Countdown to Surgery

By the day before your procedure, you should receive a call from our Prep Team. A nurse conducts your pre-procedure interview and tells you about your specific procedure. Be ready to give the name and phone number of your primary care doctors, your allergies and your current medications.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance company before surgery to find out if you need a preauthorization, a pre-certification, a second opinion or a referral form. It's also important to understand what your co-pay may be for pre-surgery, surgery and post-surgery services.

If you have a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan, there is a specific insurance registration process. You must call your HMO once your procedure is scheduled to arrange for pre-admission lab studies.

After your procedure, you may receive separate bills from the anesthesiologist, the hospital, the radiology and pathology departments (if applicable), and the surgical assistant. Please ask your insurance plan if they have specific requirements regarding participation status.

Also, you may receive a bill under the name Adfinitas Health, the medical hospitalist service. The hospitalists work closely with your surgeon to manage your pain, medications and any existing or acute conditions during your hospital stay. If you have questions or concerns about your financial arrangements, please call the Patient Financial Services Office at 443-481-6500.

Choosing the right caregiver is very important for your recovery. A caregiver is someone who can offer support, motivation and assistance during your recovery. People with caregivers do better after surgery and achieve results faster. Your caregiver should attend your appointments, and be present during your time in the hospital. You may have more than one caregiver.

If you are being discharged home the same day as your surgery you will need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery. You may not take a Taxi or Uber home unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

Your primary care physician is required to provide a physical evaluation to clear you for surgery. You'll receive a letter from your surgeon with instructions for this appointment. Schedule this appointment within 30 days prior to surgery. You may see your primary care provider or you may use AAMC's Pre-Anesthesia Testing (PAT) Center for pre-surgical clearance.

You can receive your required pre-surgical tests, including your physical, lab work, an EKG and chest x-ray all in one visit at AAMC’s PAT Center. We can also give you referrals for consultation with a specialist, if needed.

You should receive a lab test order from your surgeon or primary care physician. Follow the instructions in this letter. Check with your insurance to determine which lab they cover.

• Photo identification
• Insurance card
• A detailed, written list of all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Include the name of the medication, the dosage and how often you take it
• Names of your primary care physician and specialists
• Any medical records associated with your upcoming procedure

• A customer service representative will welcome you and ask for your insurance information for your records.
• A nurse practitioner will take your medical history and conduct a physical to ensure that you may safely undergo surgery.
• You will receive instructions about the medications you may take prior to your procedure. You will also learn where and when to report on the day of your procedure.
• You will complete lab work, a chest x-ray and electrocardiogram, if necessary.
• An anesthesiologist may consult with you.

It’s important to start planning for your discharge before your surgery. Your discharge plan is a collaboration between you and your surgeon. Together, you decide what works for you.

Our goal is to provide you with quality food and nutrition for your specific needs. If you have a medical condition, allergy or special dietary needs or preferences, contact AAMC’s Patient and Food Specialist prior to admission to discuss how we can serve you. Call 443-481-6111.

• Double-check your arrangements and make sure you’re all set to go.
• Receive an automated call between 2 and 4 pm the day before surgery to learn the time of your procedure and when to arrive at the hospital. If your procedure is on a Monday, your automated call comes the Friday before your procedure. Listen carefully to the entire call. If the call isn’t clear or you don’t receive a call, call one of the following:
• For procedures in the Hospital Pavilion South: 443-481-1796.
• For procedures in Edwards Surgical Pavilion and Endoscopy: 443-481-5700.
• For Interventional Radiology or Cath Lab procedures in Hospital Pavilion North: 443-481-1645.
• Follow all instructions the nurse gives you during your pre-procedure phone interview.
• Don’t smoke or drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your scheduled procedure. We are a smoke-free campus. Visitors can buy nicotine replacement lozenges in our gift shops. For help quitting smoking, talk to your doctor or check out our smoking cessation resources.
• Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight of the night before your procedure, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

We strive to create a relaxed, comfortable environment for your child. If your child is scheduled for a procedure, help ease his or her worries by talking about it and allowing your child to ask questions.

• To make your child feel more secure, bring a favorite toy or blanket.
• You may stay with your child until surgery and rejoin him or her as soon as it’s best for their health.
• One parent must stay in the hospital at all times while the child is in surgery and recovery. When it’s time to go home, we suggest two adults be available — one to drive and one to care for the child.

Learn more child-friendly tips for upcoming procedures.

The operating rooms at AAMC are staffed by board-certified and board-eligible physician anesthesiologists. They all have privileges to practice at AAMC.

There are several types of anesthetic techniques available for your surgery. Before receiving any sedatives or anesthetics, you meet your anesthesiologist to discuss the most appropriate anesthetic plan. Although uncommon, complications or side effects can occur with each anesthetic option, even when you anesthesiologist takes special precautions to avoid them. Below is a brief description of the various types of anesthesia used:

• General Anesthesia:
  This anesthetic choice produces unconsciousness so that you will not feel, see or hear anything during surgical procedures. You receive anesthetic medications through an intravenous line and/or anesthetic gas delivered directly into your lungs through a tube or a special mask. You either breathe on your own, or your breathing is assisted by an anesthesiologist using an anesthesia machine.
• Spinal or Epidural Anesthesia (Regional Anesthesia):
  This anesthetic choice produces numbness below the chest and limited mobility in both legs for about three to four hours. A small needle is placed in your lower back and local anesthetic is injected. Medications can be given during your surgery to maintain the level of comfort and sleepiness you desire. Your legs continue to be numb and immobile for several hours after surgery. When the surgical pain gradually appears as the numbness wears off, pain medication may be given to you through your intravenous line to keep you comfortable.