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Surgical Care at OhioHealth
No matter which OhioHealth hospital you’ve chosen for surgery, you’re in good hands.
With each surgery procedure, our focus is pursuing the best possible outcome for you and your loved ones.
Surgery Preparation Guideline
Your physician’s office will provide you with any specific preparation information you need about your surgery. Here is some general information to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for your inpatient surgery at OhioHealth. If you're scheduled for outpatient surgery, learn more here.
It’s important to ask your physician any specific questions you have prior to your inpatient surgery.
- Day Before Surgery
- DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. No water, food, liquid, gum, mints, hard candy or cough drops.
- You may brush your teeth, but avoid swallowing any water or toothpaste.
- Do not smoke, chew tobacco or drink alcohol for 24 hours before surgery.
- Bathe or shower the night before, or early on the day of surgery.
- What to Bring to the Hospital
- Health insurance card, photo ID, form of payment.
- Advance directive (living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare), if you have them.
- List of medications you take — name, dose, how many times a day.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes and non-skid shoes.
- Eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or dentures can be worn to the hospital. Bring storage cases to keep them in during surgery.
- DO NOT bring valuables, such as jewelry (including wedding rings).
- Day of Surgery
- The morning of surgery, take your pills with sips of water unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.
- Arrive at the hospital two hours before your scheduled surgery time, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.
- We encourage you to valet park at the main entrance of the hospital if provided.
- If you need a wheelchair, please tell the valet parking staff.
- Our communication liaison will greet you in the waiting area and guide you and your loved one(s) to the correct area.
- A nurse will check you in, check your vital signs, get you ready for surgery and start an intravenous (IV) line.
- For your safety, you will be asked several times to verify your medical information.
- Before surgery, your anesthesiologist will talk to you about what to expect when you receive anesthesia.
- If you have made arrangements in advance for your clergy to visit, your clergy person will be escorted to the pre-op area to conduct religious observances.
- When it’s time for surgery, you’ll be taken to the operating room, and your support person will be directed to the waiting area.
- In some hospitals, your loved one will be provided with a confidential tracking number to know where you are in the surgery process.
- There will be a nurse with you during the entire surgery.
- In most cases, you will not feel or remember anything during surgery.
- At any time, feel free to ask questions, and tell the staff if you have any discomforts.
- After Surgery
- After surgery, you’ll be taken to the recovery room (also called the post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU). Typically, patients are here for about two hours.
- Your surgeon will talk to your family about how your surgery went.
- After surgery, the nurses will watch you closely and monitor your condition.
- As you wake up, we’ll try to make you as comfortable as possible. It’s normal to feel dizzy, drowsy or nauseated for several hours after surgery.
- When you are stable, you’ll go to your assigned room.
- When you leave the hospital, you’ll get written instructions about your diet, activity, pain medication, follow-up plan and when to seek medical attention, in case of an emergency.
- Make sure you have a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you 24 hours after surgery.
- If you go home the same day, see the outpatient surgery page.