Before your surgery

Thank you for choosing SRMC for your surgical procedure. The following provides a general overview of preparing for your visit and what to expect the day of your procedure.

Pre-Register

If your surgical procedure is scheduled more than 48 hours in advance, an SRMC preadmission clerk will call you at the daytime number you provided to gather important preregistration information. Please call us with any questions at 308.254.5825.

Will my insurance cover my procedure and stay?

A surgical nurse will call to evaluate and determine if a preoperative visit to the hospital is necessary. Please have a list of all medications and dosages available at the time of the call.

If necessary, your physician will order pre-surgery tests (such as X-rays, laboratory, EKG) to be completed before your surgery.

The nurse will schedule a pre-op visit with you and will answer your questions. The nurse will also let you know what time you should arrive at SRMC for admission and at what time your surgery is scheduled. If you have not been contacted two business days before your surgery, please call the SRMC Surgery department at 308.254.4989, Monday - Friday from 8am - 4pm.

Medications

Take your medication for your heart and/or high blood pressure with a sip of water. Do not take any other medications unless instructed.

Eating

Do not eat or drink (not even water) after midnight the night before surgery unless otherwise instructed for taking medications.

Tobacco

Do not use any tobacco products the evening before or the day of surgery. SRMC is a tobacco-free campus.

Change in your health

If you become ill with a cold or flu before surgery, notify the physician/surgeon who is performing the procedure and SRMC’s surgery department at 308.254.4989, Monday - Friday from 7am - 4pm or 308.254.5825 after hours.

Night before surgery

• Remove your nail polish, makeup and jewelry, including piercings.
• Do any special preparations your surgeon has ordered. This might include special cleaning of the surgical area. Instructions for this are in your packet.
• Take your usual medications unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery. Unless otherwise directed.

Need guidance?

Check out a full list of resources our social services team can assist you with! CLICK HERE

Day of Surgery

Day of surgery

Take any needed medications with a small amount of water.

Please arrive at the time given during your pre-op visit. You will be called the day before, or Friday for Monday surgery with a reminder with final time to come to the hospital. If you are unsure of the time, call and leave a message at 308.254.4989 as soon as possible. The Surgery department is typically closed Saturday and Sundays.

Where should I go?

Parking is located on the south side of the hospital near the main entrance. Our admissions staff is available from 7am - 7pm to check you in and direct you to your service location.

What should I bring?

It is important that you bring everything necessary for your appointment. Every patient must bring:

• Photo I.D., such as a driver’s license
• Insurance card including Medicare or Medicaid
• Cash, check, major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) or co-insurance to pay for co-pays and applicable deductibles
• An Advance Directive serves as an important guideline for the medical staff to follow in the event of an emergency or critical illness. If you have completed advance directives or have a living will, bring a copy with you.

On arrival, you will be given an identification bracelet to wear during your stay. You will then be directed to the surgery area where you will change into a hospital gown. Any additional surgical preparations will be done at this time. If you are given any pre-medications, you must stay in your bed for your own safety. Ask for assistance if you need to get up.

What to bring

• A list of your current medications.
• Something to read or do while you are waiting to be called to the operating room.
• A copy of your advance directives, if you wish.

For your safety

Have someone to drive you home (if you are scheduled to go home the same day). Do not drive yourself to the hospital, as your procedure may be postponed. If you plan to take another form of transportation, you will still need someone to be with you until you get home. 

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that are easy to change and will not fit tightly over the area of your surgery.

What not to bring

Please try not to bring more than two family members on the day of surgery. Only one person will be allowed to visit you before and after surgery. Other visitors will be directed to another area to wait for your return from surgery.

Children should not come unless absolutely necessary. There must be another adult with them if they should come to the hospital.

Don't bring large sums of money, jewelry, valuables such as electronic equipment or suitcases, even if you are staying overnight.

What to do if you are sick before surgery

When having surgery or anesthesia, it is important that you are in the best possible health. If you have a new illness or a flare up of an old condition around the time of a planned surgery, sometimes the safest practice may be to delay the procedure until you are well.

Don't assume that your surgery will be delayed if you are sick. If the procedure is urgent or your illness is related to the surgical problem, then it might be best to go ahead with the procedure as planned.

Contact your surgeon's office as soon as you think you have an illness that might delay surgery.

If you get sick, call the Surgery department at 308.254.4989 and ask to speak to the nurse in charge. The unit is open Monday - Friday.

If your surgery is canceled, contact your surgeon's office to reschedule. Preoperative testing will usually not need to be repeated.

Examples of conditions that may delay surgery Include:

• Cold or sinus infection within two weeks before surgery
• Pneumonia or bronchitis within a month before surgery
• Stomach virus or flu
• Fever
• Asthma attack or wheezing within two weeks before surgery
• Chest pain which is worse than usual
• Shortness of breath which is worse than usual
• Diabetes severely out of control
• Infected skin or rash in the area of surgery
• Generally not feeling as well as usual

Other information

• Tobacco use is prohibited at SRMC, click here for more details.
• We provide persons with disabilities, including persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or persons with low vision or who have other sensory or developmental disabilities an equal opportunity to access care and treatment. Please ask if you need assistance.
• We also provide interpreter services at no cost to all patients and their relatives. We make every attempt to provide an in-person interpreter for Spanish and have interpretation of many languages available by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If having surgery or another outpatient procedure, please arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you the afternoon or evening after your procedure. After it you receive sedation or general anesthesia, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home

Please take the time to check off these important points to remember before your surgery or test. If you become ill or, for any reason, do not plan to keep your surgery appointment, contact your surgeon or the Surgery team 308.254.5825.