Preparing for Surgery
Enloe Medical Center is dedicated to making our patients' surgical procedures safe, efficient and comfortable.
Below are steps patients can take before surgery to help assure a successful surgical outcome.
Classes
Enloe offers educational information to patients who scheduled for surgery at the hospital:
- A Joint Effort, a free patient education program to help patients prepare for joint replacement surgery. Held two times a month. Call 530.332.7446 for more information.
- Bariatric Pre-Surgical Education, a two-hour class to help prepare for gastric bypass surgery. Held once a month. Call 530.891.1651 for more information.
Enloe Surgical & Procedural Assessment Area
ESPAA, or Enloe Surgical & Procedural Assessment Area, is a service designed to ensure the best possible surgical experience for everyone involved: patients, surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician office staff and Enloe caregivers. The ESPAA (pronounced e-spa) team meets with patients to assess and test them and provide education and evaluation before the day of surgery. ESPAA can be reached at 332-6501.
Items To Bring To Your Appointment
• Insurance cards
• List of allergies
• List of prior surgeries and hospitalizations, including the date of your last surgery if possible
• List of medications you are currently taking, including the dosage and time schedule
• Copy of Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, if you have one
• Translator if English is not your primary language
The Days Before Surgery
Please follow these tips in the days prior to surgery:
• Arrange for care of your dependents
• Arrange for someone to drive you home when you are discharged from the hospital
• Arrange to have help getting your prescriptions filled upon discharge from the hospital
• Your doctor may want you to have pre-operative tests several days before your surgery. Please keep this appointment.
• If you will be having Outpatient Surgery, in most cases, a nurse from Outpatient Surgery will call you the day before your surgery. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.
• If you will be under general anesthesia: No solid foods after midnight on the evening before surgery. Clear liquids (water, apple juice, 7-Up) are okay until four hours before arrival. No coffee.
• If you are having local anesthesia, please follow your surgeon’s guidelines.
• Notify your doctor right away if you develop a cold, sore throat, fever, rash, or have any other health problems. The doctor may wish to postpone the surgery.
The Day of Surgery
Please arrive on time at your specified location. When you arrive for surgery, you will be greeted by a patient service representative who will complete any necessary paperwork. You will be escorted to the pre-operative area where you will be prepared for surgery. In most cases, an anesthesiologist will visit you to ask a few questions relating to your health. After surgery, recovery room nurses will care for you until you are ready for transport to your room. It is normal to feel a little dizzy or sleepy for several hours after an operation.
Medication Guidelines
Take your usual medications the day of surgery, with the following exceptions: Do not take any diuretics (water pills) or diabetic medication. Take your pills with a sip of water. Bring a complete list of medications you are currently taking if you did not already provide it at Pre-Admission Screening.
Dietary Guidelines
No solid food. Clear liquids (water, apple juice, 7-Up) are okay until four hours before arrival. After the cut off for clear liquids, have nothing by mouth, except a sip of water with medications.
General Guidelines
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco the day of surgery.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
• Do not wear mascara, as it may be an irritant during anesthesia. Do not wear face make-up if you are having facial surgery; no nail polish or rings if you are having hand or foot surgery.
• Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• If at the last minute you develop a fever, rash, or have a bad cold, call your doctor as he or she may wish to postpone your surgery.
Items To Bring With You
• Insurance card; complete list of current medications, including dose and schedule; eyeglasses & case, contact lens case; nonskid slippers; robe; hearing aids; inhaler; dentures; toiletries and reading or writing materials if desired
Do Not Bring
• Money, jewelry or other valuables – Please remove all jewelry prior to coming to the hospital.
• Do not bring medications to the hospital, with the exception of eye drops or inhalers.
Waiting Room
• Family and friends are welcome to wait in the family waiting room, located in the main lobby. Enloe is a non-smoking facility. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Family and friends will be informed when your surgery is completed and you have been taken to the recovery room. They will be notified of your room number.
Outpatient Surgery For Children
If your child is scheduled for surgery, please follow these additional guidelines.
• A parent or legal guardian must accompany patients who are minors.
• Legal guardians must provide guardianship papers to sign for minors.
• A clean, empty bottle should be brought for infants.
• It is suggested that someone other than the driver be available to help care for the child on the trip home.
After Surgery
You will receive written and verbal instructions for your care at home, your medications and a follow-up appointment with your doctor. If you do not understand any of this information, we are happy to provide you with an explanation.
On the morning you go home, plan to be discharged by 11:00 a.m.
Enloe Medical Center is prepared to provide care for patients after their hospital stay. Physicians may prescribe nursing services, social work counseling, or rehabilitation with home health aides upon discharge. A discharge planner will help coordinate any care and resources you may require after your hospital stay.
Canceling your scheduled surgery
If for any reason you need to cancel your surgery, you must notify your doctor. Your doctor will notify us. If you have any questions regarding your scheduled surgery, call your doctor or the Enloe Medical Center Surgery Department: (530) 332-7800
Financial Information
Enloe has a financial counselor available to assist you with financial questions related to your surgery. Enloe Medical Center charges do not include the professional fees of the surgeon, assistant surgeon (if required), anesthesiologist, pathologist or radiologist. For more information, call (530) 332-6736.
Contact information
Enloe Medical Center - Surgery Department
1531 Esplanade
Chico, CA., 95926
(530) 332.7800
Enloe Outpatient Center, Building B
888 Lakeside Village Commons
(at the
entrance to California Park)
(530) 332.6868
332-6883 - Surgery Office
332-6882 - Recovery Room
Pre-Admission Screening Services Department
Enloe Medical Center
(530) 332.6501
Additional Enloe resources
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