Surgical Services
Surgical Services at MercyOne New Hampton provides patients with basic surgical options from surgical teams dedicated to providing the highest quality care. Having surgery may be very stressful, the below information is provided to help reduce a small part of that stress.
Preparing for Surgery
You will receive a call the day prior to your surgery regarding arrival time and pre-surgery instructions. If you have not received a call from the surgical staff, please call 641-394-4121 the day before your surgery to verify your arrival time and review your pre-surgery instructions. If your surgery is scheduled on a Monday, please call on the previous Friday.
The Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, please report to the Patient Registration Office, which is located near MercyOne’s main entrance on the east side of the hospital.
Bathe or shower as usual the day of your surgery, removing all makeup. At the hospital, you will change into a hospital gown. At this time, you should remove contact lenses. Please be sure to notify your nurse if you have dentures, partial plates, hearing aides or body piercings.
What to Bring
- A list of your medications
- Metered dose inhaler, if you use one
- Most current insurance cards, information for billing, and any pre authorizations required for services
- Any co-pays or deductibles required by your insurance
- A list of any allergies you may have
- Advance Directives if you wish them to be a part of your medical record (Living Will/Medical Durable Power of Attorney)
What Not to Bring
- Valuables. The hospital cannot be responsible for your jewelry and other valuables. Please leave them at home or give them to a family member to hold for you until after your procedure.
Medications
You should not take your regular medications unless ordered by a physician. You will be instructed which medications you should take the day of surgery, if any. Some medications and herbal products should be discontinued well in advance of your surgery. Please verify that information during your pre-procedure visit or phone call.
Surgery
We will make final surgical preparations in the Same Day Surgery area before taking you to the operating room. Your operating room nurse will introduce him or herself, check your identification band and ask a few questions. An Anesthesiologist will speak with you and answer questions before administering your anesthetic.
Surgery Recovery - Post Anesthesia Care/Recovery
After surgery, you will be taken to Recovery in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse and respiration) will be monitored. This room is designed and staffed to care for several patients at a time. You may be aware of other patients and activities going on around you.
Specific Tips for Children
- Bring your child’s special blanket or toy. It will be comforting for them to take a familiar item into surgery, and it will be there when they awaken in the Recovery Room.
- Small children riding in rear facing car seats need two responsible people, one to drive home and one to observe the child during the trip.
- If the infant has a special bottle or formula, please bring it with you to the hospital.
Your family members may wait in the SDS room during your surgery. A nurse will be available to help answer their questions. Usually, your physician will visit with them after your surgery.
If you have any problems, please contact your surgeon or you may contact us at 641-394-4121 if you are unable to reach your surgeon
After Surgery
Q. Do I need someone to be with me the first night home?
A. We do recommend that you have someone stay with you on your first night home.
If you cannot have someone stay with you, it is a good idea to make arrangements to have someone close by whom you can call upon if you should need help.
A nurse will call you after your surgery to see how you are doing and answer any questions you may have about your recovery. If you are experiencing problems or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 641-394-4121.
Q. How will I feel?
A. You may experience any of the following normal symptoms as you recover from surgery.
- You may feel drowsy, tired and have general muscle aches. Mild nausea also is common after anesthesia. If it persists and you cannot keep fluids down, please call your surgeon or primary physician.
Other reactions to surgery include
- If you have general anesthesia, you may have a sore throat for a day or so.
- You may have cramps, gas pains or you may feel slightly bloated and full in your abdomen.
Q. Will I have much discomfort?
A. You will be reasonably comfortable before you are discharged to go home. The amount of discomfort that you experience will depend on the type of surgery you have. You may or may not require a prescription for pain medication.
