Valley Baptist : Day Surgery

When you have to have surgery, our goal at Valley Baptist Medical Center- Harlingen is to provide the best possible medical care and a restful recovery. If your surgery can be performed through our Day Surgery Center, you can spend the night at home with your family instead of the hospital. You save time and money while maintaining the peace of mind that your surgery is being performed in a major medical center. Our Day Surgery Center is staffed by an experienced healthcare team.

The Day Surgery Center is a one-day surgical facility. It has been developed cooperatively by our surgeons, anesthesiologists and the medical staff to provide quality surgical procedures at a cost less than conventional hospitalization. The 30-bed Day Surgery Center is located in VBMC’s East Tower, which opened in 1998.

Procedures Include:

Minor Surgery
Heart Catherization
Endoscopy
Radiologic Procedures
Lithotripsy

For Day Surgery Patients

Your understanding and cooperation with the instructions given below will enhance your safety and comfort.

Your Pre-Operative Appointment

1. Your physician's office will contact the hospital to set the time and date for your surgery and pre-operative visit.

2. Your pre-operative visit will occur one to 14 days prior to your scheduled surgery.

3. Please make arrangements to allow at least one to two hours for your pre-operative visit.

4. The Day Surgery Center staff will obtain a medical history from you.

5. It is important to know exactly what medications you are taking. Please bring a list of ALL MEDICATIONS you take and the dosages, or bring in the labeled pill bottles.

6. If lab work is required for your surgery, it will be performed during your visit.

7. A chest X-ray and EKG will be done if ordered by your physician.

8. The Day Surgery staff will perform a physical assessment, discuss your surgery, and give you pre-operative instructions. We welcome and encourage you to ask any questions you might have about any phase of your surgery. If an emergency arises making it impossible to keep your pre-operative appointment, call Pre-Admitting Services at (956) 389-1862. If you cannot keep your scheduled surgery time, please call the Day Surgery Center at (956) 389-1861.

General Pre-Operative Instructions

1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Failure to follow this instruction could lead to cancellation of your surgery.

2. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke 24 hours prior to surgery.

3. If you have a change in your physical condition before surgery such as a cold, fever, persistent cough or rash, etc., contact your physician immediately.

The Day of Surgery

1. The Day Surgery post-operative area is located on the second floor of VBMC’s East Tower. Please report to this floor on the day of your surgery.

2. Anesthesia personnel will be responsible for monitoring your care in surgery. They will interview you in the Holding Area.

3. On the day of surgery, please be sure to bathe just prior to reporting to the Day Surgery Center.

4. Report to the Day Surgery Center at the time assigned to you by the Day Surgery nurse during your pre-operative visit. You will be notified if any changes occur. Take elevator #25 to the second floor in the East Tower, turn left and enter through the double doors to Day Surgery.

5. Wear casual, loose-fitting clothing which can be folded for storage.

6. Women should not wear fingernail polish, makeup, or hair pins.

7. Please leave jewelry or other valuables at home.

8. Please bring a clean pair of cotton socks and some slippers. Do not bring gowns or robes.

9. Arrangements must be made prior to surgery for someone to drive you home. Please provide the name and phone number of that person on the day of surgery.

10. The person accompanying the patient may wait in the patient's room unless otherwise notified by the nurse.

11. A responsible person must stay with you that evening and night after your discharge from Day Surgery.

12. Please leave children at home because the Day Surgery area does not have proper facilities for their care.

13. Dentures, partial plates, contact lenses or any other prosthesis will be removed and kept in your assigned room during surgery.

Children as Patients

1. During the pre-operative visit, the Day Surgery Center staff will take special care to explain what the child patient can expect on the day of surgery.

2. A special toy and/or blanket may be brought along on the day of surgery.

3. Parents are asked to bring extra clothes and four extra diapers for small children.

4. A parent will be allowed to stay with the child until he or she is taken into the operating room.

5. Your child must not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. This limitation includes water, fruit juice and breast or bottle feedings. Infants, 12 months and under, can drink clear liquids until 3:00 a.m.

After Surgery

1. After you have recovered from the anesthesia, you will be returned to the Day Surgery Center.

2. A comfortable patient room with a TV will be available for you. Your relative/friend may stay with you as you recover and prepare to return home.

3. Before you leave, a nurse will provide a written set of instructions for you to follow at home.

4. A Day Surgery Center nurse will contact you at home approximately 24 hours following your surgery. This gives you the opportunity to ask us any questions regarding your home care. We care about you and your recovery progress.

Entrance

To get to the Day Surgery Center, enter through VBMC’s East Tower (which is the side of the hospital facing toward Treasure Hills Boulevard in Harlingen). In addition to Day Surgery, the East Tower is also the entrance for Outpatient Services and Pre-admitting Teaching and Testing. Use Elevator 24 or 25 in the East Lobby to go up to the Day Surgery Center on the 2nd floor.