8919 Three Chopt Road
Richmond, VA 23294
804 285-4763

You Day at Tuckahoe Surgery Center

PREPARING FOR YOUR OPERATION

Before your operation, please read and follow these guidelines carefully:

1. You will need to complete a medical history screening form prior to surgery and return it to Tuckahoe Surgery Center as soon as possible. Depending on the type of anesthesia you will be receiving and your medical history, you may require additional lab work, a chest X-ray or an EKG. A nurse at Tuckahoe Surgery Center will discuss this with you and set it up to be done if necessary.
2. A nurse at Tuckahoe Surgery Center will call you two days before your surgery to notify you of your arrival time and review any preoperative instructions. A parent or guardian for all minors MUST sign consent forms. Patients who do not understand English should have an interpreter – someone who can remain at the center throughout the operation.
3. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING (including water) after midnight before your operation – including mints, chewing gum and vitamins. THIS IS EXTEMEMLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SAFETY. Smokers are encouraged not to smoke for 24 hours prior to surgery. If you eat or drink before your surgery, your operation will be cancelled. Please phone the surgery center if you have questions.
4. You must arrange for someone to drive you home if you have received any sedation. You may not leave the center in a cab. Those having general anesthesia must arrange for a responsible adult to care for them through the night after surgery. If extenuating circumstances arise, please call Tuckahoe Surgery Center the day before your operation.
5. Leave all jewelry and valuables including rings, earrings, body-piercing jewelry, and watches at home. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing including cotton shorts or underpants. You will be changing into a loose fitting gown supplied by Tuckahoe Surgery.Center. Please bring your eyeglasses, including reading glasses if you wear them.
6. Remove nail polish, makeup and contact lenses.

THE DAY OF SURGERY

For your safety and comfort, you will receive some form of anesthesia – General (sleep), Regional or Local (numbing). Your referring physician or anesthesiologist at the center will discuss types of anesthesia with you.

• It is common for patients to spend an average of four hours at the center. The length of your stay will depend on how long your operation takes and how long it takes you to recover from the anesthesia.
• You will enter the recovery room following your operation. There, the nursing staff and anesthesiologist will assist you prior to your discharge.
• After you are stable and prior to discharge, a nurse will give you and your responsible adult instructions regarding precautions and follow-up care.
• Remember that a responsible adult will be needed to drive you home.
• For 12-24 hours after your operation, you may feel slightly nauseated, lightheaded or dizzy. These are normal reactions and will pass with sufficient rest. Occasionally, some reactions may require admitting a patient to the hospital for an overnight stay.
• Within 24 hours after surgery and while taking pain medication, please do not drive or operate a car or dangerous machinery, sign important papers or care for a dependent person.
• You may resume your normal diet if you are not having problems with nausea and vomiting. Avoid greasy and fried foods on the day of surgery.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking pain medication or until 48 hours after anesthesia. Be sure to take your pain medication with food to avoid nausea.
• Keep the phone number of Tuckahoe Surgery Center (285-4763) handy for questions regarding the surgery center. If a problem arises after the surgery center closes, please call your physician’s office.
• You will receive a postoperative phone call from one of our nurses as a follow-up.
• We would appreciate your help in evaluating our service. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with high quality personal care. If there are ways to improve our service, please let us know. Please return the patient survey form given to you when you leave our center. Thank you.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Before surgery you will be requested to complete a patient registration form. Please have information available about your insurance coverage or other methods of payment. Medicare and the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) accredit Tuckahoe Surgery Center. Fees charged for your procedure/services rendered by Tuckahoe Surgery Center are separate from any fees charged by your doctor and anesthesiologist. Should your procedure not be covered by insurance, you may request an estimated facility fee at 285-4763. If you do not have insurance benefits, a deposit of fifty percent of the estimated charges will be due on the date of surgery and payment arrangements may be set up for the balance.

If your physician’s office gave you a copy of our registration and history form, please complete and mail or fax (288-8946) these forms to Tuckahoe Surgery Center within 24 hours of your visit with your physician. We will need a copy of your insurance cards on the day of surgery if we have not received them prior to your visit.

You will be called two days prior to your surgery to receive your final instructions and an arrival time for the day of surgery. If your physician’s office gave you a time for surgery, please verify that information with us to eliminate any confusion due to changes in the surgery schedule.

Tuckahoe Surgery Center, Inc. is located on Three Chopt Road, across from Ridge Elementary School. Parking is available behind the center. The center’s entrance faces the parking lot. Enter under the green canopy and the lobby is the first door on the left.

Welcome

General Information