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Last updated: 12-22-2009
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Preparing for Surgery

Instructions for:

  • The Admissions Testing Center
  • Pre-Surgery
  • The Day of Surgery
  • Billing Information

Welcome to Washington Hospital Center. This brochure provides information about pre-surgery testing, instructions to follow before your surgery and what to expect on the day of surgery.

Doctor’s name:________________________________________

Surgery date:________________________________________

Admission time:________________________________________

Pre-Surgery Testing and Interview

Both diagnostic testing and a pre-anesthesia interview must be completed before your surgery. Some of the diagnostic testing may be ordered by your surgeon, and other tests may be required by our hospital anesthesiologist. These pre-surgery tests give us important information about your health for your safety.

When surgery is scheduled, please set up an appointment for pre-surgery testing. The hospital will accept results of test performed at other labs, except blood typing. If there is a possibility that you may require a blood transfusion during your procedure, you will be asked to come to the hospital to provide a specimen for blood typing prior to your procedure.

Please ask your doctor or insurance company where your pre-surgery testing should be done. Blood typing fees will be waived for nonparticipating insurers. Results of blood testing within six weeks before your scheduled surgery will be accepted, and Electrocardiograms (EKG) can be used within one year of your scheduled surgery date. All test results should be faxed to the Admissions Testing Center, preferably two weeks prior to your day of surgery.

Admission Tesing Center

The Admission Testing Center (ATC) at Washington Hospital Center performs your test in one location. A history and physical conducted by a nurse practitioner can also be performed. Testing and physical examinations are done by appointment, preferably two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date.

The pre-anesthesia interview will be conducted by pre-anesthesia nurse coordinators in the Admissions Testing Center before your surgery. The information from this interview will be used by your anesthesiologist during your surgery.

To assist in this process, you should complete a preoperative patient questionnaire. A questionnaire can be completed in your surgeon’s office, or through our hospital’s website at http://www.whcenter.org.

If your interview has not been performed prior to the day of your surgery, call the Admissions Testing Center to speak to a pre-anesthesia coordinator. The ATC coordinators will provide you with pre-surgery instructions.

What to do:

To make an appointment for pre-surgery testing, or to speak to a pre-anesthesia coordinator in Admissions Testing Center, call 202-877-7169.

On the day of your appointment, you must register at the Admissions Testing Center in room A101. You should arrive for registration at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. Please bring in a list of your current medications and any orders or instructions given to you by your doctor.

When you arrive for surgical registration, please remember to bring your health insurance card, personal identification and any referrals, and/or authorization number that you may have. In addition, please be prepared to pay any deposits, deductibles and/or co-payments.

ATC Hours of operation:

  • Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    Pre-Surgery Instructions

    Please follow these important instructions before surgery. If you fail to follow these instructions, your surgery may be cancelled.

    • Do not eat (this includes sucking on hard candy or mints), drink, chew gum or smoke after midnight on the night before the surgery. You may brush your teeth, but please do not swallow any water.
    • Ask your physician if you should take your routine morning medications. If your physician says yes, you should take medications with a sip of water before going to the hospital.
    • Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and low-heeled shoes to the hospital on the day of surgery. If you are having surgery on your head, neck or eyes, you should wear a shirt or blouse that opens in the front.
    • Arrange for a family member or friend to take you home after surgery if you are having out-patient surgery with anesthesia; you will not be allowed to drive home or ride in a cab unless you are accompanied by a family member or friend.
    • Leave your valuables, large amounts of cash, jewelry and credit cards at home or leave them with a family member or friend for safekeeping. If your insurance company requires payment of a deductible prior to surgery, you must bring it with you on the day of surgery.
    • Do not shave your surgical area the night before your procedure. The hospital staff will prepare the area on the day of your procedure.

    The Day of Surgery

    • On the day of surgery, report to the Admission Testing Center in room A-101. Please arrive at the hospital two hours before the scheduled time of surgery. It is important that you arrive on time.
    • If you are scheduled for outpatient surgery, you should expect to stay at the hospital for two to four hours after your surgery is completed. Your surgeon or our nursing staff will give you any necessary instructions for your post-surgery care before you are discharged.
    • If you are staying overnight in the hospital, we will assign you to a room after surgery.

    Billing Information

    Most patients will receive at least two bills, one for hospital services and one or more for hospital-employed physicians or other professional services, such as radiology or anesthesia.

    If you have health insurance, it is always a good idea to be familiar with your insurance plan and to contact your insurance company before coming to the hospital. Understanding your referral, authorization and financial requirements will help avoid any potential delays or issues.

    Important phone numbers:

    Phone: (202) 877-7169

    Fax: 1-866-298-5563

    Directions to Washington Hospital Center or call: (202) 877-8499

    Washington Hospital Center is located on a 47-acre medical campus in Northwest Washington just across North Capital Street from The Catholic University of America. The Hospital Center is easily accessible via Metrorail (Brookland/CUA station on the red line) and Metrobus. A large on-site parking garage offers parking for Hospital Center patients and family members. Valet parking is also available.

    Washington Hospital Center is a not-forprofit 926-bed acute care teaching and research hospital based in Northwest Washington, D.C. It is the largest private medical center in the nation’s capital and among the 25 largest hospitals in the country. The Hospital Center consistently ranks among the nation’s top hospitals in the research and treatment of cardiovascular and kidney disease and provides cutting edge therapies to treat cancer, stroke and acute neurological injury and disease.Washington Hospital Center is also home to MedSTAR Trauma and Transport and is the region’s adult burn facility.

    OUR MISSION: Washington Hospital Center, a valued member of MedStar Health, is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient first health care. We provide the region with the highest quality and latest medical advances, through excellence in patient care, education and research.

    • 110 Irving Street, NW · Washington, DC 20010 · Washington Hospital Center · (202) 877-7000