Health Concerns
Contact us if you have a fever, cough, cold, vomiting or diarrhea, as we may need to reschedule. If you think you may be pregnant, let us know.
Checklist
- Transportation: Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for the day and night.
- Childcare: Ask someone to watch your young children so you can rest after surgery.
- Fasting: Don’t eat or drink after midnight. You must have an empty stomach to safely receive anesthesia, so we may cancel surgery if you don’t fast. Young children may be given special instructions.
- Medications: Ask your care team about taking medications, vitamins or supplements before surgery. Don’t take these products after midnight unless we tell you to. Bring all your medications (or a list with dosages) to your appointment.
- Hygiene: Shower or bathe thoroughly the morning of your procedure with the soap we give you. Avoid lotion and makeup. View showering instructions in English [pdf], Spanish [pdf] and Somali [pdf].
- Personal items: Leave valuables at home. Wear loose-fitting clothes and flat shoes. Bring your insurance, Medicare or Medical Assistance cards and IDs for implantable devices.
- Contact lenses: You may need to remove them before surgery, so bring your glasses.
- Sleep apnea: Bring your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine if you use one.
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
Learn how to advocate for yourself:
Arrival & Check-In
When you arrive, our receptionist will help you with admission and insurance forms. After checking in, you’ll go to a private room. A nurse will review your health history, and an anesthesiologist will discuss anesthesia with you. Your family can stay with you until you go to surgery. They’ll rejoin you in the discharge area after recovery.
Special Care for Children
We try to provide a friendly and comfortable environment for children. Bring a favorite toy or blanket to help them feel at ease. Learn more about preparing your child for surgery [pdf].
You’ll stay with your child until they go to surgery and reunite with them as soon as possible after recovery.
Dependent Adults
Legal guardians must sign the consent form before or on the day of surgery. A responsible adult must stay at the center during the procedure and with the patient for 24 hours afterward.
Advance Directives
Bring your health care directive to add to your CentraCare electronic health record. Keep in mind we can’t honor do not resuscitate (DNR) and do not intubate (DNI) requests in an outpatient surgery setting. If necessary, we’ll resuscitate you and transfer you to a hospital.
Insurance & Billing
Obtain prior authorization from your insurance company before your surgery. If you don’t have insurance, ask us about payment plans.
Home Health Care
Let CentraCare’s home health program help you recover after surgery. You may benefit from wound care, rehabilitation, pain management and other services.
MyChart