A Team Effort Here’s how to work with your surgical team to get the best outcome: n Know the preparations you must make before your surgery. n Get to the hospital or surgical center early on the day of your surgery. n Review paperwork carefully before signing. n Make sure the proper part of your body is marked for surgery. n Get your post-surgical care instructions in writing before you leave.
On the Day of Your Surgery n Shower or bathe and wash your hair.
Don’t wear makeup or perfume. Be sure to follow any other pre-surgery instructions you were given.
n Leave your jewelry, money, credit cards, and other valuables at home.
n Allow yourself plenty of time for travel.
n Once you arrive at the hospital or surgical center, you will be given an Informed Consent form to sign. Read it carefully. Make sure everything on the form is correct. If you don’t understand something, ask questions before you sign the form.
Before Your Procedure Begins n Staff at the hospital or surgical
center should ask you the following questions more than once before your surgery: Your name What kind of surgery you’re having Te part of your body that is being operated on
n A healthcare professional will mark the spot on your body that is going to be operated on. Make sure he or she marks only the correct part. If he or she makes a mistake and has to make a new mark, be sure the old mark is completely cleaned off.
30
n If you won’t be awake for the marking, be sure your relative or friend watches the marking.
n Ask your surgeon if the team will take a “time out” just before your procedure. Tis is done to make sure the team is doing the right surgery on the right body part of the right person.
After Your Surgery n Speak up about any pain you are
having and ask for relief. Be specific about the intensity and location.
n If you are given medications right aſter surgery, ask what they are and what they are for. Ask about side effects. If you are given a prescription for medications you must take while recovering, be sure you understand the instructions for the dosage, how frequently you need to take the medications, and for how long.
n If you are given IV (intravenous) fluids right aſter surgery, ask what they are and what they are for. Be sure someone monitors the fluid level.
n Ask your surgeon if your activities need to be limited, and if so, for how long. Ask when you will be able to resume work, exercise, and travel.
n Be sure to get instructions for post-surgical care in writing before you leave.
©2015 PatientPoint®
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44