Do I need to visit the center before the date of surgery?
May I preregister for surgery?
What if I can’t make my appointment?
What should I wear?
Why must I refrain from eating/or drinking prior to surgery?
Should I take my usual daily medications?
May I continue my herbal medications?
Who may accompany me?
Will I receive sedation before going to the operating room?
Will I be contacted before my surgery?
Should I bathe and wash my hair before leaving home?
What should I do if I’m not feeling well?
What should I do if I started my menstrual cycle?
What should I do if I believe I’m pregnant?
May I drive home?
May I speak to my anesthesiologist prior to the surgery?
What if I have special needs?
Should I bring my special needs equipment?
What must I being with me on the day of surgery?
How will my pain be managed?
Who do I talk to if I have a complaint?
Do I need to visit the center before the date of surgery?
Yes. You need to have a scheduled pre-admission appointment w/the pre-admission RN.
May I preregister for surgery?
Yes. You may register online or by calling 744-6000.
What if I can’t make my appointment?
Please notify the surgeon and McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center at 541-744-6000 as early as possible if you cannot make your scheduled appointment. Early notification can help us better accommodate you and other patients.
What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothing. Button down the front shirts or blouses are best. Wear comfortable shoes. Leave all jewelry at home, including body-piercing jewelry. If you wear contact lenses you will need to remove them for the surgery, so bring your glasses. If you have to wear your contacts, please being contact solution and contact lenses case. Please do not wear make-up as this can hide certain clinical signs.
Why must I refrain from eating/or drinking prior to surgery?
You refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery in order to prevent the risks f aspirating gastric or stomach contents during your surgery. This complication is very serious and you need to strictly abide by our recommendations. This has nothing to do with nausea or vomiting after your surgery.
Should I take my usual daily medications?
We generally request that you take your medication before leaving home. Blood pressure and diabetic medications will be individualized. We will usually hold diabetic medicines and anesthesia will manage your blood sugar at the center. This will be discussed at your pre-admission visit, leaving no doubts in your mind as to which medications you should take. Please bring a list with date and time of last medicine taken.. Inhalers should be brought to the center the day of the surgery. Some medications will be stopped for the surgery, particularly diabetes medications and blood thinners. Call us with any questions.
May I continue my herbal medications?
Herbal medications may have harmful effects on the surgery. Many of these remedies may affect your clotting mechanism and interfere with the anesthetic agents. We generally request that you stop these medications two weeks before surgery. Please remember to mention these remedies when being asked about medications.
Who may accompany me?
You are welcome to bring one or two persons with you to the hospital. Family may wait in the waiting are while you are being prepared for and during your surgery. When the patient is a child often two parents and/or guardians will accompany him or her to the hospital. Please refrain from bringing young children to the hospital. All children must be under adult supervision at all times.
Will I receive sedation before going to the operating room?
We individualize each patient’s care. The anesthesiologist or your surgeon will determine your need for sedation.
Will I be contacted before my surgery?
If you do not come to the hospital for a patient visit one of our nurses will call to obtain your medical history and to discuss instructions related to your surgery.
Should I bathe and wash my hair before leaving home?
Yes. You can comfortably take a shower, bathe, brush your teeth, etc. Please do not use make-up, hair spray or perfume. You will be instructed in an antibacterial shower regime prior to admission.
What should I do if I’m not feeling well?
If you are not feeling well , please contact your surgeon immediately. During normal business hours you can call MWMC for advice. There are some surgeries which are safer if delayed when you are sick.
What should I do if I started my menstrual cycle?
Call your surgeon if you have any questions.
What should I do if I believe I’m pregnant?
It is very important for us to be aware of this possibility. Only essential surgery is done on pregnant mothers. If there is any doubt please contact us immediately.
May I drive home?
We require that all patients have a ride home and have a responsible adult to assist in the recovery for 24 hours. Patients will not be allowed to drive, walk, or take public transportation after sedation or anesthesia.
May I speak to my anesthesiologist prior to the surgery?
Most patients have their questions answered by an anesthesiologist at the pre-operative visit. All patients will be seen by an anesthesiologist on the day of the surgery prior to entering the operating room. Sufficient tine should be spent to answer any additional questions you may have. Please make sure that the center has an accurate phone number to assure contact if necessary.
What if I have special needs?
We will make every effort to accommodate any special need you may have. The pre-admission nurse will discuss these needs with you. We strongly encourage you to alert the surgeon’s office in advance so that we can properly prepare to make you comfortable. Do not hesitate to call and suggest anything that my may make your day easier.
Should I bring my special needs equipment?
Yes. Special equipment such as: hearing aids, glasses, and C-PAP equipment.
What must I being with me on the day of surgery?
- Bring insurance identification cards, driver’s license, and estimated deposit (if applicable)
- Bring medication list and pre-operative questionnaire. Make sure that you have a ride home and care for 24 hours.
- Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing
- Leave all jewelry and valuables at home
- Bring case for glasses or contacts.
How will my pain be managed?
The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from time of admission until you receive our postoperative phone call at home. It is essential that we are able to assess your pain level during your stay. The pre-op nurse will inform you of the scale we use in ranking pain.
Who do I talk to if I have a complaint?
At MWMC we share your concerns about health care safety. Our staff and healthcare professionals are committed to providing the best care for you and your family. We ask you and your families to join us to make sure that our care meets your needs. We encourage you to let us know when we don’t meet your expectations. It will help us to know how we can improve our health care services to our customers. If you have comments, questions, or concerns during your stay, please ask to speak with one of our management team or you may call the quality management office at: 1-800 433-7497.