.
• Do not bring any valuables or money.
• Bring a special blanket, stuffed animal or other security item for children.
• Please talk to your surgeon’s office if you are taking the following medications: Advil, ibuprofen, Motrin (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), garlic, vitamin E or gingko.

Health History
Shortly after you arrive, a registration specialist will take you to a private room to ask you about your demographics and insurance information. A registered nurse will then give you a surgical gown and ask about your health history. Your privacy and comfort are very important to us and will be respected at all times. Family members or friends may accompany you at any time during this process, as you desire.

Arrangements After Surgery
Consider care you may need after surgery and ask for help. For your safety, you will need someone to drive you home after surgery. We do not allow discharged patients to go home on public transportation, including bus and taxi. Arrange for someone to stay with you for at least the first night after surgery. If you have small children, you may want to ask someone to care for them for the first 24 hours after your surgery.

Interpreter Services
If you cannot read or speak English, or if you use sign language, please call us at (320) 229-4997 as soon as possible. We can help arrange for an interpreter.

Anesthesia
An anesthesiologist will visit with you to discuss your plan for anesthesia and answer any questions. Anesthesia is the medicine that puts you to sleep before surgery. Your surgeon also may stop by to see if you have last minute questions or concerns. At that point, a member of our staff will escort you to the operating room.

If your child is having surgery, we want you to spend as much time as possible with your child. You are welcome to stay with your child until he or she falls asleep. This experience is often very positive and comforting for both the child and parents. Should you choose to be present for anesthesia, we will prepare and guide you through the process. Once in the operating room, your child may watch a calming video on our flat panel monitors until he or she falls asleep.

Family and Friends
While you are in surgery, we would like your family and friends to remain on the CentraCare Health Plaza grounds. They will receive a pager, so they will have freedom to:

• Stay in a nearby waiting room.
• Grab a snack or small meal at the Café.
• Use the Interfaith Meditation Room to think, rest or pray.
• Pick up prescriptions and other medications at CentraCare Pharmacy.
• Find crossword puzzles, games and other activities at the Gift Gallery.
• Walk the 1.1-mile path around the CentraCare Health Plaza.

We know waiting can be hard on family and friends. We will keep them updated. With your OK, the surgeon will meet with your family and friends to tell them about the surgery results.

What can you expect after surgery?

Private Recovery Room
After surgery, we will bring you to a private recovery room where you will be closely monitored by registered nursing staff. When you are stable, family or friends may join you in your room. After you are awake, you will rest in a comfortable recliner and receive something to eat or drink.

Discharge
Your nurse will continually monitor your physical readiness for discharge. Most patients are ready for discharge one to three hours after surgery. However, every person is different.

Once you are stable, your nurse will provide you and your escort with verbal and written instructions about caring for yourself at home and answer any questions you may have.

Care at Home
You may feel lightheaded and sleepy for the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery. For your safety, do not operate a motor vehicle or machinery, drink alcoholic beverages or take any medications not prescribed by your doctor for at least 24 hours following surgery.

A nurse will call you at home within a few days to check on your progress and answer questions.

What if you need to stay overnight?
If you require an overnight stay, you will go to our Recovery Suite. Please bring any belongings you will need during this time, such as toiletries, contact lens supplies, routine medications in clearly labeled containers and other personal items.

During your pre-admission phone call, please let us know if you have a special diet so we may accommodate it.

One adult family member may stay overnight with you. We have a sleeper sofa for this person. All rooms have televisions with DVD players, so feel free to bring your own movies.

What do you need to know about insurance, billing and financial arrangements?

You may get separate bills for the services you receive at CentraCare Surgery Center. These bills may come from doctors you may not personally see. Sorry for any trouble this may cause. We are required by law to process bills this way.

At CentraCare Surgery Center, we will bill you for use of our building, implant(s) and special supplies. This fee does not include services provided by:

These businesses will bill you separately.

We will send a bill to your insurance company for our services. To send this bill, we need the name, address and policy number of your insurance company. Please send your insurance company doctor referrals and prior authorization paperwork before surgery, if needed. If you do not understand your insurance policy or covered benefits, talk to your insurance company.

We will let you know of any final balance on your account after your insurance company processes the bill for service.

If you feel you may have problems paying your bill, please let us know right away. We may be able to arrange a payment plan. Please call us at (320) 251-2700, ext. 56043. We accept MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover cards.