Things to remember before you arrive at the Surgery Center:
Do not wear any make-up or perfumes, as this can hide certain clinical signs.
Remove all body piercings.
A responsible adult must accompany you to the Surgery Center and be available to drive you home.
Leave all valuables at home. Bring only a copy of your insurance card and driver’s license for identification. If you have not made payment arrangements in advance, bring a credit card. Any valuables will be given to your accompanying responsible adult for safekeeping.
Other items you might need to bring, if you use them: inhaler, a case for storage of contact lenses or glasses, bottles of insulin; for children, a bottle or “sippy cup” and favorite blanket or doll/toy.
Arriving at the Tallahassee Outpatient Surgery Center:
Please arrive promptly at your assigned arrival time to avoid the risk of re-scheduling.
When you check in at our office, you will need to present your driver’s license and your insurance card. If there is any balance due, you will need to take care of that as well (by credit card or check).
You will be prepared for the procedure, including receiving an identification bracelet, signing consent forms, having your weight taken and a pregnancy test (if applicable).
A nurse will administer an IV tube.
During pre-op, an anesthesiologist will speak with you about the plan for your care.
You will also see your surgeon prior to the procedure and you may ask any questions at that time.
Next, the Operating Room nurse will conduct a brief interview before taking you in for surgery.
Your ID bracelet will be checked at every stage and you will be asked about allergies and about the knowledge of the procedure being done, including the name of your doctor, etc.
Just before surgery, you will move from the stretcher to an operating bed.
You will be administered medicine in the IV tube to allow you do drift off to sleep.
You will be receiving oxygen and medicine throughout the procedure to keep you as comfortable as possible.
Following the surgery, you will go to the recovery area. We will make sure your vital signs are stable, your airway is cleared and pain is controlled.
Next, you will be moved to a reclining chair in post-op and given post operative instructions regarding activity, wound care and pain control, before being transferred to a wheelchair and taken to your vehicle.
The business day after surgery, a member of the TOSC staff will call to check on your progress. Be sure that we have a working number on file where you are staying during recovery.