At Grand View Hospital, we’re committed to making your stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible. These easy instructions will help you prepare for your surgery.

ARRANGING FOR ASSISTANCE

Driving Before & After Your Procedure

• You are not permitted to drive immediately following surgery.
• Arrange for someone to drive you to the hospital and home afterwards.
• Your surgeon will advise you when it is best for you to start driving again.

Someone to Stay with You

While you are in the hospital, someone may stay with you while you are in our surgery unit. Please limit guests to one or two.

After you leave the hospital, we suggest your support person helps you into your home and helps you get comfortable.

Depending on your procedure, you may be required to have supervision for 24 hours after surgery. If you need assistance in arranging your post-surgical care, call the Case Management Department at 215-453-4487.

Making Child Care Arrangements

If you are having surgery at Grand View and have young children:

• Make plans now for someone to watch them while you are at the hospital and recovering at home.
• Young children are not permitted to accompany you in our Surgical Short Stay Unit (SSSU).

If you take care of an elderly parent, spouse, or pet please make whatever arrangements are necessary to ensure that they are cared for during and after your surgery.

TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR

Discussing Special Instructions

Your physician may have special instructions regarding the days prior to your procedure. Ask your doctor if you need to:

• Change your medications
• Eat (or not eat) any particular foods
• Alter your daily activities

Pain Management Options

Now is a good time to talk to your doctor about pain. Many options are available to manage your pain, each with advantages and disadvantages. Options include:

• Pills
• Shots given in the back (epidural) or by vein (PCA).

Discuss your choices with your physician and anesthesiologist. Some patients prefer other pain relief methods, used alone or with medication. These include:

• Heat
• Cold
• Physical therapy
• Music

Let us know what works for you, and we will try to accommodate your needs.

Some people think they may become addicted to pain medicine. Medicine taken to lessen pain accompanying surgery or a medical procedure rarely causes addiction. Side effects can happen but are usually easy to treat. At Grand View Hospital, we encourage you to work with your physician and nurse to keep your pain at a minimum. In addition to keeping you comfortable, it will help to speed your recovery.

Smoking

Smoking may affect your rate of healing. Try cutting down or quitting before surgery. For information about smoking cessation programs, call the Grand View Connection at 215-453-4300 or check out our classes & events.

Alcohol Use

Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before your surgery and if you are taking pain medication.

Advance Directive

If you have an advance directive, such as a living will or durable power of attorney, bring a copy to your pre-admission testing appointment. If you do not have one, but are interested, please contact our Case Management Department at 215-453-4487.

Pre-Admission Testing

Pre-admission  testing helps our staff evaluate your overall health in preparation for your surgery. It involves a series a tests, including:

• Lab work
• X-rays
• EKGs
• Ultrasounds

You need to get these completed one to two weeks prior to your surgery. A pre-admission testing specialist will contact you to make an appointment. If you have questions about pre-admission testing, contact your surgeon’s office.