For your comfort, we encourage you to wear clothing that can be easily removed and stored. Please avoid wearing any jewelry, piercings, nail polish and cosmetics, and leave contact lenses at home or bring your lens case with you.

A nurse will conduct a pre-operative assessment that will include taking your vital signs and starting an IV if it is required for your procedure. The anesthesia provider will also speak with you in the pre-operative area to review all pre-operative information and discuss your anesthesia.  Our staff will keep your loved one informed of your progress and when they will be able to re-join you after the procedure.

You will receive instructions regarding arrival time during your pre-operative phone call.  It is important that you arrive at the designated time.

Take a shower the night before and the morning of surgery. Follow these simple steps:

• Wash your hair first with any shampoo.
• Wash all of your body using a liquid antibacterial soap and a clean washcloth for each shower.
• Rinse well to remove all soap.
• Dry your body with a clean towel.
• Do not use lotion, cream, or powder.
• Do not shave or clip the area where the surgery will be done unless your physician directs you to do so.
• On the day of your procedure make sure you, your family and any other caregivers wash hands frequently while at the facility and at home following your surgery. Also, do not hesitate to ask members of your health care team at the facility if they have washed their hands!
• After your procedure make sure you, your family and any other caregivers wash their hands frequently.  Also, be sure you follow all instructions provided by your health care team regarding the care and cleaning of your surgical site as well as the administration of post-operative medications and bandages.

Yes. The nature of most procedures will require that you and your surgeon confirm both the specific type of procedure you are having as well as the surgical site of that procedure.

Please be sure to notify your physician, anesthesiologist and nurse prior to the date of surgery if you think you may be pregnant. The surgical procedure, anesthesia and medications may be harmful to a developing baby.

No. We advise against smoking on the day of your procedure. Smoking may interfere with the anesthesia and frequently produces nausea during the recovery period. It should also be noted that all of MMC's campus are smoke free; no smoking or vaping are allowed on the premises.

Admissions to a hospital from a surgery center happen occasionally. In certain circumstances, your physician or anesthesiologist may determine that you need to be transferred to a hospital for additional post operative care.

If you are in serious pain, or exhibit warning symptoms described in your discharge instructions, please call your physician, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Your surgeon may have specific recommendations for your post operative diet. We generally suggest that you eat lightly after surgery, and strongly encourage you to drink plenty of fluids. You should avoid alcoholic beverages.

The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our post operative call at home. During your stay at the facility, you will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain using a numerical scale (1-10), or for children, the "Faces Pain Scale". 

We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable - choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc. Prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. Remember that information on pain management gives you the appropriate expectations and hence a smoother, more comfortable recovery. It is important to follow instructions regarding your post operative pain medication closely.  Many pain medications take 20 to 30 minutes to begin to work.  For best results, the pain medication should be taken before the pain becomes too strong.

No. Patients will not be allowed to drive after a procedure. All patients undergoing a procedure in our SurgiCenter or Endoscopy Center must be accompanied by an adult. NO Uber, Lyft, Med. Ride, or public transportation. A responsible adult must come with you, stay in the waiting room during your procedure and drive you home after. Failure to have someone here with you and to drive you home after will result in the cancellation of your procedure.  

n addition to following the recommendations below, follow your post operative instructions carefully and notify your physician if you have any signs or symptoms which concern you.

Take a shower the night before and the morning of surgery. Follow these simple steps:

1. Wash your hair first with any shampoo.
2. Wash all of your body using a liquid antibacterial soap and a clean washcloth for each shower.
3. Rinse well to remove all soap.
4. Dry your body with a clean towel.
5. Do not use lotion, cream or powder.
6. Do not shave or clip the area where the surgery will be done unless your physician directs you to do so.
7. On the day of your procedure make sure you, your family and any other caregivers wash hands frequently while at the facility and at home following your surgery. Also, do not hesitate to ask members of your health care team at the facility if they have washed their hands!
8. After your procedure make sure you, your family and any other caregivers wash their hands frequently.  Also, be sure you follow all instructions provided by your health care team regarding the care and cleaning of your surgical site as well as the administration of post-operative medications and bandages.