Outpatient Surgery
If you are having surgery and will return home the same day, you are considered an outpatient. You will be instructed when to arrive at the Surgery Center and will be greeted and shown to the area where you will be admitted by your nurse. After your procedure, you will stay in the Recovery Room for a short period before being brought back to the Surgery Center.
For certain procedures, some patients will not go to the Operating and Recovery Rooms, but instead go to the Radiology Department or Cardiac Catheterization Lab. If you are a having surgery and will be home the same day, please bring slippers to wear but do not bring valuables - the hospital cannot be held responsible for these items.
Patient discharge
You will be ready for discharge about two hours after your procedure, at which time your nurse will review your discharge instructions.
You must make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home. Because of the effects of your anesthesia, you may not drive sooner than 24 hours after you are discharged from the hospital. We advise you to make arrangements for someone to stay with you at home following surgery.
Patient follow-up
You will receive a phone call from a Surgery Center nurse to see how you are recuperating. The Surgery Center nurse will be happy to answer any questions you may have at that time.