For a preview of what a general outpatient surgery visit will be like, click here.

Using the most modern technologies, Western Reserve Hospital is committed to ensuring surgical safety and efficiency across all of our inpatient and outpatient procedural services. Our physicians have access to state-of-the-art equipment and our accommodating staff help patients feel at ease about their stay with us. To ensure patient and guest comfort and accessibility both pre and post-op, our staff provides a concierge approach to your care, offering a variety of onsite services to all patients and guests through our free valet parking and bed-side admission and registration, comfortable waiting areas and lounges, food services and other in-house amenities designed with your care and convenience in mind.

The surgeons and medical staff at Western Reserve Hospital are committed to one thing: excellence in patient care. A major initiative at our hospital since its inception is to ensure patient satisfaction becomes an engrained part of the culture, and from your pre-operative care through your post-operative healing, we are working hard in every way to achieve this goal.

All across our organization, physicians, staff, administrators and volunteers are mindful of the vital impact patient satisfaction plays in your visit, and our entire community wishes to make that time as comfortable and pleasant as possible, staying true to our mission of providing the highest quality, most professional, convenient healthcare available. That's what you deserve and improved healthcare outcomes are the reasons why we are so passionate about serving you.

Pre-Surgical Testing

If you are having a surgery performed at Western Reserve Hospital, you may be required to undergo pre-surgical testing. These tests will take place within 30 days of your procedure. Upon arrival, patients should report directly to the Pre-Surgical testing Department.

  • Arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time; the appointment should last a little more than an hour.
  • Patients are permitted to eat and drink the day of testing.
At the time of testing, you will:
  • Receive the latest information concerning your instructions before your surgery
  • Meet with a nurse practitioner who will ask for your medications and medical history
  • Receive a short physical exam
  • Undergo laboratory, radiology and cardiology testing if indicated.

What to bring:

  • All documents given to you by your surgeon
  • Insurance card(s)
  • A list of all medications (dosages and times), including non-prescription medication and herbal therapies

Your doctor or outpatient surgery staff may give you instructions to follow during the evening before or morning of your surgery. Do not forget to notify your surgeon if you are taking aspirin, blood thinners or arthritic medication daily. Before arriving at the hospital, please follow all preoperative instructions.

Advance Beneficiary Notice for Medicare Insurance Carriers

  • For Medicare insurance carriers, you may be asked to take financial responsibility for tests that are ordered but may not be covered by Medicare. If this applies to your testing, your registrar will explain which tests apply and answer any questions you may have. A list of any allergies such as food, medication and especially latex/rubber
  • Copy of your completed advance directives

Day Before Surgery

On the day before your surgery, follow these guidelines:

  • Staff will call you the afternoon or early evening prior to surgery to confirm your surgery time.
  • Try to relax and have a quiet evening.
  • Do not drink any hard alcohol, beer, wine, or smoke within 24 hours of your surgery.
  • Plan to have a family member or friend available to drive you home after your surgery.
  • Do not eat or drink anything, including gum or mints, after midnight.
  • NOTE: Any food taken after midnight will delay or cancel your surgery.

Day of Surgery

To assure the best results from your surgery, please follow these instructions on the day of your surgery:

  • Do not eat or drink after midnight the day before your surgery.
  • Take all medications with a sip of water as instructed in pre-surgical testing or by your surgeon.
  • If you have a rash or break in the skin, notify your surgeon.
  • Bring a list of medications with you and a list of all allergies (i.e. food, medication, and latex/rubber).
  • If you use inhalers, eye drops or a CPAP/BIPAP machine, bring those with you to surgery.
  • If you use oxygen at home daily, bring your portable oxygen tank in case you would need it for going home.
  • Bathe or shower with antibacterial soap before coming to the hospital. You may brush your teeth and use mouthwash.
  • Wash hair with shampoo only. Do not use hairspray or leave-in products.
  • Remove all make-up, fingernail polish, jewelry (including wedding ring) and all body piercings.
  • Leave money, credit cards and other valuables at home.
  • Bring insurance cards, Medicare or agency identification.
  • Wear low shoes, loose, comfortable clothing that buttons down the front and can be folded and stored (if having breast surgery, wear a good supportive bra, as your surgeon may prefer you wear it home).
  • Bring your eyeglass case or contact lens case.
  • DO NOT shave the skin around the planned surgical site for three days prior to surgery.
  • Bring an adult to drive you home and stay with you after your surgery.
  • If you are under 18 years old, you will need a parent or guardian to sign the consent for surgery.
  • Park in the designated area for your surgery.
  • Plan to arrive at the hospital no later than 90 minutes before your surgery unless otherwise instructed.

Check-in Process

Please remember to first check in at the Surgery Desk. After check-in, a nurse will escort you into the Outpatient Surgery unit. Here you will be asked to remove all clothing and change into a hospital gown. For your convenience, your clothing will be placed safely into a locked area.

Next, a nurse will ask you some medical questions, including the location of the surgery site. This question may be asked several times and the location will be marked with a marking pen. If there are any questions you do not understand, please do not hesitate to ask your nurse to explain.

Before surgery, you will be asked to sign a patient consent form indicating that you have spoken to your surgeon and both the risks and benefits of surgery have been explained to you. At this time, you will also speak with an anesthesiologist concerning the anesthesia to be used for your procedure.

After these two steps are completed, you will be given an intravenous line (IV) to provide you with fluids and medicine during surgery. In addition to your IV, you may have a surgical hose or inflatable stockings applied prior to surgery. Two family members are permitted to visit with you prior to surgery and after the initial recovery room stay. When you are taken to surgery, your visitors can wait in the surgery lounge.

Anesthesia

On the day of your procedure, a member of the Anesthesia Department will explain the different types of anesthesia. However, your doctor will discuss with you the expected type of anesthesia for your particular surgery.

For your safety, you will not be allowed to drive or take public transportation alone after a procedure that requires anesthesia. Therefore, if you have a general, regional or local anesthesia with sedation, you must arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you home.

If you develop a cold, fever (temperature above 100 degrees), cough, sore throat or have been exposed to a contagious disease before your scheduled procedure, please notify your physician immediately.

After Your Surgery

When your surgery is complete, the operating room staff will assist you to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Your time in PACU can vary from one to three hours or more. Patients respond differently to anesthesia, so please don't be alarmed if you remain in PACU longer. To protect the privacy of all patients, there are no visiting hours in PACU.

Discharge

When you're ready, your physician will discharge you. When you are prepared to leave, you will be asked to redress. If needed, our staff is happy to assist you.

As you recuperate, you will be given instructions for home care and any prescriptions your doctor has written. For the convenience of our patients, we provide the services of a retail pharmacy where your home-going prescriptions can be filled before discharge.

Please have the person picking you up bring your payment method at the time of discharge to utilize this service. The nurse will also tell you when to see the surgeon for a follow-up appointment.

For your safety and protection, you must not drive, operate any machinery or make important decisions 24 hours after receiving anesthesia. We strongly recommend that a responsible adult be with you the rest of the day and overnight. When you are Home You and your family will be given written instructions from your discharge nurse before returning home. To have a safe recovery from your surgery, all patients should observe the instructions on both sides of the home-going discharge paper. Remember, if you have questions about your anesthesia, contact the anesthesia staff by the phone number listed on the home-going discharge paper. Follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon. You may call your surgeon with any questions and to schedule your post-surgery visit. If you are discharged from Outpatient Surgery Department, expect to receive a courtesy call a day or two after your procedure. Please notify your nurse which phone number you can best be reached at.

Post-Surgery

Pain Management

As a patient, you are expected to play an active role in understanding your pain or discomfort, how to manage it and the need to tell your doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved. You can help us keep you comfortable by discussing these concerns with your doctor or nurse.

Coughing & Deep Breathing

After your operation, you will be asked to cough and breathe deeply. These exercises will help to keep your lungs healthy. Here are some methods to help you cough and breathe more easily:

  • It is best to cough deeply and breathe deeply in a sitting position.
  • Hold a pillow against your abdominal incision when you cough. This eases the strain on your incision and makes coughing more comfortable.
  • Bending your knees up will support your stomach muscles.
  • Take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, exhale slowly and relax.
  • After taking a couple of deep breaths, cough two or three times in a row (once is not enough).
  • If you find you can't cough, take the same kind of deep breath, then open your mouth wide and force air out of your lungs quickly, making a "huffing" sound.
  • Do this every hour that you are awake on the day of your surgery and the following day.
  • If you have any questions, please ask your nurse to help you.

Activity

We recommend limiting your activities for the remainder of the day of surgery. However, walking and moderate activity is acceptable and will decrease the chance of blood clots forming in your legs.

Pain Medication

After your surgery, you may have some pain or discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication to help make you as comfortable as possible. The medication may not take all of your pain away, but it will allow you to rest. Pain medication is important to facilitate coughing and breathing deeply. It also helps maintain some activity and promotes recovery. If you are experiencing pain that is not made tolerable by the medication, let the nurses know. If you are at home, call your doctor. Pain medication can take on many forms and can be given by mouth, injections, suppositories or patches. Your doctor will help you decide what is best for you.

Several non-drug relief methods could also be helpful. You might find one of these techniques effective:

  • Relaxation techniques
  • Imagery
  • Music
  • Massage (need doctor approval)

For all of these techniques, you need to be in a comfortable position. Breathe in and out slowly. Imagine a place you find relaxing, or listen to relaxing music with your eyes closed.

Patient Payment Policy

Western Reserve Hospital Patient Access Payment Policy 

Western Reserve Hospital Financial Coordinating staff, working jointly with Surgery/Central Patient Scheduling and Ancillary Care areas, will take reasonable steps to complete the following prior to elective procedures and surgery:

  • The patient payer information
  • If a patient is uninsured, we will help determine if the patient is eligible for any coverage.
  • If the patient does not qualify for any government or hospital reimbursement, an individual payment plan will be established. The payment plan is interest free with the balance to paid in full, ideally within six months, but no longer than 12 months. Payment plans will be based on the patient's gross monthly income, number of dependents (children are natural or adopted, under the age of 18 years old living at the same residence) and tentative procedure or surgery expense. Payment options will be discussed with patients, and individual payment plans, if not covered under health insurance, Care Assurance and/or charity programs, are to be in place prior to any elective procedures or surgery.
  • Note: Any default by the patient of the mutually agreed payment plan may result in delay of future scheduling of elective procedures, surgery or appointments.