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 modern unit provides the same level of care given to inpatients. The advantages of Same Day Surgery are greater convenience and substantially reduced cost.
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.
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.
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.
Same Day Surgery Unit
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. If pre-operative medication has been ordered, it will be given at this time.
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.
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.
If you are having general anesthesia or sedation, your anesthetist will start your IV. During surgery the anesthetist will continually monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and other vital 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.