Preparing for your surgery
Thank you for trusting the experts at Abbott Northwestern Hospital with your care.
Here's how to get ready for your surgery…
As soon as you are scheduled
Once you and your doctor decide that you will have surgery, follow these instructions:
- Make an appointment for a history and physical (H&P) examination. This
exam must take place within seven days before your surgery, or your surgery
may be canceled. Usually your primary care doctor conducts the exam, then
provides your surgeon and surgical team with a report about your current medical
condition. Your surgery may be canceled if this information is not available
on the day of surgery. Please contact your surgeon if you have problems scheduling
the history and physical examination as directed.
- Discuss all medications with your doctor. Bring all medications to your (H&P) appointment, including
any vitamins, herbal supplements or over-the-counter medicine you may be taking.
You should confirm which medications you should take on the day of surgery
and how you should take them. (We usually recommend that patients take their
prescribed medications with only enough water to swallow them.)
- Make arrangements to arrive in the area the day before surgery, if you
live outside Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN To stay near the Abbott Northwestern
campus, call the Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel at 612-821-7600.
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The week before
One to five days before your surgery, be sure to make these preparations:
- Arrange to have a responsible adult at the hospital during your procedure,
then bring you home if you plan leave the hospital the same day as
your surgery (You will not be allowed to drive yourself home). You should
also arrange to have a responsible person with you for at least 24 hours once
you return home. If the appropriate arrangements have not been made, your
surgery may be canceled.
- Complete the preregistration process. You can preregister
online or call 612-863-3300 or 1-800-690-0052 (if you're outside the Minneapolis/St.
Paul, MN area) between 3 and 8:30 p.m., Sunday to Friday, or between noon
and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Someone from our Admitting Department may call you
to confirm your demographic and insurance information.
- Be prepared for a call from a registered nurse at Abbott Northwestern.
The purpose of the call is to review information about your care and answer
any related questions. You may call 612-863-3138 to leave a message with the
best time and the phone number to reach you.
- Contact your surgeon if you have a change in condition or feel
ill, for example, with a sore throat, cough, fever or infection. Your surgery
may have to be rescheduled.
- Make a copy of your health
care directive (also known as advance directive or living will) to bring
with you to the hospital
- Request an interpreter if you or your family need help understanding
English. Please note that by policy family members are not permitted to serve as the interpreter.
Check with your surgeon's office to arrange this free service as soon as you know you will be having surgery.
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The day before
The day before your surgery, make sure you've completed the steps listed for the
week before and be sure to do the following:
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. This includes coffee, gum, hard
candy or food of any kind. Failure to follow this may result in cancellation
of your surgery. If you have diabetes or other conditions that might be affected
by this, contact your surgeon's office for clarification.
- Avoid smoking, street drugs and alcohol.
- Complete any special preparations ordered by your surgeon. Note: Do not shave the surgical site area.
- Finish packing if you are to stay overnight at the hospital
after your surgery. Bring as few belongings as possible in a small bag or
suitcase. Things to pack may include a robe, pajamas, slippers
and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc.). If you wear eyeglasses,
dentures or hearing aids, you should also bring a container to store them
in.
- Get a good night's rest.
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The morning of
Before you come to the hospital the morning of your surgery, follow these instructions:
- Do not eat or drink, unless told to do so by your doctor. This includes
coffee, gum, hard candy or food of any kind. Failure to follow this may result
in cancellation of your surgery.
- Bathe or shower as your doctor has instructed. Note: Do not shave the surgical site area.
- Complete any preparations ordered by your doctor.
- Take your prescribed medications as directed by your doctor.
If you need to use water to take pills, only use enough to swallow them, and use only water.
- Avoid smoking, street drugs and alcohol.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Remove all jewelry, including wedding rings and any body-piercing
items. Leave them at home.
- Leave valuables at home. This includes jewelry and credit cards.
Have no more than $5 cash.
- Bring a container to store your eyeglasses, dentures or hearing aids.
Before you go into the operating room, it will be labeled, placed with your
belongings or given to a family member.
- Bring as few belongings as possible, if you are to stay overnight
at the hospital after your surgery. Possible items to pack in a small bag
or suitcase include a robe, pajamas, slippers and toiletries (toothbrush,
toothpaste, hairbrush, etc.).
- Remember any forms or reports your doctor has asked you to bring.
They may include your insurance information (usually a wallet-sized card)
and health
care directive (also known as advance directive or living will).
- Leave soon enough to arrive on time at the hospital. (See Getting
to the Preoperative Care Center. )
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