Surgical Information Packet

When it comes to your surgery, safety is our #1 concern. Always follow the advice of our professionals and carefully read this entire information packet.

Sickness Prior to Surgery

If you become sick prior to your surgery (stomach bug, upper respiratory infection, sore throat, etc.), please call your doctor’s nurse/assistant. You will likely need to go to your primary care provider to have the illness checked. If you have an infection, we do not want to chance having it travel to the surgical site. Also the anesthesiologists want your lungs to be clear (no matter what type of anesthesia you are having — local, regional or general).

Avoid any scratches, cuts or abrasions to operative arm/leg/body part for 14 days prior to surgery, since this could cause the surgery to be cancelled due to increased risk of infection.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your surgery due to illness, emergency or other reasons, please notify the office for any cancellations at least 72 hours prior to your surgical date. This allows us to adjust the schedules of our other patients. Last minute cancellations impose undue hardships on other patients.

Day Before Surgery

Surgery Appointment: The time of your surgery will be given to you the AFTERNOON BEFORE SURGERY. The hospital will call you with the confirmed time and tell you when to show up at the hospital (usually two hours before your scheduled surgery time). Due to possible emergencies, the hospital typically does not release the confirmed times for surgery to us until the day before the surgery (at the same time that they call you).

If you have not heard from the hospital by 4:00 p.m. the day before surgery telling you what time to arrive for your surgery, call the hospital and ask to speak with a pre-op nurse.

Contact numbers:

Thomas Hospital: (251) 279-1541
Thomas Medical Center: (251) 621-6420

One Month Before Surgery

All patients require a History and Physical exam within one month of the surgery date by the surgeon and his staff.

Pre-operative Medical Tests and Clearance

Please inform your surgeon of any medical problems that you may have or any medications you are taking.

You will be scheduled for your PRE OPERATIVE APPOINTMENT with the HOSPITAL PRIOR TO YOUR SURGERY.

Medical clearance

You may be required to undergo MEDICAL or CARDIAC CLEARANCE by your medical doctor/specialist prior to surgery if you are over a certain age, take certain medications, and/or if you have certain medical problems. This is usually performed at your medical doctor’s office. Special clearances may be required from other physicians such as a pulmonologist, cardiologist, etc. prior to surgery.

Your doctor(s) MUST forward the medical clearance to our surgery scheduler. The report must be faxed to our office within one (1) week of your scheduled surgery.

Blood and Urine Tests

You may need to have blood and urine tests before surgery. You may need to receive medical clearance from your primary care physician. The surgery scheduler will coordinate with you the tests which you may need. Your doctor MUST forward the test results directly to our surgery scheduler.

Chest X-ray and EKG

You may need to have a chest x-ray and/or an EKG performed prior to surgery. The surgery scheduler and/or nurse and physician assistant will coordinate with you the tests which you may need. Your doctor’s staff MUST forward the test results directly to our surgery scheduler. FAILURE TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN CANCELLATION OF YOUR SURGERY.

INSURANCE

Call your insurance company for questions regarding your co-pays and deductibles. Lisa will obtain surgery pre-authorization, however you should confirm your insurance benefits including co-payments and deductibles yourself. For hospital billing you will need to call the facility where your procedure will occur. If your insurance changes at any time prior to your surgery, please call with updated information or your surgery will not be covered.

Surgical Site Marking

Do NOT mark the surgical site yourself prior to surgery. Your surgeon will formally mark the site of surgery immediately prior to the surgery. Also, do not mark the other side (i.e. non-surgical shoulder) as this may generate confusion.

Day of Surgery

Take your usual blood pressure or heart medications first thing in the morning with a sip of water. DO NOT TAKE ANY OTHER medications unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your doctor or his representative.

*What to Bring to Surgery

You may have been given a special sling, brace, boot, ice cooler or assistive walking device such as crutches or walker prior to surgery. Please be sure to bring this with you on the day of surgery.*

Bring YOUR INSURANCE CARD AND PHOTO ID.
Bring your CPAP machine if you use one.
Bring reading materials: delays are not uncommon on the operating room. We appreciate your patience.
Minors under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Clothing: Patients are advised to wear loose fitting clothing that will accommodate bulky dressings, soft goods and casting materials and flat shoes. Avoid snaps, zippers, and belts.

What’s not allowed

Please remove all jewelry, including your wedding band and body piercings, before coming to the surgery center/hospital. Metal on your body poses an injury, infection, and burn risk in the operating room.

No metal such as hair pins and barrettes.
No makeup, nail polish, hair spray, perfume, lotions, or powders.
Remember to remove toenail polish for lower extremity surgery (foot/knee/ACL/ankle)
Do not shave the surgical site. Shaving the area may lead to infection.
If shaving is needed, it will be done with a clipper when you arrive.
Don’t smoke the night before surgery or on the day of surgery.

Upon arrival at your facility, you should register at the Patient Registration Area located inside the reception area. You will then be escorted to a preparation room, where you’ll be asked to change into a hospital gown. At this time, they will perform a simple physical examination to check your weight, blood pressure and temperature. Your orthopaedic surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the O.R. nurse will meet with you in the holding area before surgery.

From the pre-operative area, you will then be taken to the operating suite for your procedure. During the time that you are in surgery, your family and friends are welcome to wait in the reception area.

After Your Surgery

After your surgery, you will be taken to a Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where our nurses will make sure that you are comfortable. Most patients stay in the PACU for an hour or two and then are discharged home. Once you have returned home, it is highly recommended that someone stay with you, at least for the first night.

If you are having ambulatory surgery, someone must be available to take you home. You will not be able to drive yourself home nor can you use a taxi. Please make arrangements for someone to drive you.

It is important not to drive until instructed from your doctor that you may resume driving.

If your doctor decides that further observation is necessary, or that you need more time to recover from a major surgery, you may be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.

Because very small concentrations of anesthetic and sedative agents may persist in your body for up to 24 hours you are encouraged NOT to make major decisions for approximately 24-48 hours after your anesthetic.

Medication Refills

If you notice you are getting low on a medication that you need and do not have any remaining refills, please plan ahead and notify your surgeon’s nurse/assistant at least two days before your medication runs out. [Do not call the surgery scheduler regarding medications- she does not handle prescriptions] Certain narcotic medications may not be ordered or refillable via phone at the pharmacy according to Alabama state law.

The physicians and staff encourage you to actively participate in your care. You are reminded of the importance to disclose all relevant medical and health information to the physicians and staff to facilitate appropriate care delivery. Please report unexpected changes in your condition or health status to the physicians and staff. Our office number is (251) 625-2663.

Please do not have anything to EAT or DRINK after MIDNIGHT the night before your surgery.

***This includes: chewing gum, tobacco products, water or anything else by mouth. Your surgery WILL be RESCHEDULED if you do any of the above the morning of surgery per anesthesia guidelines. ***

Please stop taking ASPRIN or any asprin containing products 10 DAYS prior to surgery.
All Anti-Inflammatories {including: Celebrex, Mobic, Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Meloxicam, etc…} should be STOPPED 10 DAYS prior to surgery.
All HERBAL products such as: Fish Oil, Diet Pills, Energy Drinks, Green Tea Products, etc … should be DISCONTINUED no later than 2 WEEKS PRIOR to your surgery date. Your surgery WILL be RESCHEDULED for a later date if you do any of the above in the 2 weeks before your surgery.
If you are taking PRESCRIPTION BLOOD THINNERS such as Coumadin/Warfarin, Plavix, Ticlid, Aggrenox, Lovenox/Heparin, etc… please inform our office as soon as possible if you have not already done so and discuss your upcoming surgery with the prescribing doctor.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Please do not hesitate to call our office with any questions concerning this information-
We know surgery is stressful, and there is a lot to prepare for; but we want you to have the best possible outcome- please carefully read all of this information.

Lisa A. Driver, ST
Surgery Scheduling Coordinator
For Dr. John Todd, Baldwin Bone & Joint, P.C.
Tel: (251) 625-2663 Fax: (251) 625-3198

ATTENTION

The below patient history paperwork must be filled out completely and taken to your Pre-Admit appointment at the hospital.

Please do not forget this information.

It is required by the facility where your surgery will be performed and will help your Pre-Admit nurse with the interview process.

Please call our office if you have any questions.
Thank you and best wishes for your upcoming surgery!

Lisa
For: Dr. John Todd
Tel: (251) 625-2663 Fax: (251) 625-3198

Patient History

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