The staff at Outpatient Services East understands that loved ones who depend on you for their daily living needs require special attention.

In order to make the day of surgery easier for the patient and for yourself there are several guidelines you need to follow.

• As the legal guardian of the patient you will need to sign the consent for surgery and anesthesia on or before the surgery day.

• On the day of admission, don’t forget to bring the patient’s recent health history and a list of all medications he/she is taking. Ensure the patient follows all instructions you have been given concerning food and drink. In most cases, if surgery is scheduled for morning, the patient will not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight.

• Just as with any patient the special needs patient must have a responsible adult to be with him/her at the facility the entire time. This person will need to be available to drive the patient home at the time of discharge

• When you arrive at Outpatient Services East  we ask that you check-in at the registration desk to verify who will be staying with the patient and to verify insurance information. Once again, please remember we must have a list of all medications the patient is taking on a regular schedule. We will want the name and the amounts of each medicine.

• After checking in at  Outpatient Surgery East, you will be brought to the private room where the nurse will do a health interview and prepare the patient  for surgery.  An anesthesiologist will discuss  anesthesia with you and answer any questions.  At the appropriate time the patient  will be escorted to the operating room.  During surgery you  will stay in a waiting area. You  will rejoin the patient in the recovery area after  surgery.

• Anesthesia will be provided by of our anesthesiologists.

• The types of anesthesia provided range from sedation, regional, and general anesthesia

• Once the patient is in stable condition, he/she will be discharged.  It is normal for the patient to experience sleepiness and dizziness for 12 to 24 hours after surgery.

• As the care giver for the special needs patient  you will receive verbal and written post-surgical care instructions. It is of utmost importance that these instructions be followed to the letter.  You  must be available to discuss and sign these instructions before you will be allowed to take the patient  home.  If  the patient  experiences  anything unusual after his/her  surgery, please call the  surgeon or go to the nearest emergency room.

• A medical staff person from Outpatient Services East will call you the day after your patients  surgery to check on  recovery.

• A friend or relative or dedicated caregiver MUST stay with the patient for at least  24 hours. As the patient we are discussing has special needs most likely someone is always with them anyway. But remember if this is not always necessary, it is for at least 24 hours.

The staff at Outpatient Services East want you to be at ease and comfortable with us caring for your loved one. Please call us with any questions you may have. (205-838-3888)

Visit us on the web at www.osesurg.com