Surgical Services St Marys, OH

Surgery is an area of medicine which has seen tremendous changes such as laser and laparoscopic techniques.This has enabled many surgeries to be performed on an outpatient or short hospital stay basis. Joint Township Hospital provides both comprehensive inpatient and ambulatory surgery services.

Inpatient Surgery for Patients Who Need Surgical Procedures Which Require Overnight Hospitalization

For patients who need surgical procedures which require hospitalization, Joint Township District Memorial Hospital offers high-quality yet cost-effective medical care. Please be assured that all members of the medical, nursing and administrative staffs are available to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Pre-Admission Testing

If you are receiving Anesthesia Services:

You will be given a time for a phone interview to discuss your health history.
Any ordered tests should be done after your phone interview.
Decision regarding the choice of anesthesia will be made by you, your surgeon and the anesthesia provider.

If you are receiving Local or IV sedation (administered by your surgeon):

Your health history will be discussed when you arrive for your procedures
Be prepared to discuss:
Allergies to medications, food and the environment.
Medications that you are currently taking including prescriptions, inhalers, aspirin, blood thinners, vitamins, herbs and dietary supplements.
Previous surgeries and any problems you may have had.

Admission

Please report to the Outpatient Registration Area at the time your physician or the Pre-admission Nurse informs you to report.

Preparation Instructions

It is important for you to have an empty stomach at the time of your operation to avoid complications. Eat a light meal at dinnertime the night before your surgery. You may be instructed to take certain medications with a small sip of water, otherwise do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery – not even a cup of coffee or water. You may brush your teeth without swallowing the water.
Be active. Walk to get the blood circulating through your body. Do this in the morning and throughout the day if your surgery is scheduled late in the day.
Please refrain from smoking for 12 to 24 hours prior to surgery. Smoking within 12 hours of your procedure may result in the delay or cancellation of the procedure.
Wear casual, comfortable clothes for your visit with us. You will be given a hospital gown, robe and slippers to wear on the unit.
Do not wear make-up, nail polish, hairspray or perfume.
Please leave jewelry, money, credit cards, and all other valuables at home. We cannot be responsible for these items.
Remember to bring a case for glasses or contact lenses.
If you wear dentures, a partial plate, or any other prosthesis, you will be asked to remove them just prior to surgery.
If patient is a child, you may bring a favorite toy or blanket.
Practice deep breathing and coughing prior to and day of surgery. We will ask you to continue after you operation.

Special Notes

For your safety, when you leave the hospital, plan to have a driver take you home.
Call your doctor if you should develop illness such as cold, sore throat, cough or fever prior to surgery.
Tell your doctor what medications you take. This includes things like aspirin, vitamins, blood thinner and herbs. Ask whether you should stop taking any of these before surgery.

On The Day Of Surgery

You, your surgeon and the anesthesia provider will make decisions regarding the choice of anesthesia.
General anesthesia will be administered by an anesthesia provider.
Intravenous (IV) sedation is medicine given through a needle in a vein after which you relax and sleep.
Regional anesthesia involves the anesthesia provider injecting groups of nerves with a medicine that produces a numbing effect and is used alone or in conjunction with general or IV anesthesia.
1. Local anesthesia involves numbing only the area of the body upon which the surgery is
2. to be performed and is administered by the surgeon.
For inpatient surgeries, you will be transported to the surgery holding area approximately thirty (30) minutes before your scheduled time, and an intravenous may be started at this time.
If your surgery time is altered due to cancellations, delays or emergencies, the nursing staff will keep you updated.

During Your Surgery

Family or friends may wait in the Surgery Waiting Area. The volunteer at the Information Desk will keep family members informed about your progress and answer any questions they may have about the hospital. One or two family members will meet with your surgeon in the Consultation Room when the operation is completed. Coffee and snacks are available in our Cafeteria. Family members should keep the volunteer informed of their whereabouts so that the Surgery staff may contact them when necessary. The surgical staff may ask your family to provide a cell phone number to be used to contact them after the procedure.

After Surgery

When your surgery has been completed, you will be closely observed in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for an hour or longer depending on the type of operation, anesthesia given, and your condition. Your family will be kept informed of your progress and may visit when you have returned to your room.

Remember

It is normal to feel a little dizzy or drowsy for several hours after your operation. We wish you a speedy and comfortable recovery. If you have any questions about your surgery either before or afterwards, please call us at 419-394-3335, extension 2750.

Surgery Information

Please call after 8 a.m. on the day before your surgery to confirm your scheduled arrival time.
Be sure to follow any other guidelines your healthcare provider or JTDMH gives you.