Pre-Operative Checklist

Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an essential step towards a successful recovery. The following checklists will help prepare you for your upcoming procedure.

Before Surgery

Activate MyHSS

• Please sign up for myHSS and download the myChart app. We will be sending you important information through this app before and after your surgery.
• Please contact our office for your personal activation code.

Obtain medical clearance if necessary

• Before surgery, we may refer you to your primary care provider to complete a pre-operative medical clearance. This examination is to make sure you are healthy and do not have any medical conditions that could interfere with the surgery or the outcomes. Routine tests, such as blood tests, electrocardiogram, and X-rays, are usually performed before any major surgery.
• If you do not have a primary care provider, we will schedule you with one at HSS.
• If you are told you will need medical clearance, please ensure that this is performed within 30 days before your surgery.
• If you are told you will need medical clearance, please have your provider complete the following forms:

Discontinue certain home medications

• Please discontinue the following medications two weeks prior to surgery to decrease potential post-operative complications, including bleeding and deep vein thrombosis (DVT): hormonal contraceptives, over-the-counter supplements such as fish oil or Omega-3.
• Please discontinue the following medications one week prior to surgery to decrease potential post-operative complications, including bleeding and deep vein thrombosis (DVT): non-steroidal anti-inflamatory medications (NSAIDs): including ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), full dose Aspirin, meloxicam (Mobic), naproxen (Aleve), Relafen, diclofenac (Voltaren), Celebrex, etc.
• If you are experiencing pain, you may take Tylenol (generic: acetaminophen) up until the day of surgery.
• It is okay to continue with Iron, calcium, probiotics, Prilosec, Nexium, Senna, Colace, Miralax, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C.
• One baby Aspirin 81mg is okay to continue if instructed by your primary care provider.
• If you have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and are on CPAP/BiPAP, please bring your mask the day of surgery.

Confirm your pharmacy

• Please confirm with the office that we have your correct pharmacy information on file. You may also change this through the myChart app.

Schedule your first post-operative appointment

• Please schedule your first post-operative appointment with Rob O’Brien, PA-C for a wound check and dressing change. This should be performed between 5-7 days after surgery. At this visit, we will review your operative images, discuss physical therapy, and talk about next steps.

Discontinue tobacco use

• If possible, please begin to limit your tobacco use prior to surgery. The use of tobacco can increase your risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as well as delay wound healing, increasing risk of infection.

Phone Number: (347) 327-4082

Day Before Surgery

Arrange for a chaperone

• Please arrange to have someone with you (this person must be an adult) to escort you home from the hospital. They do not need to be present for the entirety of the procedure. Surgery will be cancelled if an escort is not present.

Anticipate a phone call regarding your surgery time

• One business day before your surgery, between 2:00pm and 8:00pm, you will receive a call from a hospital nurse notifying you of what time to come in for your surgery. For example, if your surgery is on Monday, you will be called on the Friday before surgery. It is standardly 2 hours before your surgical time If you prefer to call to get this information, please call (212) 606-1710 between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to set the times until the schedule is finalized the day before. The order of the cases will be based on type of surgery, length of surgery, and to account for any pertinent medical conditions.

Pick up your post-operative medications

• Your post-operative medications will be called in the day before your surgery. We STRONGLY recommend that you pick these up so that you have them at home. Please let our office know immediately if you have any troubles picking up your medications.

Please hold on eating or drinking past midnight on the night before surgery. Your daily medications may be taken with a sip of water if this is approved by your doctor.

Day of Surgery

Prepare your surgical site

• Please shower or bathe the day of your surgery, cleaning the surgical area very well.
• Please hold on shaving, as we will do this right before we go into the operating room.

Bring your brace

• If you received a brace by East Coast Orthotics, please bring this with you the day of surgery. Please let the holding area nurse know you have your post-operative brace. You will need to bring this with you into the operating room.

Bring your CPAP/BiPAP mask

• If you have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and are on CPAP/BiPAP, please bring your mask the day of surgery.

Arrive at your scheduled time

• When you arrive, please check in at Centralized Admitting on the 1st floor of the Hospital for Special Surgery. They will let you know which floor to go to after you check in.
• Please allow for extra time to account for traffic and parking.

Insurance

• Please note our office will work with your insurance company to obtain all necessary prior authorizations.