Preparing for your Surgery - Inova Health System

Welcome to Surgical Services
at Inova Loudoun Hospital
Our goal is to provide excellent, safe care, and make you as
comfortable as possible before, during and after your surgery.
This brochure explains how to prepare for, and what to expect
from, your surgical experience. Your surgeon will provide
additional instructions for you to follow.
Patient Interview/Medical History Interview
Once your surgery/procedure date has been scheduled, we ask
that you please complete your medical history online using the
secure One Medical Passport application. After your medical
history passport is complete, an Inova Loudoun Hospital nurse
will contact you to review this information and give further
instructions. This information will assist the nurse in organizing
and documenting your complete medical history to prepare for
your surgery.
To enter your Medical History into One Medical Passport:
• Go to the Inova website: www.inova.org/omp
• .Click on the Inova Loudoun Hospital link under “Choose
Your Location”
• .If you have issues accessing the One Medical Passport,
please click on the Contact Us link on the One Medical
Passport web page.
Be sure you have the following information available before you
start entering the information on your Medical Passport:
• .Legal picture ID you will bring to the hospital on your day
of surgery
• Names and phone numbers of your physicians
• A list of all medications you are taking, dosage and
frequency. This also includes vitamins, diet pills and herbal
supplements. (It is helpful to have the actual medication
bottles with you as you complete your Medical Passport)
• .A list of surgical procedures you have had and the
approximate dates
Lab work and diagnostic testing might be necessary prior to
surgery depending on your age, medical history and type of
procedure. An EKG within six months of surgery is required
for anyone over 70 years of age as well as anyone with a cardiac
history. A MRSA nasal swab screening is required for all
orthopedic procedures as well as patients with a known
MRSA history.
Depending on your insurance, Inova Loudoun Hospital can
perform the tests ordered by your surgeon or recommended by
our Anesthesia department. Please call 703-858-6740 to make
an appointment to complete your lab/diagnostic tests.
If you had lab work and/or diagnostic tests performed outside
of Inova Loudoun Hospital, please fax results to Pre-Admission
Testing at 703-858-6425 as soon as possible. This will ensure
adequate time for review as well as time for follow-up to avoid
delaying your surgery.
Registration and Financial Arrangements
The Registration Scheduling Unit will contact you by phone
to complete the registration process and confirm your contact
and insurance information.
A member of the financial quality coordinator team will:
• Contact your insurance carrier to verify benefits and
requirements for pre-certification or pre-authorization.
• Discuss and make arrangements with you for any financial
responsibilities not covered by your insurance carrier.
.Most health insurance policies have a coinsurance clause, copay
and/or a deductible, which are not covered under insurance
and are the patient’s responsibility.
Payment arrangements are required prior to the time of service.
Please be prepared to pay co-pays and deductibles before or at
the time of service. Payment may be made by credit card during
your telephone interview with the financial quality coordinator.
Payment on the day of service may be made by cash, VISA,
MasterCard, check or money order.
If you need to make payment arrangements for your upcoming
surgery, please call 703-858-8091.
If you do not have insurance, please contact the financial
coordinator promptly at 703-858-8091 when your doctor
schedules your surgery.
Important Phone Numbers You May Need
Preoperative Interviewing .....................................703-858-6768
Preadmission Testing Fax.......................................703-858-6425
Financial Counseling...............................................703-858-8091
In the Event of Illness
If you develop a cold, fever, persistent cough, infection or
become ill within 48 hours of your surgery, or if you need
to cancel for any reason, please call your surgeon and the
Operating Room control desk at 703-858-6490.
Preparation for Surgery
Failure to follow eating and drinking restrictions could increase
the risk of complications and lead to cancellation of your
surgery. Do not eat or drink after midnight the night
before your surgery. This includes candy, mints, chewing
gum and tobacco products. If your physician or surgeon has
instructed you to take medications the morning of surgery,
please do so with a small sip of water.
To reduce bacteria on your skin:
1. Bathe or shower the morning of surgery with anti-bacterial
soap before arriving.
2. Do not apply lotion, perfume, cologne, or hair-care
products.
3. Do not shave your surgical site at home before surgery,
unless instructed to do so.
4. Do not wear makeup, jewelry (including body piercing),
watches, earrings or rings.
Make Plans for Transportation
You must arrange to have someone drive you home after
your surgery. Public transportation (i.e., bus or taxi) is not a
satisfactory method of transportation after outpatient surgery.
In addition, someone should stay with you at home for 12 to
24 hours after your surgery.
Your escort is welcome to wait in our waiting area or may pick
you up at the main entrance after you have had time
to recover. We suggest that you limit the number of escorts
to one or two.
If the surgery will interfere with your vision or ability to use
your arms, hands, legs or feet, have someone accompany you
when you come in. Otherwise, you will need to provide us with
phone numbers to contact your ride. If you have been using
splints, slings or crutches before the operation, please bring
them with you.
Special Instructions for Children
Children preparing for surgery require special attention. For
example, it is reassuring for children to have a favorite small
toy or familiar item from home. In addition, parents should
be aware of dietary restrictions and make sure children follow
them exactly, especially the morning of surgery. You will be
given eating and drinking instructions for your child by the
nurse during the preoperative phone call.
Patients under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal
guardian for any required pre-admission testing. On the day
of surgery, a parent or legal guardian must be on hand to sign
an Informed Consent prior to surgery and must remain in the
hospital throughout the surgical process.
Once your child is awake, parents will be allowed in the Post-
Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Day of Surgery
Parking: All parking is free.
Sign In: When you and your escort arrive at the Main Entrance,
please report to the Registration Desk to your right and sign in.
The Information Desk will be to your left.
After registration, you will be directed to proceed to the Surgical
Services waiting area on the same floor by the fish tank. Please
take a seat and wait for a nurse to call your name. If you
have any questions, a courtesy phone and a phone number is
provided at the desk.
Pre-Op: You will meet many members of our surgical team
who will ask you questions to ensure your safety. You will
change into a hospital gown and slippers. For your comfort,
warm blankets will be provided. At any time during this
process, please feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Pagers: Pagers are provided as a means of notifying your
family members/escorts when you are fully recovered in the
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Family members/escorts
will pick up pagers at the Operating Room control desk. Family
members/escorts may also use the courtesy phone at the
waiting area for all inquiries.
Getting Ready for Surgery: An intravenous line will be
started for most patients receiving anesthesia. The anesthesia
team will meet with you to review your medical history along
with the operating room clinical team and your surgeon. All
your questions will be answered before you are taken into the
operating room on the stretcher. Your family members/escorts
will return to the waiting area.
Operating Room: Once you arrive in the operating suite, our
surgical team will help you move onto the operating table.
You will notice bright overhead lights, equipment, and the
room will feel cold. The operating room nurse and anesthesia
provider will explain everything to you, and they will remain
with you during surgery.
After Surgery
Recovery: After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room,
also known as the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).You will
be monitored by a nurse until most of the anesthesia wears off.
Pain and Nausea Control: Some pain and nausea can be
expected as your body responds to surgery. Your nurse and
physician will work closely with you to provide medications to
reduce your pain as well as your nausea. Because each patient
and pain experience is different, it is important to let your nurse
know about any pain or discomfort you may have.
Final Stage: After you have recovered in the PACU, you will be
moved to Stage II Recovery where your family members/escorts
can join you. If you are to be admitted overnight, you will be
taken directly to an inpatient room. Once the room number
is assigned, your family members/escorts will be notified and
may join you.