Ascension Via Christi Pre-Admission Screening Clinic

Please use the main entrance to Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph. Registration and the Pre-admission Screening Clinic will be to your right.

• Pre-admission costs are included in surgical fees, reducing copays and referrals to multiple doctors
• Prevents last-minute rescheduling of surgery if test results indicate a concern
• Reduces time spent on the day of surgery
• Allows you to obtain answers to questions prior to day of surgery

• Driver’s license or photo ID and a form of payment
• Proof of legal guardianship, when applicable
• Insurance cards
• A copy of your healthcare advance directives, if you have any
• List of any medical conditions you may have, including prior surgeries, complications and drug allergies

List of current prescribed and over-the-counter medications with dosages including:

• Any medications you have stopped taking in the past month
• Herbal or vitamin therapies with dosages

• Surgery day guidelines
• Instructions for an overnight stay
• Preparing to go home
• What a surgical site infection is
• What you can do to help prevent an infection
• Hand hygiene
• Managing your pain

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight including water, candy or gum. Brushing your teeth and using a mouth rinse is acceptable.
• Do not put on deodorant, lotions or makeup.
• Wear comfortable clothing that will allow for easy dressing and undressing.
• Bring a driver’s license or photo ID and form of payment. Leave all other valuables at home and remove all jewelry and body piercings.
• For hand or arm surgeries, remove artificial nails on that side.
• You will be asked to remove hearing aids, glasses, dentures and partial plates before surgery.
• Outpatient surgery patients: Make advance arrangements to have a responsible adult take you home. Your surgery will be cancelled if this instruction is not followed.
• Only one visitor is allowed per patient. If you have young children, make plans to have them stay with friends or family.

• You will check in at admissions and be taken to the designated area of your procedure.
• An anesthesiologist will visit you before surgery.
• Staff will direct your family members to the surgery waiting area.
• After surgery you will go to recovery. Time spent in recovery will depend on your care needs.
• If you are going home the same day of surgery, you will receive written discharge instructions for your home care before you leave.
• If you are staying overnight, staff will direct you to the unit that best meets your care needs for the remainder of your stay.

Speak with your care team to learn the guidelines for your facility. You should bring only a few personal care items with you such as toothbrush, toothpaste and a brush or comb.

• C-PAP/BI-PAP, if you use one at night
• Cases for glasses, contacts, hearing aids and dentures
• Nonskid slippers (optional)
• No more than one small bag that your family can bring to you after your surgery

Before you go home, your doctor or nurse will explain everything you need to know about taking care of your surgical site. Discharge instructions will be sent with you, along with any prescriptions.

• Make sure you understand how to care for your surgical incision before you leave the hospital.
• Know who to contact if you have questions or problems after you get home.
• Always clean your hands before and after caring for your surgical incision.
• Call your doctor immediately if you have any symptoms of an infection.

A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Infections develop in one to three out of every 100 patients who have surgery throughout the United States.

Some common symptoms of a surgical site infection are:

• Unusual redness, pain or swelling around the area where you had surgery
• Drainage of cloudy fluid from your surgical incision
• Fever

• Tell your doctor about other medical problems you may have. Health problems such as allergies, diabetes and obesity could affect your surgery and your treatment.
• Quit smoking, patients who smoke get more infections. Talk to your doctor about how you can quit before surgery.
• Do not shave near where you will have surgery for at least one week prior to surgery.
• Shaving with a razor can irritate your skin and make it easier to develop an infection.
• The night before surgery please shower with chlorhexidine wash (Hibiclens®) or antiseptic soap (Dial®).

Hand washing is the most important thing you can do to decrease the spread of infection. Alcohol-based gel hand rubs or soap are an effective way to keep your hands clean.

• Clean your hands often
• Ask the staff to help you clean your hands if you are unable to clean them yourself
• Ask visitors to clean their hands

Some pain is expected following surgery. You and your physician will decide on a pain management plan for home following your surgery or procedure. Managing pain in the hospital and when you go home can help stop complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. Be sure to talk with your doctor or nurse before you go home. If you have additional questions, please ask your doctor or nurse.