For more information please
call 651-241-8100.

Related links

• Surgery checklist
• Information for families
• Directions/maps to United Hospital

Surgical Care Center

Welcome to the Surgical Care Center of United Hospital. While you are here for surgery or other procedures, a highly skilled team of physicians, registered nurses and other qualified medical professionals will care for you. We want your experience at United to be as comfortable as possible.

Once your procedure is scheduled

• Make an appointment for your preoperative history and physical — Most patients need to do this. Be sure to check with your doctor if it is necessary for you. Your surgeon or primary care doctor can do the history and physical. If possible, please have your physician’s office fax your history and physical report to our center at 651-241-5073.
• Request a copy of your history and physical, lab results, cardiogram (EKG) and put in your United Hospital envelope.
• Also, request a copy of results of any other tests done within 6 months of your surgery (Stress Test, CT Scans, X-rays, MRI's, etc.).
• Keep your history and physical appointment — Your procedure will be delayed or cancelled if your history and physical is not done.
• Notify your doctor if you experience a significant change in your health. Examples include experiencing a cold, fever, sore throat, cough or rash.

If you need an interpreter, United Hospital will arrange for a qualified interpreter for you free of charge. To comply with federal standards, United discourages family members of the patient to serve in the role of the interpreter.

If you are planning to go home the same day of surgery, arrange for an adult to drive you home and stay with you — You MUST have someone drive you home after your procedure and you MUST have an adult stay with you for 24 hours. For your safety, you will not be able to drive or leave the hospital alone.

A short time before your procedure

You will receive a call from the hospital’s admitting department for pre-admission information. Please have the following available:

• insurance numbers
• name, address and phone number of your employer
• your social security number

One to three days before your procedure, a registered nurse will call you or you may call the nurse at 651-241-8100 or reach United Hospital toll free at 1-800-869-1320. The nurse will review:

• instructions for day of surgery
• your medical history
• medications you will take the morning of your procedure
• your paperwork with you.

What you may eat and drink before your procedure

Age 2 years to adult:

• NO SOLID FOODS, milk products or juices with pulp eight hours prior to your scheduled procedure time.You may have clear liquids until four hours before your procedure and then nothing by mouth. Clear liquids are water, black coffee, tea, apple juice and pop.
• Please do not chew gum, take lozenges, eat hard candy or use chewing tobacco before your procedure.
• You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth.

United Hospital is a smoke-free facility. We ask you to refrain from smoking after midnight on the day of your procedure.

The morning of your procedure

Take the following medications the morning of your procedure:

• pain medication if needed
• heart medications
• blood pressure medications
• seizure medications
• asthma medications (please bring your inhalers with you to the hospital)
• check with your doctor if you take insulin

Take medications with a SMALL sip of water only!

REMEMBER: Bring any copies of the history and physical, and X-ray images if you had any taken, that your doctor's office gave you to the hospital.

• a copy of your history and physical and any lab reports
• your insurance information and cards

In addition, the morning of your procedure:

• leave all jewelry, purses, wallets or anything else of value at home
• remove all body piercing jewelry before your procedure
• remove makeup
• personal belongings should not be brought to the hospital until after surgery
• contact lenses, glasses and dentures will be removed just before your procedure

Arriving at the Hospital

The Surgical Care Center is on the second floor of United Hospital.

• Enter the hospital through the main entrance at 333 North Smith Avenue. Stop at the registration desk on the first floor.
• Go through the lobby, turn right and take the elevators to the second floor.
• When you get off the elevators, turn right in the hallway and go straight ahead to the Surgical Information Center. Someone from the Surgical Care Center staff will greet you.

Consent for surgery

You are required to sign a consent form for your surgery and your anesthesia.

Patients younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for signing the consent form.

Preop area

You will be brought to the preop area, where your records will be reviewed, and your temperature, pulse and blood pressure checked.

You will meet your surgeon, your anesthesiologist and other surgical staff members. Any intravenous (IV) fluids necessary for your surgery may be started at this time.

Family waiting room

While you are in surgery, family or friends may wait in the surgical guest lounge, which is located on the second floor near the preop area. Your surgeon will meet them there after your surgery.

Postop area

After your surgery is completed, you will be moved to an area where you can recover from the anesthesia. A registered nurse will care for you as the effects of the anesthesia wear off.

• You may feel some pain and nausea after surgery. Your nurse is at your bedside to help you.
• You may not remember many of the events on the day of surgery due to the medications administered, but don't be alarmed if you experience this.
• When appropriate, you will be moved to a room where your family can be with you for the remainder of your recovery.

Discharge

Your stay in the hospital depends on the procedure performed and your surgeon's instructions.

When you are ready to leave the hospital, a nurse will talk with you and give you a written summary of your surgeon's instructions about rest, diet and medications to be taken on the days following your surgery.

Follow-up

A nurse from United Hospital will attempt to call you within 24 hours of your discharge to check on your recovery.

Please call your surgeon if you develop any unexpected symptoms in the days following your discharge.

Surgical Care Center photo tour