About Surgery
PREPARING FOR SURGERY & RECOVERY
At The Surgical Clinic, we take seriously the trust you have placed in us for your care.
The Surgical Clinic
PREPARING FOR SURGERY
The more you understand about your care and what to expect, the more confident and prepared you'll feel. During your appointment, you'll have plenty of time to ask questions and discuss your care with your surgeon.
To help you prepare, our Care Team has compiled the information below. We encourage you to review all educational materials provided by your surgeon and share them with family members, caregivers, or friends who will be supporting you throughout your surgery and recovery. Having a clear understanding of the process can help everyone feel more comfortable and prepared for your return home.”
Our Focus is On You
YOUR FIRST SURGERY VISIT
Your first visit will be a time to complete basic information about you and your insurance coverage. You should plan for the following:
- Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time in order to have ample time to check in
- Bring your insurance card and a photo identification, we will record things like your address, phone number, social security number, date of birth and your employment
- Bring a list of your medications
- Bring a signed copy of our HIPAA Acknowledgement privacy policy
- We will also ask for the name and number of the person you want to include as your emergency contact
While it will not take so much time for your next visit, please note that you will be asked to verify everything each time you come.
Personal Information Protections
Your Privacy is Our Policy
The Surgical Clinic is in full compliance with the healthcare guidelines that protect your privacy as a patient. We are committed to safeguarding your personal health information and ensuring it remains secure and confidential. You can view our patient privacy policy here.
Protecting your information
While we protect your privacy as a patient, we also urge you to protect your own privacy by being thoughtful about what you choose to share with others, including what you decide to post on social media sites.
HIPAA privacy
HIPAA laws require that we inform you about our adherence to federal patient privacy regulations. Please read our Privacy Notice here , and then print and sign our HIPAA Acknowledgement here to bring with you.
Medical records release
You must authorize the release of your medical records and allow us to request those records from other physicians and facilities.
The Surgical Clinic will not share your medical records without your permission. Sometimes your other physicians or your insurance provider will ask for copies to be shared with them:
PAYMENT POLICY
The Surgical Clinic will be filing claims for you with your insurance company, however, a call to your insurance company will help you anticipate your out-of-pocket co-pays and deductibles. You are ultimately responsible for payment for all care that you receive, so you will want to check with your insurance company prior to your appointment to make sure you understand what they cover and what they do not. Remember that if your insurance includes a co-payment, you will be required to pay this amount each time you visit. You can pay in cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
The Surgical Clinic
PREPARING FOR SURGERY
Your surgeon will give you a specific list of things to do to prepare for surgery, for example your list may include the following:
THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:
- Your insurance card
- A government issued photo ID
- Any medications, including over the counter, that you are taking
- A form of payment for any co-pays or deductibles
AFTER YOUR SURGERY
A certain amount of discomfort will follow any surgery, but there is a difference between discomfort and emergency symptoms. Should you experience any difficulty breathing or swallowing, chest pain or other emergency symptoms, call 911.
- If you do need to return to the hospital after surgery in an emergency condition, the hospital will alert your surgeon once you are at the hospital.
WE WILL BE CHECKING UP ON YOU
- Expect a phone call after you have been home for a day or so to make sure that you are recovering normally.
- After hours you can reach The Surgical Clinic by calling your Surgeon’s main office number. The Surgeon on-call will return your call.
- This is also a good time to ask any questions about things that concern you, as the best recoveries will take place when you are partnering with your surgeon to make sure that you are doing everything you can to get better.
TIPS FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY
- Follow your given directions about taking care of the wound area and returning to normal diet and activities.
- If you have been referred to physical therapy make sure that you go to those appointments and do the exercises at home.
- If you have been told not to lift objects or children for a while, follow those instructions.
- Pick up any medications that have been prescribed for you to take after the surgery.
RETURNING TO SCHOOL OR WORK
Your surgeon, along with your entire care team, want to get you back to work as quickly as possible. We will be able to give you some ideas about what an average recovery would be, but everyone is different and your recovery could take less or more time.
- No matter your treatment plan, you and your surgeon should discuss you work requirements so that you can better understand any limitation you may have in returning.
- It is always recommended to talk with your employer before your surgery so they can plan for your absence, and you can pick up any forms that they might want from your surgeon.
- For any “back to school” or “back to work” forms, make sure you fill out your part before you give them to your physician or physician’s assistant.