Outpatient Surgery at OhioHealth

Your physician’s office will provide you with any specific preparation information you need about your outpatient surgery. Feel free to ask your physician any specific questions you have prior to your surgery.

Here is some general information to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for your outpatient procedure at OhioHealth.

Day before outpatient surgery

• You may need to bathe with a special soap called chlorhexidine gluconate, or CHG, the night before your surgery. Your surgeon’s office will give you this soap before surgery, along with instructions
• Generally, you won’t be permitted to eat or drink anything after midnight. No food, liquids, gum, mints, hard candy or cough drops. Your physician’s office will let you know about the specific food and drink restrictions you’ll need to follow.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverage during the 24 hours before outpatient surgery
• You may brush your teeth, but avoid swallowing any water or toothpaste
• Remove all nail polish before coming to the outpatient surgery center
• Arrange a ride with a responsible adult to and from the hospital or outpatient surgery center. You will not be permitted to drive after the procedure

Morning of outpatient surgery

• Take any pills with sips of water only, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon
• If you are diabetic, do not take your morning dose of insulin or oral hypoglycemic (sugar pill), unless otherwise instructed by your doctor
• You may brush your teeth, but avoid swallowing any water or toothpaste

What to bring to the outpatient surgery center

• 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
• Insulin, oral diabetic medicine and/or inhaler, if needed
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• Eyeglasses, hearing aids or dentures can generally be worn to the hospital. Your physician’s office will let you know if any of these items cannot be brought with you. Bring storage cases to keep them in during outpatient surgery. Do not wear contact lenses.
• If you wear a partial plate denture, leave it at home
• Do not wear jewelry, makeup or perfume. Deodorant is fine
• Children may bring a security item, such as a stuffed animal

Day of outpatient surgery

• Plan to arrive at the hospital or outpatient surgery center two hours before your scheduled surgery time, unless otherwise directed by your surgeon
• You and your loved one(s) will be greeted upon arrival and guided to the correct area
• You’ll fill out papers and pay your co-pay. You’ll receive an identification band with your name and date of birth for your wrist.
• You’ll fill out a consent form if you haven’t already done so at your doctor’s office. If the patient is a minor, the consent form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian who must be present during the outpatient surgery
• The associate assisting you will then lead you to the outpatient surgery area. One support person can go with you
• You’ll receive a belongings bag for your clothes. This will be placed in a locked locker
• A nurse will take your blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and temperature. An IV will be started in your hand or arm.
• You may be asked multiple times to confirm your name and date of birth. This is for your medical safety and security.
• Your anesthesiologist will talk to you about what to expect when you receive anesthesia. Depending on your surgery, you will receive either “local” or “general” anesthesia. Local anesthesia involves only the area of the body on which the surgery will be performed. General anesthesia involves receiving medications that allow you to sleep during surgery
• 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.

After surgery

• After outpatient surgery, you’ll be taken to the recovery room (also called the post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU). Typically, patients are here for about one hour.
• Your surgeon will talk to your family about how your surgery went
• If you had general anesthesia, 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 the outpatient post-recovery area. You’ll be given some fluids to drink and crackers or a similar snack to eat. Patients are typically here for about one hour.
• If you had local anesthesia, you’ll go from the operating room directly to the dressing room to change and be discharged
• When it’s time to leave the hospital or outpatient surgery center, 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

OhioHealth Hospitals and Same-day Surgery Centers 

OhioHealth offers outpatient surgery at many convenient locations in central, north central and southeastern Ohio. No matter which OhioHealth location you choose for your outpatient surgery, you’re in good hands.

OhioHealth Hospitals Providing Outpatient Surgery

• OhioHealth Grant Medical Center
• OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
• OhioHealth Doctors Hospital
• OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital
• OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital
• OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital
• OhioHealth Marion General Hospital
• OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital
• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital
• OhioHealth Shelby Hospital

Outpatient Surgery Centers, also called Ambulatory Surgery Centers

• Same Day Surgery Center at Riverside
• Polaris Surgery Center*
• Ohio Orthopedic Surgery Institute*
• Riverside Outpatient Surgery Center*
• Knightsbridge Surgery Center*
• Hand and Microsurgery Associates*
• Pickerington Surgery Center*

*OhioHealth Joint Ventures. The Polaris Surgery Center, Ohio Orthopedic Surgery Institute, the Riverside Outpatient Surgery Center, the Knightsbridge Surgery Center, Hand and Microsurgery Associates Surgery Center, and the Pickerington Surgery Center are each individually operated in partnership with OhioHealth. The physician who referred you to our Surgery Center may have ownership interest in this facility. You are free to choose another facility in which to receive the services that have been ordered by your physician.