The ambulatory surgery program at The Memorial Hospital of Salem County enables patients to have surgery, recover and return home all in one day. The state-of-the-art unit provides the same high level of care given inpatients. The advantages of Same Day Surgery are greater convenience and substantially reduced cost.
Same Day Surgery does require that patients assume some of the responsibility for the process prior to surgery.
Your personal physician will answer any questions you may have regarding your surgery.
Your scheduled day and time of surgery admission are initiated in your physician's office, where a physical examination, consent for surgery and pre-surgical tests, etc., are ordered or completed.
Prior to Your Surgery
Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) is routinely required for most patients before the day of surgery admission.
Three or more days prior to your scheduled surgery someone from our Pre-Admissions Office will call and schedule you to come to the Hospital for any blood work, EKG or x-rays that need to be completed. At this time you will also speak with a nurse who will perform an admission assessment and provide pre-op instructions. If an anesthesiologist is available, he/she will also speak with you concerning your sedation needs.
The Pre-Admissions clerk will then request certain information for pre-registration, which will include residence and employment data, as well as insurance billing information.
In the event you become ill prior to surgery, call your physician so that he may determine if there is a need to reschedule your procedure. He will advise the Hospital if he decides to cancel your surgery.
Before Surgery
Our nursing staff will call you mid to late afternoon on the day before you are scheduled for surgery to let you know what time to come to the Hospital.
The nurse will conclude the admission assessment and perform more pre-operative teaching by phone. Completing these activities the day before surgery facilitates the admission process when you arrive at the hospital. This also provides an opportunity to ask the nurse any questions you may have.
On arrival, park in the Visitor Parking Lot. You may enter through the front Lobby doors, which open at 6:00 a.m. After entering, go to the left to the Outpatient Registration/Admissions Office, sign in and let the office staff know you are there for surgery. After registration is complete, you will be directed to the Same Day Surgery area.
If the patient is a minor (age 18 or younger), he/she must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can sign the consent for surgery form and also be available to give the Anesthesia Department a brief medical history for the patient.
You are not to drink any liquid or eat any food from midnight until after your surgery. When you brush your teeth, do not swallow any water. An empty stomach is important for people who are to have anesthesia, to prevent vomiting during surgery. Check with your doctor regarding medications you normally take. You may be instructed to take your medications with a very small sip of water.
Do not wear jewelry of any kind including your wedding band. Remove nail polish and makeup before coming to the Hospital. Do not bring valuables to the Hospital. You will be given a hospital gown, slippers and robe to wear since no personal clothing may be worn in the operating room.
Same Day Surgery Unit
A staff member will orient you to the Unit and explain basic Hospital procedures.
If your physician has ordered a skin "prep," it will be done at this time. The area around the operative site will be washed and shaved.
Before your surgery, your nurse will check to be certain that all jewelry, makeup, nail polish, hairpins, wigs, dentures and bridges, eyeglasses or contact lenses and artificial limbs have been removed. Inform your nurse if you are dependent on eyeglasses or a hearing aid. If pre-operative medication has been ordered, it will be given at this time. A nursing staff member will take you to the operating room on a stretcher.
On the day of surgery, visiting hours are flexible to allow additional time for family members to visit both before and following surgery. For your family's comfort, there is a waiting room in the Same Day Surgery Unit near the operating room. Be sure to inform your physician if family or friends plan to remain in this room so that he may contact them there.
In the Operating Room
All patients come to the operating room about 30 minutes before their surgery is scheduled. You will wait in a holding area until your operating room staff is ready.
In the operating room the physicians and nurses will be wearing gowns, caps, masks and gloves. Wearing a mask does not prevent them from talking to you, so if you have a question or want to say something, please do so.
If you are having general anesthesia, or sedation, your anesthetist will start an IV (giving fluids by a catheter in the vein), apply a blood pressure cuff and put three or four stick-on patches or electrodes on your chest for the cardiac monitor. During surgery the anesthetist will continually monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and other signs.
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
Following surgery, you will be taken to the Recovery Room (PACU), where the nurses and Anesthesia Department will watch you carefully as you wake up from anesthesia. You will probably stay in the PACU at least one hour, but it may be longer depending on the kind of surgery and your condition. When you are awake and your vital signs are stable, a member of the nursing staff will prepare you for discharge.
For information, please call (856) 935-1000, Extension 4303.