Your physician will discuss your surgery/procedure with you during your office visit , and your surgery center appointment will be scheduled at that time. Please be sure to tell your doctor about any existing medical conditions and any medication that you are currently taking.

After your surgery/procedure is scheduled, you will receive a phone call from a member of our nursing staff to obtain a basic health history and to review your preoperative instructions. Or, you may call us at 856-341-8262 to receive your instructions. It is very important that you speak with someone from Virtua Center for Surgery prior to the date of your surgery.

You will also hear from a member of our business office staff regarding your insurance coverage and your financial responsibility. Payment of your responsibility is expected in full  when you arrive, the day of your surgery/procedure. For your  convenience VCS  does  accept cash, personal checks, VISA and MasterCard. See “About Your Bill” for additional information..

If you have had any pre-operative tests or a history and physical performed within 30 days prior to surgery/procedure , please ask your physician to fax or send the reports to us (Attn: Pre-Op Nurse) prior to your arrival. The Fax Number is (856) 341-8296 . Please be sure to complete the lab studies before your surgery/procedure as directed by your physician. Failure to do so can cause delay or cancellation of your surgery/procedure .

Before your surgery/procedure , you should follow these important safety rules, which are critical to your well being. If you do not follow these guidelines , your surgery/procedure may have to be delayed or cancelled. Additionally , failure to follow these instructions can cause serious complications.

  • Patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a legal guardian for the duration of the stay.
  • Make  arrangements  for  a  responsible  adult  to  drive  you  home  after  surgery/procedure. Public transportation or Taxi service is allowed only for those patients having local anesthesia or if an  escort  accompanies the  patient.  Under  no  other  circumstances  will you be allowed to leave unescorted.
  • You will be given eating and drinking instructions the day before your surgery/procedure (or on  Friday  before a  surgery/procedure  scheduled  for  Monday).   It is  important that you follow the instructions completely, or your surgery may be cancelled.
  • Do  not  smoke   or  use  any  tobacco   products   after   midnight  the  night  before  your surgery/procedure.
  • Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before and after your surgery/procedure.
  • You  may  brush your  teeth  or  rinse your  mouth the  day  of  surgery, provided  nothing  is swallowed.
  • If there is any change in your condition between now and the time of your surgery/procedure (such as colds, fever , cough, etc.) be sure to contact your physician.

Medications

  • If you take insulin or any other routine medication, your doctor or anesthesiologist will tell you how to take your medication the day of the surgery/procedure.
  • Bring all diabetic medications with you to the Surgery Center.
  • If you take a blood thinner (such as Coumadin, aspirin, etc.), please tell the surgeon.
  • You may take your  normal heart, blood pressure, breathing, or seizure medication the morning of surgery/procedure with a small sip of water.

Medication Reconciliation Form

Included in your packet is a Medication Form. Please fill this out as soon as possible to help expedite the pre-admission assessment process and bring it with you on the day of surgery/procedure.

Feel free to contact the Pre-op RN at VCS with any questions by calling (856) 341-8262. You will also be receiving a call from the Nurse prior to your date of surgery and any questions can be answered at that time.

Medical Equipment

Please  speak  with  your  physician  regarding  the  necessity  of  using  the following medical equipment after your surgery/procedure:

  • Crutches
  • Knee Braces
  • Wrist Splints
  • Walking Boot/Cast
  • Special Shoe
  • Knee or shoulder immobilizer
  • Walker

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your care, please discuss them with the nurse who calls for your preoperative interview. Otherwise, feel free to call the Center at (856) 341-8262 to speak with the Administrator.

Confidentiality

We take the confidentiality of your protected health information very seriously . Please call us at (856) 341-8262 immediately if the contact information you have given your physician is not the number you want us to use to reach you regarding your surgery. Please also indicate any other family members/individuals that are allowed or not allowed to receive information regarding your care. It will be assumed that the person you designate as the responsible adult to accompany you home after surgery is allowed to receive information regarding discharge instructions.

For additional information be sure to read the attached brochure:

Notice of Privacy Policies (HIPAA)

Advance Directives

The Patient Self-determination Act is a federal law that requires health care facilities to provide information to adult patients concerning “an individual’s right under state law to make decisions concerning medical care, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the  right  to formulate advance directives.” To help patients make these choices, New Jersey law provides for advanced directives.

Advanced directives are papers that state a patient’s choices for treatment. This includes decisions like refusing treatment, being placed on life support, and stopping treatment at a point the patient chooses. It also includes requesting specific life sustaining treatments .

You need to be aware of  the  Virtua Center  for  Surger y  Policy  on Advanced   Directives. Virtua Center for Surgery  does  not recognize Advance  Directives  for  use in this setting and will use all measures possible to sustain life.

If you have an Advance Directive, you should bring a copy of the Advance Directive with you on the day of surgery. The information will be placed on your chart in the rare event that you would need to be transferred to the hospital. The information may then be communicated to the appropriate hospital personnel for continuity of care purposes.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please discuss them with your physician or the nurse who calls for your preoperative interview. Otherwise, feel free to call the Center at (856) 341-8262 to speak with the Administrator.