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COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
Masks are still required in healthcare settings per CDC and state health department guidelines.
Patient Registration for Surgery at Sacred Heart at RiverBend
Save time, register by phone
If you are having a procedure done in the hospital, you need to register. Registering over the phone will save you time. If someone has not yet called you to register, please call us.
Anesthesia clinic
After your surgery is scheduled, your doctor will request that you schedule an appointment. Please have your insurance card/information available when you call. You will meet with an anesthesiologist and a nurse. You may also have lab work or an EKG done at this time. This is a good time to ask questions about your hospital stay. Please call as soon as possible after your surgery date is confirmed. Please allow two hours for this appointment.
Please bring the following to your appointment:
- Your current prescription medications, vitamins, over-the-counter medicines, herbals, supplements, inhalers, ointments, or eye drops that you take or use
- Photo ID and insurance cards
- All paper work given to you by your doctor or other provider. If you received Health History and medication forms, please have them completed.
- Any questions for the nurse or anesthesiologist
- Any requested co-payment. Our staff will be happy to give you a receipt at this time.
- A family member or friend so you have an extra pair of ears.
Planning for Surgery
Anesthesiologists are perioperative physicians, which means that their practice encompasses the entire surgical experience from pre-surgery evaluation to general or regional anesthesia, to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), intensive care unit, or outpatient surgery setting.
Our anesthesiologists take care of the entire spectrum of patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center, including newborns and elderly patients, who may have a wide range of surgeries and medical conditions. It's not unusual for an anesthesiologist to care for patients of all ages and in several surgical specialties in a single day.
Our Quality Assurance (QA) program is one of the most sophisticated in the country. Every patient is followed and every complication is identified using our QA program, which is based on the recommendations of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
A visit to the Anesthesia Clinic is a necessary step prior to your surgery in preparation for your hospital stay.
Day of Surgery
Before You Leave Home
- Do not bring items of value to the hospital. This includes cash, credit cards, checkbooks, valuable clothing and jewelry.
- Limit visitors on admission to two people.
- At the time of surgery, you may be asked to remove your glasses, contacts, dentures and/or hearing aid. Bring a case for their safe storage.
- Bring comfortable clothes to wear home (loose things with buttons, soft elastic and drawstrings; slip-on shoes).
- All jewelry must be removed prior to surgery. This includes any body piercing. If you have a ring that cannot be removed, let the nurses know when you are admitted. For your safety, it may be necessary to cut off the ring.
- You may continue to wear acrylic nails with a pale polish.
- For patients staying overnight after their procedure, you may bring a robe, slippers, and toiletries with you. You may also bring items from a previous surgery, such as a breathing exerciser or support hose. Please leave your overnight bag in the car until your surgery is over and you are settled into your hospital room.
- For patients having an outpatient procedure, you will need to have a responsible adult drive you home after surgery.
Surgical Procedure Area (SPA)
The SPA is where you will check in on the day of your surgery. It is located on the third floor of Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. Parking is available in parking garage S, located immediately north of the main hospital.
Patients served in the SPA admitting area include one-month old infants through senior adults. A nursing assessment and health history are combined to formulate a plan of care for patients undergoing a surgical procedure within any specialty, diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy, nerve block, photo dynamic therapy (PDT), bronchoscopy, electro convulsive therapy (ECT), or nerve conduction studies of botox injection.
Registered Nurses admit patients by assessing/reassessing pain level, health history, updating medical history, updating surgical/anesthesia history, and coordinating patient-specific information to complete the patient chart prior to a procedure.
Phase II staff care for patients who will be discharged the same day following a surgical procedure, a local anesthetic, or moderate sedation. The SPA staff will provide discharge teaching for patients and families, verbally and in writing. Patients receive prescriptions, along with written discharge instructions from the anesthesia staff, and specific physician instructions according to procedure performed. The staff also follows up with patients via phone 24 hours post-operatively.
After Surgery
Whether you are with us for several days or just a few hours, your comfort and peace of mind are important to us. If you have questions not answered here, please speak with your nurse and doctor, so we can help you with your needs.
Pain Control
Pain control after surgery may be a very important issue for you. Our staff is specially trained in working with patients and their doctors to help reduce pain. If you have any concerns about post-surgical pain, please discuss them with your surgeon or anesthesiologist.
Going Home
Before your surgery, be sure to talk with your doctor and nurse about what you may need after your hospital stay.
You may need:
- Medications
- Crutches or other equipment
- Changes in your home environment
- Caregiver support by a family member, friend or paid helper
- Follow-up appointments