Preparing for Surgery

We understand that surgery can be as stressful event, so we have provided the following information to help you feel more at ease during your time here with us.

A nurse from the surgery center will contact you the day before surgery for your arrival time. Please disregard any phone calls, texts, or emails from the PENTA patient portal regarding the day of surgery arrival time. We do our best to assign you an arrival time so that your wait time will be minimal; however, sometimes delays occur.

To assist with the check-in process, please bring the following:

  • Insurance Card
  • Photo identification card (i.e. state ID, driver’s license)
  • Reading glasses, if applicable
  • Case for your dentures, glasses, or hearing aid, if applicable
  • List of current medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal), as well as Oxygen, CPAP, and BiPAP use.

If your child is having surgery, please bring the following:

  • Favorite toy, blanket, or pacifier, if applicable -Bottle or sippy cup for use after surgery
  • Formula or special food, if needed, for after surgery -Change of clothes and diapers, if applicable
  • Car Seat- North Carolina’s law requires children ages 8 & under who weigh less than 80 pounds to be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system. Children ages 4 & under who weigh less than 40 pounds must be secured in the rear seat, unless their child restraint systems are designed for use with air bags. POSC policy does state that children who require a child safety seat must have one upon discharge.

Transportation: A parent or legal guardian must accompany a minor. A responsible adult must accompany every patient during their visit to Piedmont Outpatient Surgery Center. Surgery will not begin until a responsible adult is present. The responsible adult will remain in the building for the duration of the patient’s stay at Piedmont Outpatient Surgery Center. A responsible adult is required to be with the patient for 24 hours following anesthesia if required by his/her provider. Patients are not allowed to drive for at least 24 hours after the surgery.

Clothing/Hygiene: We suggest loose fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes be worn the day of your surgery. You may bring socks to wear. Do not wear contact lenses, make-up, nail polish, hairpins, or jewelry, including body piercings. All body piercings must be removed before surgery because electrocautery is used during surgery and piercings can cause an arcing which could result in burns on the patient.

Eating/Drinking: Do not eat anything for at least 8 hours before your arrival time at the surgery center. You may have clear liquids (water, apple juice, Gatorade/Pedialyte, tea, black coffee) up to 2 hours before your scheduled time of arrival.

Medications: If you routinely take prescription medications, please discuss with the nurse during the preoperative phone call.

Family/Visitors: Due to limited space, please limit to 2 people.

After Hours/Emergency Care is provided by your surgeon’s office, not by Piedmont Outpatient Surgery Center. Should you have questions arise or if you have an emergency after hours, please contact the appropriate office to reach your surgeon. The phone number for Piedmont Ear, Nose, and Throat is 336-768- 3361. The PENTA doctors are Dr. Harper, Dr. Potts, Dr. Inman, Dr. Maxwell, Dr. Wagoner, Dr. McGuirt, Dr. Willis, Dr. Shealy, Dr. Britt, and Dr. Scurry. The phone number for Dr. Bogard and Dr. Teasdall is 336-768- 1308.

Financial Responsibility: It is the patient/patient’s guardian’s responsibility to provide Piedmont Outpatient Surgery Center with accurate insurance information, so that the claims for services rendered can be filed correctly. The patient/patient guardian is responsible for any charges not covered by insurance, including deductibles and co-insurance.

A Few Other Things:

Please keep in mind that there may be more than one surgeon operating each day, so sometimes people arriving after you may be called in ahead of you.

You will get to talk to your surgeon and an anesthesiologist on the day of surgery.

There is complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and hot tea in the Surgical Waiting area, and a vending machine with light snacks to purchase in the Main Lobby.

We do our best to keep your wait time to a minimum, but there are occasions where schedules may change. We will do our best to keep you informed of changes and/or delays. For this reason, please make sure that we have a phone number where you may be reached on the day of surgery.

Our goal is to provide excellent care throughout your surgical experience.

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