Patient Resources

Preparing For Surgery

When preparing for your procedure, here are a few friendly reminders designed to make your experience as smooth as possible. Our office will call you the day before your procedure to go over all the necessary instructions.

Surgery Information

Pre-Operative Testing

Blood work and an electrocardiogram (ECG) must be done on anyone 50 years of age or older. These tests are also required, regardless of age, if you have a history of bleeding, diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver problems, and/or obesity. Please contact your surgeon for more information on how to schedule these tests.

Medications

Unless directed by your surgeon or physician, please stop taking the following medications prior to surgery: Stop 2 weeks prior to surgery Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (ex. Marplan, Parnate, Nardil, Selegiline) Stop 1 week prior to surgery Diet Pills Herbal Supplements Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (ex. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex) Do NOT take the day of surgery Insulin Diuretics (water pills) Oral Diabetic Medications

The Day BEFORE Surgery

If you have not already done so, fill out all of your pre-operative paperwork.
You will be contacted by a member of our staff before 3 pm with your check-in time. Please inform them if you have had allergic reactions to any medications or latex in the past (ex. rash, hives, fever, swelling, shortness of breath, throat closing, etc.).
Do not eat anything 10 hours before your check-in time.
You may have water only (no other liquids) up to 4 hours before your check-in time.

The Day OF Surgery

Wear loose fitting clothing and flat, slip-on shoes the day of your surgery. We recommend wearing a zip or button down top. Remove all jewelry (including all body piercings) and do not wear any makeup, perfume, contact lenses, false eyelashes, or clip-in hair extensions. If you are on any medications for gastric reflux, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or an irregular heartbeat, take them with a small sip of water the morning of surgery. If you are diabetic, please check your blood sugar. Those with asthma should bring their inhalers with them to the surgery center. If your check-in time is at 6:30 a.m., please be aware that the front door does not open until 6:25 a.m. It is important that you remain flexible on the day of your surgery as you may be called to come in earlier or later than you original check-in time should your surgeon be running ahead of or behind schedule. Upon arrival to the center, present your completed paperwork, photo identification, and insurance card(s) to the receptionist. After you are brought back into the pre-operative area, your nurse will have you sign three surgical consents and change into a surgical gown. If you are a woman of childbearing age, or have had a menstrual period within the last 5 years, you will be asked to provide a urine sample at that time (unless you have had a hysterectomy). You will get to talk to your surgeon and anesthesiologist in the pre-operative area before your surgery.

Transportation To and From the Center

We require that you have someone over the age of 18 with you the first 24 hours after surgery to assist with your care. It is preferred, and highly recommended, that the person who will be taking care of you after your surgery also be the person transporting you to and from the center on the day of your surgery. That person must accompany you inside to sign a caregiver acknowledgment form and receive discharge instructions from the pre-operative nurse. This whole process may take up to an hour. Please bring only one person with you to the surgery center. Your ride may leave the center during your surgery. They will be notified either verbally or via message at the contact number they provide when your surgery is done. However, they must be available to pick you up within one hour of that notification. Inform your ride that, when picking you up from recovery, there are two parking spots designated “Patient Loading Only” and a small waiting area located on the south side of the building. For patient privacy reasons, we discourage visitors in the actual recovery area. If your ride is unable to be here within 90 minutes of receiving notification that your surgery has been completed, you will be billed $50 every 30 minutes for additional staff and resources needed to provide your care.

Recovery at the Center

You will spend a minimum of 45 minutes in recovery. You will be kept in recovery until all your vital signs are stable, discharge criteria has been met, and the physician has deemed you medically stable for discharge. If you feel you need additional time in recovery beyond when the physician deems you medically stable for discharge, you will be billed $50 every 30 minutes for additional staff and resources needed to provide your care. Depending on availability, you may have the option to transfer to an overnight recovery care center, the cost of which ranges any here from $750 to $1,500. If you feel an overnight recovery better suits your needs, please call the surgery center as soon as possible, but at least prior to the day of surgery, so necessary arrangements can be made. In the event of an emergency, staff will initiate and perform all resuscitative measures and 911 will be called.

Nausea & Drowsiness

It is common to experience nausea after receiving general anesthesia. Should you experience nausea while in recovery, your nurse and anesthesiologist will do everything possible to alleviate your symptoms. However, please be aware that nausea can sometimes persist for up to 24 hours following surgery despite anti-nausea medications. To decrease the likelihood of nausea, do not take any oral medications on an empty stomach. Drowsiness may last for 12-24 hours after receiving general anesthesia. This is a common side effect of anesthesia and medications used for pain and nausea. You are advised to go directly home to rest or sleep. Following anesthesia, you may experience some time distortion or memory loss. A long period of time may feel much shorter or you may not remember being in recovery or the ride home. To download and print the forms click the links below:

General Post-Operative
Information and Instructions

Headache, vague soreness, and stiffness are common after anesthesia. If you have any questions regarding your anesthesia, please call your surgeon.
You may experience a mild sore throat for 24-36 hours following general anesthesia. Lozenges, popsicles and cold fluids may provide some relief.
When you feel like eating, start with fluids (soup, Jell-O, etc.) and progress to a normal diet as tolerated. Stay away from fatty or protein-rich foods your first meal as these are harder for the stomach to digest right after surgery. Please also be aware that taking medications on an empty stomach may cause nausea.
After surgery, you may start taking your prescribed pain medication or muscle relaxer as soon as you are discharged from the surgery center. It may be helpful to bring these with you to the surgery center to take in your vehicle on the way home if needed. If you have been prescribed both a pain medication and muscle relaxer, it is strongly recommended that you do not take both at the same time but rather at least an hour apart. Since you will receive intravenous antibiotics during your surgery, you may begin your prescribed oral antibiotic the morning after surgery.
If you become constipated after surgery, or normally have trouble with bowel movements, you are advised to increase your fiber consumption, stay hydrated, and consume three glasses of prune juice daily.
It is important to get up and walk after your surgery to prevent blood clots. Getting up to use the bathroom and a short walk around the house every few hours during the day is sufficient. You may be given compression stockings on the day of surgery to wear post-operatively. If so, these must be worn for at least the first two days after surgery. If your surgeon sends you home with a compression device, please use it while you are relaxing in a chair or bed and return the unit at your first post-operative appointment.
For the first few days after surgery, please remember to deep breathe and cough every couple of hours to prevent postoperative pneumonia. This may be uncomfortable, so try to do your deep breathing exercises about 30 minutes after taking your pain medication. It will also help to hold a pillow gently against your incision while coughing.
Until you are released by your surgeon and are no longer using prescription pain medication, do not drive, operate machinery, sign legal documentation, or anything else that requires concentration or precision work. Also, do not drink alcohol or use drugs other than those prescribed by your doctors. If you are still using your prescription pain pill or muscle relaxer, you will need to arrange transportation to your post-operative appointment.
Do not remove any dressings or shower unless directed to do so by your surgeon. As a general rule, dressings remain on and must be kept dry until your first post-operative appointment. Keep in mind, however, that every surgery is different, so please follow the advice of your surgeon.
If you experience uncontrollable pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, call your surgeon as soon as possible. Dial 911 if your condition is life-threatening.
Please call your surgeon’s office for any questions regarding your surgery or post-operative care. Questions or comments regarding the surgery center should be referred to the Nurse Administrator at (480) 284-4355.

Medical records

If you would like to request copies of medical records,
please call (480)-284-4355.

HIPAA

Please take a few minutes to read our Notice of Privacy Practices. It describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also explains your rights to access and control your protected health information. HIPPA Privacy Form

Advance Directives

Advance directives are written instructions, such as living will, durable power of attorney for health care, health care proxy, or do not resuscitate (DNR) request, recognized under state law and relating to the provision of health care when the individual is incapacitated and unable to communicate his/her desires.

In the State of Arizona, all patients have the right to participate in their own healthcare decisions and to make advance directives or to execute Powers of Attorney that authorize others to make decisions on their behalf based on the patients expressed wishes when the patient is unable to make decisions or unable to communicate decisions. North Scottsdale Outpatient Surgery Center (NSOSC) respects and upholds those rights. However, unlike in an acute care hospital setting, NSOSC does not routinely perform “high risk” procedures. While no surgery is without risks, most surgeries performed at this center are considered to be at minimal risk. You will discuss the specifics of your procedure with your physician who can answer your questions regarding its risks, your expected recovery, and care after your surgery. Our team is dedicated to delivering the highest quality care in a safe environment that places the patient at the center of our care. Arizona State Law (CRF 416.50 Conditions for Coverage) permits us to decline to implement certain elements of your advance directives, based on our conscience and commitment to patient care. It is the policy of NSOSC that if an adverse event occurs during your procedure or treatment, the medical surgical team will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and transfer you to an acute care hospital for further evaluation. We will share your advance directives with the caregivers at the acute care hospital where you are transferred. At the acute care hospital, further treatment or withdrawal of treatment measures already begun will be ordered in accordance with your wishes, advance directive, or health care power of attorney. If you do not agree with our facility policy we will assist you to reschedule your procedure in a facility more suited to your healthcare needs.

For more information on Advance Directives, you may contact:

The Arizona Secretary of State
Advance Directives 1700 W. Washington
7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-6187

Or learn more on the web at https://www.azsos.gov/Adv_Dir/ and click on the “Guide to Filing Advance Directives”