Pre- Registration: Before Your Procedure
A member of the St. Vincent's staff will telephone you prior to your scheduled procedure date to assist you in the pre-registration process.
We will ask you for demographic and insurance information. We will notify you if you have a co-payment or deductible due at the time of registration. Our staff will also connect you to the services of one of our financial counselors, should you require financial assistance.
As an inpatient, short stay or ambulatory patient, you can expect to receive a call from a member of our nursing staff on the day or the evening before your expected visit. During that call we will confirm your arrival time and provide you with additional instructions.
Designate a Loved One to Assist You
Patients are asked to designate a loved one to serve as the primary contact for communication and decision-making. This designated individual has greater access to information on your progress and can serve as a point of contact to inform family and friends. Additionally, they partner with staff members and physicians to ensure you receive the most effective plan of care.
Upon Arrival: Where To Go
Upon arriving, please report to Registration office. It's the second door to the right as you walk toward the elevator on the Main Level of the Medical Center, located just past the gift shop.
What to Bring/What Not to Bring
Don’t forget to bring your medical insurance card and photo identification card (driver’s license, passport) with you.
Please bring the amount of your deductible, if applicable, in the form of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
Do not bring valuables such as jewelry, large sums of cash or electronic devices.
You will be provided clothing to wear during your stay for medical purposes. Please bring only undergarments for the duration of your stay and something comfortable to wear home.
Eating and Drinking
As a general rule, you may eat a normal dinner the night before your scheduled surgery. However, we advise you to refrain from eating or drinking anything (including water, gum, hard candy) after midnight. This is to avoid digestive problems – such as nausea or vomiting – that might occur during anesthesia. Not adhering to this recommendation may result in surgery cancellation. Don’t hesitate to consult with your surgeon regarding specific instructions he or she may have for you, or if you have other questions or concerns.
Medications
Before admission, you may be asked to discontinue taking aspirin or other medications with aspirin in them. Many patients are advised to stop taking aspirin two weeks prior to surgery. If you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as Coumadin, you may be asked to discontinue taking them prior to admission. Consult your physician about these and other medications prior to and after surgery. If you are staying in the hospital overnight, you may bring your medications or a list of them (name, dosage, and how often you take them). Please consult with your physician to make certain there won't be any drug interactions.
Transportation
Please know the date and time you are expected to arrive at St. Vincent’s Medical Center before your surgery and allow yourself ample time to arrive in advance of your scheduled appointment.
It is important to identify a member of your family or a close, trusted friend to be involved in your care. You may also wish to ask them to accompany you to the hospital and to accompany you home. If you are scheduled for same-day surgery, you may receive sedation or pain medication that will impact your ability to drive a motor vehicle and prohibit your traveling alone in a taxi or by public transportation.
What to Expect on Admission
After verifying your information for accuracy, we will place an armband on your wrist. We will obtain your signatures on the consent form. After scanning your insurance and photo identification card and processing payment information, we will direct you to your scheduled appointment.
What is a hospitalist?
Our Hospitalist Service team of experienced St. Vincent’s physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners provide care for acutely ill, hospitalized patients.
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