Surgical Services

• Your surgeon's office will schedule your procedure with the Utah Valley Hospital Surgical Services or Utah Valley Outpatient Surgical Center scheduling staff.
• You will receive a call from a pre-screening nurse 2-3 days before your surgery date. The pre-screen nurse will review your health history and any medications you are taking, and will give you specific information and instructions about your type of surgery.
• You will receive a time and instructions to check in to Surgical Services on the day of your surgery.
• Typically, you will need to have labs drawn the day before your surgery. Instructions will be provided on where and how to appropriately take care of the lab draws.

Arriving at the Hospital

• On the day of your surgery, please arrive on time at the arrival time provided by the pre-screen nurses.
• Free parking is available in the two parking terraces located off Bulldog Boulevard on the north end of campus.
• Free valet parking is also available at the front entrance of the hospital.
• Utah Valley Surgical Services is located on first floor of the West Building of Utah Valley Hospital.
• The Utah Valley Outpatient Surgical Center is located on the fourth floor of the Utah Valley Outpatient Center, located at the corner of Bulldog Boulevard and 300 West.
  
  
• You will be registered when you arrive at the Surgical Services front desk.

Pre-Op

• You will be escorted by a nurse from the waiting area to a pre-op room. This nurse will collect vital signs, review your health history, start an IV, and answer any questions you may have.
• You will wait in the pre-op room for an anesthesiologist and your surgeon before going into the surgery suite. We work to keep this wait to a minimum, but depending on the number of surgeries the wait may be longer.
• You can expect a high level of care and attention from the surgeon when it is time for your surgery. We recommend you not plan anything else on your surgery day so you have time to recover

After surgery you will recover in a same-day surgery bed, or your bed on a nursing unit, depending on the nature of your surgery. Post-op nurses will monitor your pain, your breathing patterns, and if you will be able to get up and walk after surgery. These three criteria are the basis on which we can discharge you from the hospital. We work with you to keep your pain at a tolerable level, your breathing easy and unlabored, and make sure you will be able to walk without difficulty.

Discharge

You will receive a packet with specific instructions from your surgeon, as well as instructions from the hospital when you are discharged to go home. The nurse will go over these instructions with you before you leave and answer any of your questions.

Why can't I have anything to eat or drink past midnight before my surgery?

We need to have your stomach as empty and free from acid before surgery. The acid in your stomach can be especially dangerous while you are under anesthesia.

What medications do I take?

DO take your heart, blood pressure, asthma, or seizure medications with a sip of water on the morning of your procedure. DO NOT take any other medications unless directed by your physician.

What if I have special needs: disability, language, etc.?

We will work with you to take care of any need you may have. Interpretation services are free and available 24 hours a day.

Should someone come with me?

• We allow two visitors to be with each patient. We ask that no children under the age of 12 come with you.
• Visitors will wait in the waiting room during your procedure.
• You will need a responsible person to drive you home following your procedure.
• We recommend you have someone with you for 24 hours after you return home from surgery.

What should I bring with me?

• Please bring the following:
  • photo identification
  • Insurance card or insurance information
  • Any cash or credit card payment for co-pays
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing

The pre-op hop is a fun, interactive class and tour for children ages 2 to 12 who are having surgery at Utah Valley Hospital. Children and parents will enjoy the following activities:

• Guided tours of surgical areas so children know where they will be on the day of surgery.
• General education about surgery with opportunities to ask questions and address concerns about surgery.
• Activities to help children become familiar with sights and sounds they may experience during their stay at the hospital.

Register your child by calling (801) 357-8374. Tours occur Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Meet in the hospital main lobby near the Surgical Services check-in desk.