Surgical Checklist

Surgical Checklist

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Helping Your Day of Surgery Go Smoothly

Make sure you complete any pre-op testing or medical consults ordered by your surgeon or primary care provider. 

Please request that any pre-op testing and medical consult notes be faxed to your surgeon’s office AND to the CPH Pre-Op department fax: (315) 261-5037.

The pre-surgical screening nurse will call or meet with you prior to your scheduled surgery to review your health history and current medication list. The information we gather will help us prepare for your care; you will have an opportunity to ask questions and tell us your concerns. Please call Pre-op scheduling at (315) 261-5332 if you have any questions about your pre-op nurse visit or call.

Contact your surgeon's office if your condition has changed (cold, fever, rash, other illness or if there is any possibility of pregnancy). The day of surgery, women of childbearing age will be asked to provide a urine specimen for a pregnancy test.

You will be called the day prior to your procedure between 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM with your check-in time. For Monday surgeries you will be called on Friday. If you have not heard from us by 4:00 PM or if you have questions about your time, please call Surgical Services directly at (315) 261-5975.

If you need to cancel your surgery, please call the surgeon's office directly.
If you need to cancel your surgery, and it is over the weekend for a Monday surgery, please call the hospital at (315) 265-3300 and ask for the Nursing Supervisor.

ARRANGEMENTS

On the day of your procedure, please arrange for an adult to drive you home and remain with you for 24 hours (we cannot perform the surgery otherwise). Make child care arrangements for your children for the full day of surgery.

EATING AND DRINKING GUIDELINES

Do not eat solid foods after midnight the night before your scheduled procedure. No hard candy, gum, mints or cough drops.

Do not drink anything after midnight the night before your scheduled procedure, except for sips of water for the morning medication you were instructed to take.

Special considerations: If you are a diabetic or have a check-in time after 8am, you may drink water or apple juice for up to four (4) hours before your arrival time for surgery. The four (4) hours prior to arriving you may only have sips of water for necessary medications.

Unless instructed otherwise, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself well hydrated the day before your surgery.

General Anesthesia relaxes the muscle in your digestive track and airway that keep food and acid in your stomach and out of your lungs. That is why it is important to follow your physician's instructions about when to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery.

MEDICATIONS

Take your regular morning medication for seizure problems, depression, anxiety, birth control, thyroid problems and GERD/heartburn medication with sips of water as directed by your surgeon or primary care provider.

If you are on blood pressure or heart medication, please discuss with your surgeon, primary care provider or pre-op nurse which ones to take the morning of surgery.

If you are on any blood thinners such as Aspirin, Plavix, Warfarin, Coumadin, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Eliquis please confirm with your surgeon or primary care provider whether you may continue taking them prior to your procedure.

If you are on oral diabetic medicine, do NOT take them on the day of your procedure, unless told to do so by your provider. Please check with your primary care provider or surgeon regarding any insulin or insulin pump adjustments. All diabetics will have their blood sugar tested after admission to their pre-op room.

HYGIENE

Help prevent infection by doing the following:

  • Use the pre-surgical chlorhexidine wipes or shower wipes or shower kit as instructed (if you were given them).
  • If you were not given any wipes, please bathe/shower before arriving.
  • Please brush your teeth/perform oral hygiene prior to arriving (do not swallow any water).
  • Do not apply lotion.
  • Do not shave near or at the surgical site at home unless instructed to do so.
  • Leave all jewelry at home – including watches, earrings, rings piercings and accessories.
  • Do not wear make-up or nail polish.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water, and insist that caregivers do the same.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing or pajamas (something easy to get dressed in to go home.)
    • Shirt/top with front closure for face/head/ shoulder surgery.
    • Shirt/top with loose sleeves for hand or arm surgery.
    • Loose pants to allow for a big bandage for knee or foot surgery.
BRING THE FOLLOWING WITH YOU
  • Your insurance card and driver's license/photo ID
  • List of current medications
  • Case for storing your glasses/contact lenses, dentures, or hearing aids (these will be removed before surgery)
  • Court or guardianship paperwork
  • Copy of any Advance Directives you may have (e.g. Health care proxy, Living Will or MOLST form)
  • If you have sleep apnea and have a CPAP/BIPAP machine, please bring it with you, even for day surgeries.\
  • Please DO NOT bring any valuables
Parking lot with one yellow and one red car
Parking and Checking In on Your Day of Surgery
PARKING

Parking at Canton-Potsdam Hospital is available in the main lot at 50 Leroy Street, Potsdam. Free valet parking is available from 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM daily. If you would like to use the valet or need to borrow a wheelchair, please pull up to the semi-circle at the main entrance of the hospital to request this. View a Map of streets around Canton-Potsdam Hospital, the main entrance, and access to valet parking.

CHECKING IN

Proceed directly to 4th floor Registration. Enter through the main doors, proceed down the ramp and turn left. Walk to the end of the hallway until you reach the closed double doors, the elevator for the 4th floor is on your right. Take the single silver elevator to the 4th floor and stop at the Registration desk facing the elevator. Even if you are pre-registered please stop at the desk to sign in and receive a name band.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

If you are checking in after 2:00 PM or for certain procedures needing a pre-op x-ray, you will need to stop at the Registration desk on the 1st floor at the bottom of the ramp when you enter the hospital. You will be reminded of this when you are called with your check-in time the afternoon before surgery.

Any ordered bloodwork for day of surgery will be done after you are admitted to your pre-op room on the 4th floor.

Please arrive at your scheduled check-in time. Your check-in time is not the time of your actual procedure: we will need time with you to prepare

Review frequently asked questions about Preparing for Your Surgery.

If you need to contact us:
  Surgical Services: (315) 261-5975   FAX: (315) 261-6440
  Pre-op/surgery area: (315) 261-5332   FAX: (315) 261-5037  
  Pre-registration: (315) 261-5053
  Hospital Switchboard: (315) 265-3300