DATE OF SURGERY: ________________
TIME OF SURGERY: ________________
TIME TO ARRIVE: __________________
 

Things to Remember
Please come to the hospital with an updated list of your medications, including prescriptions, herbals, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs..

• DO NOT eat or drink after midnight on the day of your surgery unless directed to do otherwise. Failure to follow this instruction may result in cancellation of your surgery.

• Please immediately report any changes in your physical condition (i.e., fever, sore throat, cough, skin infection, etc.) to your surgeon’s office.

• Bathe or shower the morning of your surgery and wear clean, casual, loose-fitting clothing. Leave all valuables at home.

• All jewelry, makeup, nail polish, wigs, false teeth, contact lenses and hearing aides must be removed prior to surgery.

• You must sign a “consent for surgery” before the procedure can be started. Minors will need a parent or legal guardian to sign for them.

Please make arrangements for a driver to take you home and for someone to stay with you after you leave the hospital.

For more information, please call: 

St. Gabriel's Hospital
Same Day Surgery
815 SE 2nd Street
Little Falls, MN 56345-3596
(320) 631-5200

The Same Day Services department is designed to meet the needs of short-term surgery patients. In most cases, admission, surgery, and discharge all take place on the same day. With Same Day Services, you can recuperate at home, in familiar surroundings, and often are able to spend less time away from work and your family. You can have your treatment completed with little interruption of your daily routine and at a cost usually far less than an “in-hospital” stay.

• For the patient, there is little separation from family and friends, making it easier to get back into your daily routine.

• Same day procedures regularly performed include general and laparoscopic surgery; orthopedics; gynecology; urology; podiatry; endoscopy; as well as eye, ear, nose and throat surgery.

• Same Day Surgery employs the latest anesthesia techniques to both minimize pain and to assist in quick recovery from the anesthetic. Your anesthesia team specializes in administering and monitoring anesthesia during your operation.

Coming to the Hospital
For your convenience, the date of your surgery should be written on the back panel of this brochure before you leave your physician’s office.

A pre-operative assessment nurse from the Same Day Services department will call you a day or two prior to your scheduled surgery date to inform you of the scheduled surgery time as well as the time you should arrive at the hospital.

Generally, your arrival time will be approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours prior to your scheduled surgery. At the time of your pre-operative phone call, the nurse will ask you some important questions and will  answer any questions that you might have.

Checking In
Patients should check-in at the Admitting department near the main entrance to the hospital. From there you will be directed to the 2nd floor Same Day Services department. You will be escorted to your room where you can relax before surgery and recover following surgery.

During Your Stay
A nurse will ask you questions regarding your medications and medical history. You may have lab work, X-rays and/or an EKG prior to your procedure.

A member of the anesthesia team will speak with you regarding your anesthetic prior to your procedure. After your surgery, you will spend some time in the recovery room. You will then be transported back to the Same Day Services department where you will spend the rest of your recovery period in your room with your family. Your length of stay during this post-operative period depends on the surgical procedure, but is usually 1-4 hours. If your surgeon wishes for you to stay overnight, you will be admitted to the hospital.

You will be given post-surgical discharge instructions by your surgeon and/or nurse prior to your leaving the hospital. Be prepared to go home and finish your recovery there. You may experience some drowsiness and minor after-effects following anesthesia. You may not feel up to your typical activities the following day. Plan to take it easy for a few days until you feel back to normal.

The day following your Same Day Surgery, you will be contacted to see how you feel and if you have any questions. It is important for you to use this opportunity to let us know how you feel, so that we can assure complete satisfaction and provide the best care possible. For your safety, DO NOT drive, operate machinery, drink alcoholic beverages or sign any legal documents for at least 24 hours following discharge from the hospital.

Same Day Services Department
(320) 631-5200