Find Hope for Healing at Surgery Center Rome

Your pre-operative call is a very important part of your outpatient surgery and our first step toward ensuring both a comfortable and stress-free experience.

During your call, we'll explain the surgical process and address any questions or concerns you may have. One of our pre-op nurses will also ask you additional questions about your medical history or physical condition.

Our center uses this information to make the best possible decisions concerning your health care. A nurse will call you one to five days before your surgery. Please have a list of your medications available when you call.

The patient or responsible party should bring their insurance card(s), photo ID and preferred payment method for any co-pays or balances.

The patient or responsible party should carefully review all information listed on the chart and confirm that spellings, addresses and other demographic information are correct.

Patients will need a ride home with a responsible adult and someone to care for them that evening. For patient safety, we request that a responsible adult always remain at our center with the patient.

Parent(s) or legal guardians of pediatric patients (17 years or younger) must remain at our center until dismissal. Legal guardians should bring legal or guardianship papers with them.

Please follow these steps carefully before your surgery to help ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

Contact your surgeon or physician before your surgery date if:

• You are not sure what time to arrive at the Center on the day of your procedure
• You experience any changes in your health between your most recent visit to your physician and the day of your procedure (even minor ones like a temperature, cough or a cold)
• You suspect that you are pregnant (anesthesia and medication may be harmful to the developing fetus)
• You have a latex allergy, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney or liver failure
• You take medications regularly (your physician/surgeon may have guidance about which medications you should or should not take on the day of your procedure)
• If you take a GLP-1 agonist such as Ozempic/Wegovy or Mounjaro/Zepbound your surgeon may ask you to pause that medication for one week before surgery.

After midnight on the day of your surgery:

• Do not smoke after midnight
• Do not eat anything (including gum, mints, hard candy), as undigested food in the stomach can cause complications

On the morning of surgery:

• Take a bath or shower and brush your teeth
• Remove all makeup, jewelry, and contacts (if you must wear contacts, please bring your storage case for use during surgery)
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can accommodate a bandage, cast or other types of dressing where the procedure is being performed

What to bring with you on the day of your surgery:

• All insurance cards
• A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license
• Your form of payment, if required

Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you to our center, receive discharge instructions and drive you home. It is recommended that someone stay with you for the first 24 hours following surgery.

Please leave all jewelry, cash and valuables at home, as we are not responsible for their safety.

On the day of surgery, you should arrive at your scheduled appointment time. You will be admitted to the Center and we will begin preparing you for your procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form for your procedure, which acknowledges your permission for the physician and facility to care for you. If the patient is a minor, this form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

The time you spend in recovery will vary depending on the procedure and your physician’s instructions. However, most patients are discharged 30 to 60 minutes after their procedure.

Your surgeon will provide postoperative instructions about diet, rest, exercise and medications. We’ll give you a written summary of these instructions before discharge.

If you had anesthesia or pain medications, arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours.

If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. The day after your procedure, a nurse from the center will contact you to check your progress and answer any questions you may have.

Your physician will provide post-procedure instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise and medications. The Center will provide you with a written summary of these instructions. We suggest that you pamper yourself for the first 24 hours following your procedure. Arrange for an adult to remain with you at home for at least 24 hours.

Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving an anesthetic, we also recommend that you postpone these activities for 24 hours after discharge:

• Driving and operating equipment
• Signing important papers
• Making significant decisions
• Drinking alcoholic beverages

If you have any unexpected problems, please call your doctor. A nurse from the Center will attempt to call you the next day to check your progress and discuss any questions you may have.

Surgery is a scary prospect for kids (and their parents). We make every effort to calm everyone's fears.

A parent's presence can provide great comfort for the pediatric patient. We encourage you to stay with your child in the pre-operative area before surgery and in the recovery area following the procedure. Feel free to bring your child's favorite stuffed animal, security blanket or a favorite bottle or cup for added reassurance. As a reminder, one parent or legal guardian must remain in the building during the child's stay.