Preparing For Your Surgery or Procedure

At your surgical consultation visit, your surgeon will talk with you about your symptoms, perform an orthopedic examination and explain your results from any imaging or tests that have been performed. Your surgeon will then discuss surgical and non-surgical treatment options. For each treatment option, the potential risks, benefits, alternatives and complications will be explained in detail. Post-operative care, recovery and activity expectations will also be discussed in detail. All questions will be invited and answered. You will then meet with the surgical coordinator for a mutually agreed upon surgical date. Pre-surgical instructions will be provided and explained in detail by your surgical coordinator.

Be prepared to discuss your activity goals along with any work duties with your physician at your pre-operative consultation. Together, we will help predict a unique and realistic recovery timeline for you to reach your goals.

Please bring any prior records pertaining to the same body part. This may include ER or doctor’s visit notes along with surgical or radiology reports. Please also bring any images (MRI, CT, Xray) that have not already been provided or uploaded to our system. Bring a list of all your current medications including their dose and frequency. Please also bring the name and contact information of any additional physicians you see on a routine basis such as your cardiologist, rheumatologist, neurologist, pain management or primary care physician.

It is NOT recommended that you stop any blood thinners or routine medications prior to your surgical consultation unless specifically instructed to do so from your surgeon or surgical coordinator. Further medication instructions will be provided at time of surgical consultation.

Obtaining basic supplies prior to your procedure may lead to a more comfortable recovery. Although not required, you may find it helpful to obtain the following basic supplies prior to surgery.

Basic Supplies:

1. Gauze sponges
2. 1 package Band-Aids (variety size and water-proof)
3. Extra Ice
4. Easily tolerated foods and liquids. The first 24-48 hours after surgery, you may only be able to tolerate a bland diet. A high fiber diet is also recommended to avoid constipation from pain medication.

Useful Over the Counter Medications:

1. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325mg
2. Ibuprofen/Advil/Aleve 200mg
3. Benadryl 25mg
4. Stool softener

Based upon your procedure, your surgeon may have ordered additional equipment for your recovery. Most equipment is dispensed on day of surgery, but sometimes arrangements are made for you to receive your equipment pre-operatively. Please refer to your pre-operative instructions and make necessary preparations for pick up or delivery.

Prepare your home to allow for easy mobility. Remove any objects (such as cords or slip rugs) that may cause you to fall easily. Declutter your main rooms. Arrange care for you pets and children if needed. If undergoing a lower extremity procedure, arrange a recovery area on your main floor as it may be hard for you to go up and down stairs initially.

Pre-operative tests and evaluations will be determined by your surgeon or anesthesiologist and communicated to you prior to the date of your surgery. Based upon your procedure and medical conditions, pre-admission testing will be scheduled to obtain basic pre-op bloodwork and EKG. Your surgeon may also require you to be evaluated by your medical provider or cardiologist prior to surgery.

Sometimes it is necessary for you to complete a pre-surgical visit with your primary care physician. Your surgeon or surgical coordinator will provide additional recommendations based upon your medical comorbidities.

If you routinely see a cardiologist or if you have a heart condition listed below, cardiac clearance will be required prior to proceeding with surgery. Your cardiologist will advise you if an in-person checkup is needed.

Conditions that require cardiac clearance:

1. History of Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
2. History of CABG (Open Heart or Bypass Surgery)
3. History of Cardiac Stents
4. Presence of Pacemaker or Defibrillator
5. History of any irregular heartbeat (i.e. A-fib, palpitations)
6. Current chest pain
7. Currently anticoagulated with prescription strength blood thinner (i.e. Xarelto, Plavix, Eliquis, etc).

Specific medication instructions will be provided to you by your surgeon, surgical coordinator or pre-admission testing nurse. It is not recommended that you deviate from the instructions that were given to you.

We are able to provide surgical services at different locations throughout Birmingham and surrounding areas. The surgical facility may contact you to review co-payments and deductibles for the facility portion of the procedure. They may also complete your pre-registration and provide your arrival time for surgery, if not provided by our office.

Communications per surgical facility are as follows:

• Ascension St. Vincent’s (Ortho Sports Center, One Nineteen & North Tower Locations) – you may receive a text, email or phone call to get pre-registered and discuss out of pocket expenses related to the hospital (donotreplyappointment@ascension.org or phone number 855-957-0747).

• Birmingham Surgery Center - will call you one business day before surgery with your arrival time.

• Surgery Center of Cullman - will call you one business day before surgery with your arrival time.
  
• Outpatient Care Center - will call you one business day before surgery with your arrival time.

The surgical facility or surgeon’s office will contact you via phone or text no later than 7:00pm one business day prior to your procedure with your arrival time. Please be diligent about answering your phone and checking your voicemail/text messaging in the days leading up to your surgery. If voicemail or text is utilized, instructions will be given for you to confirm your arrival time. It is important that you arrive at the designated time. If you encounter and unexpected delay that will affect your arrival time, please contact our office immediately.

1. A care partner to drive you and be responsible for you from the time you arrive until the time you are discharged. Anyone unmarried and under the age of 19 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
2. Please bring photo identification (such as driver’s license) and your insurance card(s).
3. Be sure to bring any medications that you may need during your stay at the facility (e.g., inhaler or insulin).
4. Please bring a list of all medications you are currently taking. List their dose and frequency.
5. Please bring form of payment for any patient responsibility (e.g. co-payment or deductible).
6. DO NOT bring valuables such as jewelry, expensive electronics or excessive cash.
7. Bring any braces, slings or walking boots with you the day of surgery that your surgeon has given you. Do not leave these items in your car. Please tell your nurses that you have them with you.
8. Please bring any prior records or imaging that pertains to the same body part that you have not already provided to our office or uploaded to our system.

Yes. You will not be allowed to drive home after surgery. Please arrange for an adult to drive you home and for someone to be with you when you arrive. Discharge from surgical facility will NOT be authorized to public transportation such as taxi or Ridesharing (Uber/Lyft), unless you have an adult caretaker with you.

Restrictions are based upon your surgeon’s protocol, your medical conditions, and the procedure you are having performed. Your physician, surgical coordinator, or pre-operative nurse will inform you of eating and drinking restrictions prior to surgery. It is very important that you follow the provided instructions to avoid any delay or cancellation of your procedure.

Specific medication instructions will be provided to you by your surgeon, advanced practice provider, surgical coordinator or pre-admission testing nurse. Please be prepared to list all medications (including name and dose), and bring any medications with you that may be needed during your stay (e.g., inhaler or insulin). It is very important that you follow the provided instructions to avoid any delay or cancellation of your procedure.

Please be sure to notify your surgeon or surgical coordinator prior to the date of surgery if you think you may be pregnant. The surgical procedure, anesthesia and medications may be harmful to a developing baby and therefore, surgery may need to be postponed.

1. A care partner to drive you and be responsible for you from the time you arrive until the time you are discharged. Anyone unmarried and under the age of 19 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
2. Please bring photo identification (such as driver’s license) and your insurance card(s).
3. Be sure to bring any medications that you may need during your stay at the facility (e.g., inhaler or insulin).
4. Please bring a list of all medications you are currently taking. List their dose and frequency.
5. Please bring form of payment for any patient responsibility (e.g. co-payment or deductible).
6. DO NOT bring valuables such as jewelry, expensive electronics or excessive cash.
7. Bring any braces, slings or walking boots with you the day of surgery that your surgeon has given you. Do not leave these items in your car. Please tell your nurses that you have them with you.
8. Please bring any prior records or imaging that pertains to the same body part that you have not already provided to our office or uploaded to our system.

The surgical facility or surgeon’s office will contact you via phone or text no later than 7:00pm one business day prior to your procedure with your arrival time. Please be diligent about answering your phone and checking your voicemail/text messaging in the days leading up to your surgery. If voicemail or text is utilized, instructions will be given for you to confirm your arrival time. It is important that you arrive at the designated time. If you encounter and unexpected delay that will affect your arrival time, please contact our office immediately.

We are able to provide surgical services at different locations throughout Birmingham and surrounding areas.

Your surgical coordinator will give you instructions on where to report for check-in. Remember to check your pre-op instructions to confirm your surgery center location.

Link to surgical locations page. 

For a complete list of our surgery center locations and surgeons offering service at those locations, please visit our location tab.

Link to surgical locations page.

Designated parking areas are attached to each surgical facility.

For specific instructions per location, please visit: Link to surgical locations page.

If your surgery is being performed at Ascension St. Vincent’s Ortho Sports Center, valet service is available beginning at 8a.m. Please bring your car to the front of the Ortho Sports Center. If you do not wish to valet your car, please park in Building 3 or Ortho Sports Medical Tower parking deck. Enter the Ortho Sports building from Level K of the parking deck (you will be entering on the fourth floor of the Ortho Sports building).

For your comfort, we encourage you to wear clothing that can be easily removed and stored. If you are anticipating staying the night following surgery, leave any luggage in car until surgery is completed and a room has been assigned. Your family can then bring your belongings to your assigned room.

Wear dentures, partial, bridges and hearing aids to hospital as you do normally. Please do not use denture crème the day of surgery. Do not wear removable contact lenses. Please bring your eye glass case if wearing glasses.

• Do not wear removable contact lenses. Please bring your eye glass case if wearing glasses.
• Do not wear jewelry (including wedding band), piercings, nail polish or cosmetics.
• Do not wear eye makeup on the day of surgery, especially mascara.
• Do not wear perfume, body oils, lotion or hairpins. Deodorant is allowed.
• Do not mark on your skin. Do not shave the operative site, the nursing staff will clipper prep you the day of surgery.

A nurse will escort you into the pre-operative area where you will change your clothes. Your belongings will be safely stored until you are ready to go home. Your care partner may also keep your belongings for you. We recommend that you leave all valuables and additional accessories at home.

After completing check -in and registration, you and one care partner will be escorted to the pre-operative area. You will change into a hospital gown and your belongings will be safely stored. A nurse will conduct a pre-operative assessment, take your vitals, and start an IV. Pre-operative labs may be performed if indicated. The anesthesia provider will also speak with you in the pre-operative area to review all pre-operative information and discuss your anesthesia. You and your surgeon will consent to your procedure and you will be taken to the operating room to undergo your procedure.

One care partner is allowed to accompany you during your pre-operative assessment. After you are taken to the operating room, your care partner will join additional family and friends in the main waiting room and we will keep them informed of your progress. A care partner will be able to speak with your surgeon following your procedure and re-join you after you leave the recovery room.

Your safety is our primary concern. Your entire health care team will follow rigorous guidelines regarding site identification and procedure confirmation. National Patient Safety Goals have been developed which require your involvement too. You will be asked numerous times to confirm both the procedure you are having and the surgical site. You should take a very active role in all discussions with your surgeon, anesthesia provider and our staff regarding the identification of your procedure and the correct surgical site. In most cases, your surgeon will mark the surgical site with a skin marker prior to your procedure.

You and your surgeon will confirm both the specific type of procedure you are having as well as the surgical site of that procedure. In most cases, your surgeon will mark the surgical site with a skin marker prior to your procedure.

This will depend upon a number of factors. However, we believe that familiar faces can assist in reducing your anxiety about the procedure, so please do not hesitate to inform the nurse that you would like a friend or family member to sit with you. In most cases, one care partner is allowed with you prior to your procedure.

No. We advise against smoking on the day of your procedure. Smoking may interfere with the anesthesia and frequently produces nausea during the recovery period.

The actual amount of time it takes to perform your surgery will depend upon a number of factors. We recommend that you do not plan any additional activities or commitments on day of surgery.

Yes. There are five different categories of sedation and anesthesia: Conscious Sedation, General, Regional, Monitored Anesthesia Care and Local Anesthesia. Regardless of the type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive, special anesthetic agents and techniques are used to provide a safe and speedy recovery. If there are alternative choices available for your surgery, and often there are, your physician or anesthesia provider will discuss them with you before surgery.

Depending on your procedure, there may be anesthetic options. Your surgeon or anesthesia provider will discuss available options with you after reviewing your medical history and scheduled procedure.

Together, you, your surgeon and your anesthesia provider will develop an anesthetic care plan. This plan may include preoperative sedation and other medications if necessary.

All surgical procedures and all anesthetics have risks. These risks are dependent upon many factors, including the type of surgery and the medical condition of the patient. Your anesthesiologist will assess you preoperatively and every precaution will be taken to minimize your risk. We routinely see minor symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, tiredness, headache, muscle aches and pain, most of which are easily treated. Please feel free to discuss any questions with your anesthesia provider.

Yes. You will receive a separate bill from your anesthesia provider. The anesthesia services are different from your surgeon’s services.

Please refer to your discharge instruction folder for medication details. Some prescriptions are filled for you on day of surgery at the facility, others have been sent electronically to your local pharmacy.

Unexpected admissions to the hospital following surgery can happen occasionally. Your surgeon and anesthesia provider will monitor your progress post-operatively and make decisions regarding your recovery plan. A short stay in the hospital for continued observation or additional treatment may be indicated in certain circumstances. You will then be discharged home when felt appropriate by your surgeon or hospitalist.

If you are in serious pain, or exhibit warning symptoms described in your discharge instructions, please call your surgeon, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Your surgeon may have specific recommendations for your post-operative diet. We generally suggest that you eat lightly after surgery, and strongly encourage you to drink plenty of fluids. You should avoid alcoholic beverages.

Every procedure has unique wound care recommendations. Follow your post-operative instructions carefully and notify your physician if you have any signs or symptoms which concern you such as fever, redness or drainage from the incision site, increased pain or warmth to the surgical site.

We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission through discharge. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable – choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, and injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc.

Prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. It is important to follow instructions regarding your post-operative pain medication closely. Many pain medications take 20 to 30 minutes to begin to work. For best results, the pain medication should be taken before the pain becomes too strong. It is important to note, that while your provider will manage your pain as best they can, it IS normal to have some post-operative discomfort/pain. Following your providers instructions carefully will help to minimize this discomfort, but may not completely eliminate it.

Yes. After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area. A nurse will monitor your vital signs and make sure you are comfortable as the anesthesia begins to wear off. Once you are awake and alert, one care partner will be invited back to the recovery area to join you. Arrangements may be made for any special population patients such as children, elderly or those with disabilities.

You will not be allowed to drive home after surgery. Please arrange for an adult to drive you home and for someone to be with you when you arrive. Discharge from surgical facility will NOT be authorized to public transportation such as taxi or Ridesharing (Uber/Lyft), unless you have an adult caretaker with you.

Most patients can resume their usual medications after surgery. Patients who have diabetes or who take blood thinners or rheumatological medications may require some adjustments. These instructions will be clarified with you before you leave the facility. If you have any questions, please call your surgeon or primary care physician.

The amount of recovery time varies from patient to patient. After your procedure, a nurse will monitor your vital signs and make sure you are alert and stable. You will be sent home as soon as your health care team feels it is safe to discharge you from the facility.

There are many factors that affect when you are able to return to work. It is advisable that you check with your employer prior to surgery to understand your return-to-work options. Be prepared to discuss your work duties and estimated leave required, with your physician at your pre-operative consultation.

Your physical therapist will also be a valuable consultant regarding your ability to return to work. He/she will be monitoring your progress and will be able to assist you in your decision to return to work.

FMLA or short term disability forms may be submitted online at https://requestmanager.healthmark-group.com.

You may also contact Health Mark directly by phone 972-895-2138 or email fmla@healthmark-group.com. We will make every effort to complete FMLA or short term disability forms within 72 hours once the $35 fee is paid.

Typically, students are able to return to school within a few days to a week following surgery. Talk to your teachers ahead of time about allowing extra time to complete assignments and switch classes. Check with your school nurse if you are still needing medication as specific forms may need to be completed prior to your return. Arrange for transportation if needed.

This depends upon the procedure performed. Your post-op instructions provided at time of discharge will include the date and time of your follow up appointment. If you have a conflict, please call our office as soon as possible to change your appointment. The follow up date was chosen specifically based upon your procedure, so too long of a delay in your visit may affect your recovery.

We do not recommend driving while taking pain medication. Further driving restrictions will depend upon what type of surgery you had and if you need to wear any special braces for immobilization. Refer to your discharge instructions or inquire at your first post-op visit when it is safe for you to return to driving.

The decision to return to sports will be a collective decision between your physician, physical therapist and in cases of high school and college athletes, your certified athletic trainer. This return is typically based upon the procedure performed and the progress of your recovery which varies with each patient.

You will be evaluated at each follow up appointment and goals discussed along with realistic expectations of what to expect regarding full return to unrestricted activity.