Anesthesia—Cumberland Healthcare’s anesthesia department is staffed with Board-Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The department provides anesthesia care for scheduled and emergency procedures 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Inpatient/Outpatient Surgery—Most of our patients can use our 3-bay Same-Day Surgery unit. With new technology, many surgical patients can go home within a few hours instead of several days. Some of our surgical patients are overnight stay/inpatient.
Preoperative Surgical Plan—Once your surgery is scheduled, you will need a physical, lab work, and an EKG, depending on what you are having done. Please consult your provider regarding any medications you are on and any vitamins, herbs, or over-the-counter drugs you may be taking. You may need to stop taking some medications several days to weeks before your surgery.
- A staff member will call you the day before your surgery to confirm your surgery and time of arrival.
- The night before your surgery, you may eat a light supper.
- Unless otherwise instructed, do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew after midnight.
- You may be instructed to take some medication with a small sip of water on the morning of your surgery.
- If you cannot keep your surgical appointment, be sure to get in touch with your doctor and the hospital’s surgical department as soon as possible.
- If you develop a cold, sore throat, fever, or other illness, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Day of Surgery
- Plan to arrive at Cumberland Healthcare as directed, which will be 1-2 hours before surgery.
- Upon arrival, register at the hospital front desk just inside the main entrance. After registration, you will be escorted to the Same Day Surgery waiting area.
- Before coming to the hospital, shower the evening before and the morning of your surgery with antibacterial soap. Do not apply powders or creams to your surgical site area.
- You may not wear contact lenses during surgery, so plan on wearing glasses as needed.
- Do not wear make-up, nail polish, or jewelry.
- Remember, “nothing to eat, drink, smoke or chew after midnight” unless instructed otherwise by your doctor; this includes water.
You may brush your teeth – but don’t swallow any water.
- Please bring a list of your prescriptions and over-the-counter medication.
- Be sure to have someone available to drive you home; you will not be allowed to drive home.
If you smoke – stop smoking as many weeks or days before surgery as possible. Do not smoke at least 24 hours before and 24 hours after surgery. Cumberland Healthcare is a smoke-free facility. - Please inform your nurse if you have any skin irritation, ingrown hairs, or other skin irritation in the area of your planned surgical site.
After Surgery
- You will be escorted to the recovery room. The length of time depends on the type of anesthesia used.
- Your surgeon will talk with your family in the waiting area
- If your surgery is inpatient – your family may return to your hospital room after talking to the surgeon.
- If your surgery is outpatient – your family may come to sit with you when you return to the Same Day Unit.
- While in same-day surgery, your blood pressure will be taken, and your dressings will be checked.
- If you feel any discomfort, your surgeon will order medication to relieve the discomfort.
- You will be given water, coffee, juice, and a muffin if you desire.
At Discharge
- Your nurse will review your post-operative instructions with you and your family.
- Any follow-up appointments will be made if necessary.
- Your postoperative prescriptions will be called to the pharmacy of your choice, or a paper prescription will be given to the patient directly to have filled.
- You will not be allowed to drive home, so be sure you have a ride available.
- A nurse will call you the day after surgery to assess your condition and answer any questions you may have.
- Call the hospital if you have questions or concerns that you feel need to be addressed immediately.
- To contact the Cumberland Healthcare Surgery Department, call 715-822-7370.