Surgical Admissions

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If you are having surgery at Merit Health Central, a pre-admission testing nurse will call you to set up a pre-op testing visit as soon as you are scheduled for surgery. Pre-admission testing should be completed at least two days, but not more than 30 days before the scheduled surgery. Depending on the complexity of the case and number of services needed, your tests could take between 60 and 90 minutes.

To schedule pre-op testing, please call (601) 376-1732 or (601) 376-1737. Testing is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.

When calling to make an appointment, please have the following information handy:

• Your doctor's name
• Your scheduled procedure
• The date of your procedure

When you arrive for pre-admission testing, you will be asked to complete necessary paperwork, which includes authorization for the hospital to release information to your insurance company. Be sure to bring a valid insurance card. In the case of minors (under 18 years of age), a parent or guardian must accompany the patient before and after surgery.

Patient Registration and Financial Review
Our patient registration office will review and verify your personal information, iuncluding your social security number, address and insurance data. They will register you for all testing and/or admissions in one sitting. This will prevent waiting and delays when multiple services are needed at the hospital.

Once this process is complete, patients can go directly to a pre-operative room on the day of admission and by-pass the admitting office.

Those using the phone interview process will also speak with the patient registration office, and personal information will be verified over the phone. They will also be able to answer any questions about insurance coverage and pre-approval. Insurance authorization papers will be prepared and ready to sign on the day of arrival, again avoiding delays on the day of admission.

Advance Directives
During your admission process, you may be asked if you have an advance directive. An advance directive is a witnessed document that gives a patient's directions about their future medical care in the event that individual can no longer speak for themselves. It is prepared before a condition or circumstance occurs which may cause an individual to be unable to actively make a decision about their medical care.

Medications

• Please bring a list of any medications you are taking or all your medications in the original bottles. Include the dosage and time of day that you take them.
• On the morning of the day of your surgery take your medicines with a sip of water as instructed by your physician or nurse. If you have not received these instructions please contact the pre-admission testing nurse (601) 376-1737 or (601) 376-1732, or your surgeon to see which medications you need to take.
• Be sure to stop taking any herbal or diet products two weeks before your surgery date.
• Do not bring any other medications to the hospital unless instructed by the nurse.

Prior to Surgery

• It is also important to let your surgeon and preop testing nurse know if you have sleep apnea. If you have this condition please bring a copy of your sleep study and any equipment you use to manage it.
• You must make arrangements to be driven home by a responsible adult and must also have a responsible adult with you for the next 24 hours after surgery. If these arrangements are not made, your surgery may be postponed.
• If you have any special needs for your day of surgery please inform your surgeon or PAT nurse.
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight, this includes gum and mints, unless otherwise instructed by the nurse.
• You should shower or bathe before coming to the hospital. If you have been given a medicated soap, please use it. You may also purchase this soap at your local pharmacy. These products are used to prevent infections after your surgery.
• When deciding what to wear to the hospital choose something comfortable that can be easily removed.
• Do not use cosmetics, make-up, hair spray, lotions, powders or body sprays.
• Leave jewelry, money and other valuables at home. The hospital cannot be responsible for such items.

Confirming Your Surgery
Please be aware that the operating room schedule is not finalized until the afternoon of the business day before surgery. For example, the schedule for Monday is completed on the previous Friday, and so on. A nurse from the OR will attempt to call you between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. on the business day before surgery to confirm your surgery time, arrival time and other instructions.

Day of Surgery

• You will be asked to report to the Same Day Surgery unit (off the Main Lobby.) Do not go to Admitting unless instructed to do so by the nurse.
• Parking is available in the front of the hospital (Northwest entrance.)