St. John's Orthopedic Surgery Center 2610 Enterprise Dr. Anderson, IN  46013 765-608-3608 (click for tour)

Central Indiana Orthopedics Surgery Center of Muncie, LLC 3600 W. Bethel Ave. Muncie, IN  47304 765-213-3800 (click for tour)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Scheduling...Your surgeon and our surgery staff will schedule your surgery and notify you of the date and time.
• Location...Central Indiana Orthopedics has two locations, Anderson and Muncie.  Parking is available near the building's entrance.  Please bring only one or two other adults with you.  Both parents may accompany their child.
• Arrival...We ask that you arrive one hour before your surgery.  Arriving on time is very important.  Please give yourself plenty of time to allow for weather factors or traffic problems.
• Cancellations...If you need to cancel your surgery, please call the appropriate Surgery Center as soon as possible.  We will notify the surgeon.

PRE-SURGERY INFORMATION

• Preoperative...Our staff will contact you before your surgery to review your preoperative instructions.  This teaching will be done in our Preadmission Testing Unit or over the telephone.
• If you are under the age of 18...You must have a parent or guardian accompany you.
• Insurance Card...You should call the customer service/precertification number to alert your insurance company of your scheduled surgery as soon as possible.  Some insurance companies require a specific time period to precertify procedures and any Durable Medical Equipment (DME) such as crutches, arm slings, leg braces, or splints, etc.  Our staff will assist in the precertification process and supply additional information to your insurance company.  Please bring your current insurance card with you on the day of your procedure.
• Presurgery testing...You may be required to have some tests done before your surgery.  These tests my involve drawing blood or having an electrocardiogram (EKG).  These tests can be performed at our Center.  To avoid a delay in your surgery, it is important that your tests be completed before surgery.

NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY

• Plan to eat a regular meal before 9:00pm
• Stop all foods, milk and milk-based products 8 hours before surgery.
• You may continue to have clear liquids up to 4 hours before surgery.  Clear liquids are water, plain jello, Gatorade, black coffee (no cream or sugar) and tea.  NO POP, NO JUICE.
• 4 hours before surgery STOP ALL LIQUIDS.

If you forget and eat or drink something, tell the nurse immediately upon arrival at the Surgery Center.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before surgery.
• Take a bath or shower.
• If you take prescribed medications, ask your surgeon whether you should take them the morning of surgery.  Our staff will review your medications with you during your preoperative teaching and instruct you on what medicines to take the day of surgery.
• If you routinely take coumadin, aspirin, aspirin-containing products or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Advil, Nuprin or Motrin, please check with your physician about discontinuing these medicines before surgery.

These instructions are very important; we may need to reschedule your surgery if you do not follow them.

DAY OF SURGERY

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Jogging suits or sweat clothes work very well.
• Please do not wear make-up or contact lenses.
• Jewelry and valuables should be left at home.
• We will keep your dentures or glasses in a safe place while you are in surgery.
• You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow toothpaste or water.
• Please bring any records or forms your surgeon has given you concerning your surgery or postsurgical care.
• Children may bring a favorite toy or blanket.
• If you have been using a splint, crutches or a walker, please bring them with you.
• If you have a distance to travel going home, bring along a pillow and blanket for the ride home.

SURGERY PREPARATION

• A nurse may need to shave the area of your operation.
• Expect Double Checking...Before surgery, surgical nurses will greet you and ask you some of the same questions you were asked in the preparation area.  This is done to double check information and make sure conditions are right for your surgery.  This double checking is routine and does not mean there is a problem.
• You will also meet your anesthesiologist just before surgery.  He/She will talk with you about your anesthesia and answer any of your questions.
• When you leave for surgery, your family and friends will be directed to the Surgical Waiting Area.  It is important to have at least one family member or friend stay in the waiting area while you are in surgery.  A parent or guardian is required to stay in the waiting area if your child is 18 years or younger.

AFTER SURGERY

• After your surgery, you will be taken to one of the recovery areas where nurses will monitor your condition.
• In the secondary recovery area, you will be offered something to drink, and your family will be allowed to visit.
• The length of stay after surgery is between 30 minutes and several hours, depending on the type of anesthesia and surgery.
• A recovery nurse will help you prepare for the return home.
• You will receive prescriptions for needed medication and written instructions to follow at home.

To ensure your safe arrival at home an adult at least 18 years old MUST take you home.

AT HOME

• If you received sedation, you may feel tired.  This is normal and should pass.  Plan to stay home and rest for the remainder of the day.
• Do not drive a car, operate machinery or make important decisions for 24 hours.
• In the case of children, an adult should stay with the child for 48 hours after surgery.
• Don't try to eat immediately.
  -  Start with sips of clear liquid and, when you are ready, increase your fluids and add small amounts of solid food.  Work your way up to a regular diet slowly, and eat small amounts of food often.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages.

ASSISTANCE

If you need to reach us for any reason, please call the appropriate surgery center.  The Surgery Center is open Monday through Friday, 6am to 5pm.  After hours there is a doctor on call who can be reached through the answering service.

PROGRESS

One of our nurses will call you one to two days after surgery to see how you are doing and answer your questions.