Before Your Visit

• Provide Your Health History
  You will need to pre-register either through your patient portal link or by a phone call from a nurse prior to your procedure to obtain your health history. The nurse will also verify whether lab work, EKG, or x-rays are needed before the day of surgery, and to confirm that you have pre-registered with the business office and have been given your pre-op instructions, including instructions regarding arrival time, and answer any questions you have.  Due to schedule changes that occur at the facility, you may not be given your arrival time until the day before your procedure. The arrival time is not the time of the procedure.  You may also receive a text message or phone call from our business office with any co-payments expected by your insurance.

• Get Any Required Tests
  Laboratory tests, EKGs, and x-rays need to be performed at least 5 days before your procedure to allow the anesthesiologist time to review the results. These tests may be performed at Decatur Morgan Hospital.

• Talk to Your Doctor About Medications
  Please talk to your doctor about any medications you are currently taking, including any herbs or over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, Bufferin, Nuprin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen or vitamins. Medications for seizures and breathing problems should be taken the morning of the surgery with a small sip of water unless instructed not to do so by your doctor. There are certain heart and blood pressure medications that may need to be taken; this will need to be discussed with the nurse during your pre-admission visit or phone call for instructions specific to you. If you use inhalers, please use them before you arrive at Surgery Center of Decatur and bring them with you to the Center. If you are a diabetic, please check your blood sugar the morning of the surgery and bring your medication with you to the Center.

• Make Arrangements for Accompanying Adult and Transportation
  Please arrange for a responsible person to accompany you to the Center and remain with you at the Center throughout your entire stay with us. They should also remain with you the first night following your procedure. For your safety and protection, you will not be allowed to drive a motor vehicle for 24 hours following your procedure. If the patient is a child, it is best to have someone in addition to the driver to help care for the child on the trip home

• Make Arrangements for Childcare
  Please arrange care of your children while you are at the Center and for 24 hours following surgery. If your child is having surgery, please make arrangements for any other children to be cared for while you are at the Center with the child having surgery. All of your attention needs to be devoted to the child having the procedure.