Additional Instructions

What to bring to the hospital

  • A list of medicines you take. Include all prescription medicines, supplements (like vitamins and herbals), and over-the-counter medicines, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen. Include the name of the medicine, how much you take, and the last time you took it.
  • Your picture identification.
  • Your health insurance card.
  • Your medication prescription card.
  • Any Advance Directive or Living Will you may have so we can include it in your medical record.
  • If you are going home after surgery, a responsible adult who will sign you out of the recovery room, receive your post-op education and drive you home.
  • Any medical aids like dentures, reading glasses, hearing aids, cane, walker, or CPAP/BiPAP machine you normally use.
  • Any special medications like eye drops or inhalers you regularly use.
  • If you are staying in the hospital- personal care items, like deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, denture cleaner, and a set of clean, comfortable clothes to wear when you are going home
  • A book or magazine you may enjoy reading.
  • Any educational materials/surgical folder you were asked to bring by the surgeon’s office.
 

What NOT to bring to the hospital

  • Money, credit cards, valuables.
  • Jewelry- All jewelry and piercings should be removed before surgery and left at home. If you forget, we will ask you to remove them in the preoperative area and your family member or responsible adult with you may keep them for you.
 

Additional information

  • Please arrive at the hospital at the time you were given. It is common to be told to arrive at the hospital two hours before your scheduled surgery time. (On occasion, surgery times may change due to emergencies, cancellations, or delays, so it is possible to receive a call with a new time-of-arrival the day of, or the day before, your surgery.)
  • If you live far away, be sure to account for traffic or weather delays so you arrive on time.
  • If you need to cancel the night before or the morning of your scheduled surgery, or are going to be delayed arriving on time, please call the Operating Room Desk at 207-275-0974 to let us know.