Mercy Outpatient Surgery Center - West Bend

Check these items off your list well before surgery. They’re important steps that help you avoid surgery delay or cancellation.

Food & Drink

• The night before surgery, you can eat a light meal before 11 p.m. After midnight, don’t eat or drink anything — not even coffee, water, mints or gum. It’s okay to brush your teeth, but remember not to swallow anything.
• Children may have less than one cup (8 ounces) of clear liquids up to three hours before arrival for surgery. Clear liquids include water, apple juice, soft drinks and Kool-Aid.
• Avoid milk and orange juice — they’re NOT considered clear liquids.
• If you’re having a pain-management procedure that requires sedation, you can have clear liquids — but no dairy, cream or fats — up to six hours before your arrival.

Alcohol

• Don’t drink alcohol for at least 12 hours before your arrival.

Smoking & Tobacco Use

• Don’t smoke or use tobacco after midnight the night before your surgery.

Makeup, Nail Polish & Jewelry

• Remove all makeup, nail polish and jewelry (including face or body jewelry) before surgery.

Clothing

• Wear loose, comfortable clothes, such as sweatsuits and easy-to-button shirts that can fit over surgical dressings.

Valuables

• All items you bring to the surgery center are your responsibility. Leave large sums of money and valuables like jewelry at home.

Notify the Surgery Center / Surgeon
 

• If you have a fever, cough or cold, or you’re vomiting or have diarrhea between your last visit to the surgeon and the day of surgery
• If you suspect you may be pregnant
• If you take diet pills, aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinners or certain herbal supplements; ask your doctor whether you should stop taking these before surgery

Preparing for surgery means planning ahead. Be sure to bring the information you need and make arrangements in advance.

Identification, Insurance Card & Payment

• Your photo ID and insurance card must be presented when you arrive for surgery.
• For questions about your coverage or further assistance, contact our insurance verification specialist at 314-525-0123.
• Also, be prepared to pay any copays or out-of-pocket expenses before surgery.

Driver & Caregiver

• Ask a family member or another responsible adult to drive you to and from the surgery center, stay onsite during your operation and assist you for 24 hours after surgery.
• Don’t plan to use taxis, public transportation or other driving services.

Legal Guardian

• A legal guardian must be at the surgery center at all times for children and dependent adults.

Childcare

• If you have young children at home, you’ll need help caring for them for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.
• Ask family and friends to help out, or make other childcare arrangements.

Interpreter Services

• Language assistance services are available to you free of charge as necessary for your care. Call 314-842-0062 or TTY: 711.
• Español: ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 314-842-0062 or TTY: 711.
• Bosanski: Ako govorite bosanski, besplatne prevodilačke usluge su vam na raspolaganju. Nazovite 314-842-0062 or TTY: 711.

Your doctor or preregistration nurse will let you know when to arrive at the surgery center, which is located at:  12345 West Bend Dr., Suite 201, St. Louis, MO. Remember to bring your photo ID, insurance card and a method of payment.

After checking in, you’ll go to the preoperative (preop) area, where a nurse assesses your health and gets you ready for surgery. You and your family member or responsible adult may wait in the preop area until surgery time. An anesthesiologist stops by to answer any questions, and you’ll also see your surgeon in the preop area. When it’s time for surgery, our team members take you to the surgical suite. Your family member or responsible adult goes to the waiting area and rejoins you after surgery.

You’ll be cared for in the recovery area until you’re well enough to go home. Most people spend an hour or two in recovery after outpatient surgery. It’s normal to experience sleepiness and dizziness for 12-24 hours after surgery.

You’ll receive verbal and written instructions on caring for yourself at home, which should be followed carefully. For your safety, your family member or another responsible adult must review and sign the instructions before you leave. This person must drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours. Don’t plan to use public transportation or other driving services. After you’re home, if you have concerns or unexpected health changes, call your surgeon or go to the nearest emergency room. The day after surgery, one of our nurses calls you at home to check on your progress.

We help you manage your pain after surgery, so you can stay comfortable and heal. We assess your pain level from the time you arrive at the surgery center through your postoperative call at home. Based on your pain level, we can make adjustments to help you feel more comfortable. We often use a combination of pain-management approaches for outpatient surgery, including oral and intravenous (IV) medications, nerve blocks, injections during surgery and other techniques. Talk with your anesthesiologist, surgeon and nurses if you have pain-management questions or concerns.