Be Prepared for Your Surgery Before Your Procedure Begins

We want both your experience at our facility for your surgical procedure and your recovery to go as smoothly and as well as it can. Please read through this information and instructions in order to be as best prepared as you can prior to arriving the day of your procedure.

Prior to Surgery

  • Register with Alpine Surgery Center. You will receive telephone call(s) from Alpine Surgery Center to gather health and financial information prior to your scheduled procedure. During one of these calls, an Alpine Surgery Center nurse will review your medical history, your current medications and other pertinent information. The nurse will also review any necessary pre-operative instructions with you.
  • On Blood Thinners? If you are on medication that is a blood thinner, it is important you make your provider aware of this well before your surgery. Please do so as soon as you have an office visit to schedule surgery.
  • Arrange for Interpreter if Needed. If you are a non-English speaking person, please inform us ahead of time. If you can provide an interpreter with whom you feel comfortable hearing private information, please make arrangements for the interpreter to be available for those telephone calls and to accompany you on the date of surgery. Otherwise, other arrangements for interpretation will be made.
  • Arrange for Transportation & Care. Some procedures, anesthesia and medications may impair your ability to drive safely or to do other things for a period of time following surgery. For your safety, as well as the public’s, we require you to have someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after surgery. Please make these arrangements well in advance. If you do not have a ride and a caregiver for that period, your surgery will likely have to be rescheduled.
  • Pregnant? If you are or could be pregnant, please notify us prior to your arrival. Several peri-op medications and possible proximity to the use of radiation may cause harm to a developing pregnancy and your appointment may need to be rescheduled.

Night Before Surgery

  • Do not smoke. Refrain from smoking at least after midnight.
  • Bathe or shower. Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, wash and scrub yourself thoroughly, preferably with antibacterial soap, to minimize the risk of infection. Be sure to scrub under fingernails and toenails and remove any nail polish.
  • Stop eating & drinking at midnight. Unless otherwise instructed, stop eating and drinking, INCLUDING water, coffee and medications at least 4 hours before your arrival time. Any medications, including pain pills you are taking, should be taken the day of surgery only if instructed by the staff and with only a small sip of water no later than four hours before your arrival time. If you have any questions, please call us.

Day of Surgery

  • Bathe or shower (if you haven’t done so as instructed above).
  • Wear something comfortable and easy to remove.
  • Remove all jewelry, including those in body piercings, prior to your arrival.
  • Brush your teeth — but do not drink/swallow any water.

Bring the Following Items With You:

  • Contact lens case and/or glasses
  • Relevant medical records
  • Lab test results (if required)
  • Living Will and/or Advance Directives
  • All medications, supplements and herbal remedies, in their original containers or an accurate, current list of them with dosage and frequency.
  • Driver’s license (or state-issued picture ID)
  • Current insurance card(s)
  • A responsible, adult support person. (Please remember that space is limited and be aware that all patients will have others with them.)

Travel to Alpine Surgery Center:

  • Arrive on time. All appointments are scheduled and, unlike a hospital, we do not have to deal with the interruptions of inpatient surgical procedures and emergency cases. Therefore, it is important to arrive in a timely manner. Your arrival time at the center will be approximately 2 hours before your surgery scheduled start time. This allows time for registration and evaluation.
  • Follow Instructions & Ask Questions. Please follow all instructions from our staff and let us know if you might pregnant, you are on blood thinner medications or if at anytime you do not understand what is happening.

Discharge

Following your procedure, our nursing staff will provide you with a copy of your Discharge Instructions and will review those instructions with you and others designated by you. You should take this opportunity to ask any questions that you have regarding your post discharge and recovery care. You will be given supplies (i.e., dressings) necessary for use for 24 hours after your surgery. You must have a responsible person to stay with you after surgery including the night following.

In some cases, your provider may refer you to Alpenglow short-stay assisted living facility to help with your recovery. For more information on this facility, visit Alpenglow's website.

Transportation

For your safety, as well as the public’s safety, ASC requires you to have someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after surgery. Some procedures, anesthesia and medications may impair your ability to drive safely or to do other things for a period of time following surgery. If you do not have a ride, or a caregiver for that period, your appointment will have to be rescheduled.

Discharge Instructions

Be sure to follow your discharge instructions carefully. Be sure to follow your discharge instructions carefully. Be sure to follow your discharge instructions carefully. Be sure to follow your discharge instructions carefully.