|
Welcome to the Ambulatory Surgery Department Web site. We hope you will find everything you are looking for as a prospective patient, a visitor of a current patient or if you just need patient information regarding Emory Ambulatory Surgery.
Ambulatory Surgery FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions].
Location
Insurance
Pre-Operative
Instructions for Surgery
Post-Surgery
Patient Education
Location
The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center is located at:
The Emory Clinic, Building B
1365 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
404-778-4036
To reach the Ambulatory Center, go directly to the tunnel level of Building B at the Emory Clinic. Valet Parking is available at the front of the building. One free valet parking certificate will be provided to you on the day of your surgery.
Insurance
The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center accepts most insurance plans. You should bring your insurance card with you for all visits including the preoperative visit and the day of the surgery.
Please check with your insurance provider in advance of your first pre-operative appointment with the center to make sure Emory is included in your plan.
You will receive a separate bill for anesthesia professional services. A separate bill for technical charges will include charges for the facility, surgical instruments, supplies and anesthesia equipment and supplies. These bills are separate from any physician's fees, laboratory, EKG, pathology or radiology charges.
Our Ambulatory Surgery Center business office and anesthesiology department will be happy to help you with any questions you might have about your bill.
The business office number is: 404-778-7318
Pre-Operative
If you have surgery scheduled at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, you will need to report to the center for a pre-operative visit. A member of the Emory Anesthesiology Team will meet with you and talk about the details of your medical problems and general health. Next you will meet the anesthesiologist physician. The doctor will decide what laboratory tests will be needed and then decide the kind of medication you will need to take either immediately before surgery or on the day of surgery. The anesthesiologist will also plan the type of anesthesia to be used for your surgical procedure.
After the pre-operative visit is completed and before you leave the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, you will be given a list of pre-operative instructions about anesthesia and surgery.
Instructions will include directions not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery. For complete instructions about preparing for surgery, go to Instructions for Surgery.
Note: A parent or legal guardian must accompany all minors to appointments or procedures at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Center.
Instructions for Surgery
The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center provides a complete set of instructions prior to surgery that must be observed for the health and safety of the patient and to avoid any complications in a smooth process for the procedure.
It is critical to follow these guidelines, which are provided below. Failure to follow the instructions may cause cancellation of your surgery.
What to Bring:
All health insurance cards/information
Container for your contact lenses or glasses
A responsible adult to drive you home following the surgery
The Night Before Surgery:
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery.
Do not drink alcohol or take any medications except those prescribed by the anesthesiologist from the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Notify your physician by 10:00 p.m. if there is any change in your physical condition, such as temperature, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or extreme pain. If these problems occur, call the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center when it opens at 6:30 the next morning to notify the surgical team about your condition. The number is 404-778-4036.
The Morning of Surgery:
Do not eat or drink anything unless instructed by your anesthesiologist. This includes no water, gum or mints.
Do not wear any makeup.
Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
Wear casual clothing such as a jogging suit or loose fitting clothing. Do not wear panty hose, high heels or many layers of clothing.
The Day of the Surgery:
When you arrive at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, the nurse will check for vital signs and question you about your health. The nurse will then report to the attending Anesthesiologist, who will visit you again to discuss the plan of anesthesia and to answer any questions you may have. The anesthesiologist will also give you instructions about how to manage your own post-operative care.
The patient will then be asked to sign a consent form for anesthesia. There are basically three types of anesthesia. The first is General anesthesia in which the patient is given medication to render unconsciousness during surgery. Monitored Anesthesia Care, (MAC), also known as twilight sleep, is medication that prevents pain and relaxes the patient but may not cause unconsciousness. It is administered by the anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. Regional anesthesia totally blocks pain from the region of the body where the procedure will be performed.
Note: A parent or legal guardian must accompany all minors to appointments or procedures at the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Center.
Post-Surgery
After the surgical procedure is over, you will be taken to the Recovery Room, where specially trained nurses will provide closely monitored care while you are waking up.
The anesthesiologist will also follow your progress and instruct the nurse about your care. The length of time each patient is in the Recovery Room depends on the type of procedure and how much discomfort the patient may have. Any pain or discomfort should be reported to the nurse. The average time in the Recovery Room is one to two hours.
Visitors: Due to space constraints in the center, no more than two people may accompany a patient to the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center. Only two visitors at a time are allowed in the pre or post operative areas.
Release to Leave:
Before leaving the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Care Center, the patient will be instructed by the Recovery Room nurse about care after the anesthesia and surgery. Written information will be given as well.
Each patient must make definitive arrangements to be driven home by a responsible adult following the recovery time after surgery. If you do not have a confirmed ride home at the time of the pre-operative process, the surgery may be canceled. If you need to call for a ride, the phone number should be brought in advance to assure that the driver can be called in a timely manner. The driver must be at the center two hours before you can be released to go home and must come to the Recovery Room to sign you out before you will be released. Limited space does not allow an accommodation for patients who are waiting for rides.
The center strongly suggests that a responsible adult remains with the patient for the rest of the day and during the first night, post-surgery, to assure the patient's safety and protection.
Home Care After Surgery:
Before leaving the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, you will receive verbal and written instructions for post-operative care. Included in this information will be general instructions regarding diet, medication, bathing and activity restrictions. There will also be information specific to the procedure that was performed. The adult who is driving you home must be present during the discharge instructions.
Follow-Up: A member of the Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center nursing staff will telephone you the day after the surgery to follow your progress and to assist you and your family with any questions.
Patient Education
For more information about ambulatory surgery, including typical procedures, types of anesthesia and what to expect, The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center recommends visiting the following websites:
- The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA)
A leader in ambulatory anesthesia research and education for patients and physicians. www.sambahq.org
|
