DAY BEFORE SURGERY

The nurse will call you the day prior to your surgery to tell you the exact time you need to arrive. If you have not heard from us by 3 P.M. please contact the Surgery Center at 252.247.0314. The nurse’s station is extension 3152.

Make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you following surgery. This is necessary unless you have had a procedure with only local anesthesia. Due to the size of our waiting area, please limit the amount of people who accompany you to the Surgery Center.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, you must notify the Surgery Center nurses prior to your surgery date.

Please call your surgeon if you become ill or need to cancel the surgery between now and the scheduled date of your procedure.

DAY OF SURGERY
Wear comfortable clothing. LEAVE JEWELRY AND VALUABLES AT HOME. You may wear your wedding ring.
Prior to surgery please shower or bathe and wash your hair. Do not use lotion or oils after bathing; also avoid body powder, perfume, after shave lotion and any type of hairpins or barrettes.

Do not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery unless instructed otherwise by the Surgery Center nurse. The nurse will give you specific instructions on which medications to take.

AFTER SURGERY
Before you leave the Surgery Center, you will be given written instructions for your care at home.

Do not drive a car, smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, operate machinery or cook until the day after surgery.

The day after surgery, a nurse will call to check on your progress. In the event of difficulty, contact your surgeon’s office. In an emergency, report to the nearest emergency room.

KIDS ARE SPECIAL
We encourage children to bring a favorite toy or blanket with them. They may wear their PJ's to the center.

To help alleviate unnecessary stress, parents are encouraged to discuss the surgery with their child. Parents are able to stay with their child until surgery and may rejoin them as soon as he or she awakens.

It is recommended that you bring an additional adult to assist with the ride home. It is best to not bring siblings along as young visitors are limited to the recovery room and are not to be left unattended in the waiting areas.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
A single fee is charged for the use of the operating room at Carteret Surgery Center, and an estimate of your cost can be provided in advance. This fee does not include fees of the surgeon, anesthesiologist or pathologist. Their business staff will bill their fees.

We file all domestic insurance company policies, including Medicare and Medicaid. To expedite this, information about your health insurance is needed prior to your visit to Carteret Surgery Center, so verification or benefits and coverage can be made.

After surgery, we will file your insurance for you. If the facility costs are more than anticipated, you will be billed for the difference. We accept Visa and Master Card with credit card approval on the date of payment. Any overpayment to Carteret Surgery Center will be refunded to the patient within 60 days.