Pre-operative Information
At the Surgery Center of Fairbanks (SCF), we want to make your outpatient surgery experience as pleasant as possible. Please contact us if you have any questions, concerns, special needs or requests.
Patients generally need to arrive about one hour and 15 minutes before surgery. You’ll be called by our staff the prior business day, approximately between the hours of 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., to confirm the exact date and time. Please provide us with the best contact number where you can be reached. If you have not talked with one of our staff nurses by 4:00 p.m. the business day prior to your surgery, call the Surgery Center at 907-458-7263 for confirmation.
Patient Instructions
Surgery Time: Surgery times are finalized the day before; we will call you that afternoon to confirm your check-in and surgery times. Call us at (907) 458-7263 if you have questions.
Health History: A preoperative nurse will call you the day before to go over your submitted health history.
Patients scheduled for a total joint replacement or spine surgery
• Schedule an appointment with a preoperative nurse at (907) 458-7263
THE DAY BEFORE SURGERY
- Make arrangements for a responsible adult (over the age of 18) to escort you home from your procedure and stay with you for 24 hours.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- MEDICATION instructions will be done when we notify you about your surgery time.
ON THE DAY OF SURGERY
- Please bring your ID and insurance card.
- Be sure to bring/wear a mask
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- To reduce the risk of infection, no shaving the surgical site for 48 hours prior to the procedure.
- DO NOT smoke the day of surgery, including Marijuana, vaping and/or chewing tobacco.
- DO NOT TAKE anti-inflammatories, vitamins, or herbal medications including aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Nuprin, etc. 7 days before surgery (Tylenol is okay).
- If a special prep or medication has been prescribed by your physician for use before your surgery, please follow the instructions closely.
- You may brush your teeth, bathe and shower before coming to the surgery center.
- Do not wear ANY jewelry/piercings, make-up, lotion, creams, deodorant, perfume/cologne, and remove all finger/toenail polish and artificial nails.
- Bring your contact lens/glasses/hearing aid case so they can be removed prior to surgery and safely stored throughout the surgical experience.
- If prescribed a CPAP machine, please bring it with you on the date of your procedure.
ORAL INTAKE INSTRUCTIONS:
- Infants (Birth – 12 months)
- Clear liquids up to 3 hours prior to surgery time.
- Breast milk up to 6 hours prior to surgery time.
- Milk/Infant formula up to 6 hours prior to surgery time.
- Children (older than 12 months) and Adults
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night/morning of surgery, including tobacco products, gum, or mints. Special instructions and exceptions will be given to those patients whose surgery times are after 12 pm.
AFTER SURGERY
- Your doctor will give you discharge instructions specific to your surgery. Please call the doctor’s office if you have any concerns.
- For your safety and the safety of others, no driving for 24 hours after surgery.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICATIONS:
Aspirin, NSAIDS, and Blood Thinners:
- These medications can cause an increase in bleeding and their continued use could make it necessary to reschedule or cancel the procedure. It is important to discontinue their use for at least seven (7) days prior to your procedure unless your provider has Instructed you otherwise. They may be resumed two (2) days after the procedure unless your provider states otherwise. Please follow your provider’s order and recommendations.
- The following is a list of the commonly used NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). New medicines are released frequently. If you take any medicines you feel may be similar, please seek the advice of your provider at least seven (7) days before your scheduled procedure.
- Advil
Aleve
Anacin
Anaprox
Ansaid
Aspirin
Choline & Magensium
Davoro
Diclofenac
Disalcid
Ecotrin
Etodolac
Excedrin
Feldene
Fenoprofen
Flubiprofen
Ibuprofen
lndocin
lndomethacin
Ketoorofen
Ketorolac
Lodine
Meclofenamate
Mobic
Motrin
Nabumetone
Naprosyn
Naproxen
Orudis
Oxaprozin
Piroxicam
Relafen
Salicylate (allmeds with salicvlate)
Sulindac
Suprofen
Tolmectin
Toradol
Volatren
Cold and sinus medicines with aspirin or Ibuprofen
- Advil
- There is no need to discontinue Tylenol (acetaminophen) or COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Bextra)
Blood Thinners: If you take Coumadin (Warfarin) or other blood thinners such as Plavix (Clopidogrel), Pletal (Cilostazol), Ticlid (Ticlopidine), Trental (Pentoxifylline), Lovenox (Enoxaparin), Aspirin, etc., notify your provider. The medication may need to be discontinued and additional blood tests performed prior to your procedure.
Diabetic medications: Do not take Insulin or Diabetic medications the day of your procedure unless your provider has instructed you otherwise. Bring the medications with you to take afterward as needed.
Other: Also inform your provider if you are taking Antibiotics or large Doses of vitamins as these may interfere with the procedure.
Other routine medications not listed above may be taken with a sip of water up until 2 hours prior to the procedure. Nothing else by mouth including chewing tobacco, smoking (including vaping), gum, or mints 6 hours prior to the procedure.
Patient Safety Concerns
Patient safety concerns may be reported to The Joint Commission:
- At www.jointcommission.org, using the “Report a Patient Safety Event” link in the “Action Center” on the home page of The Joint Commission website.
- By fax to 630-792-5636
- By mail to Office of Quality and Patient Safety, The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181