Your Surgery

In order to gather your health history, North Pointe Surgery Center uses an online system called One Medical Passport. Once your surgeon has scheduled your procedure at NPSC, you will be required to fill out this passport so that our team can have a digital working medical history. Should you need to return to NPSC, you will be able to review the document and make any necessary changes to your history.

After visiting www.onemedicalpassport.com and registering, you will be asked demographic information followed by health-related questions. Please take your time and answer all questions honestly. Questions include listing all medications you are taking, any previous surgeries you’ve had, and any allergies you may have. By providing us with the most accurate details about your health, we will be able to customize your care during your stay with us.

If you are on an aspirin or Coumadin regimen, please contact your surgeon or prescribing physician to discuss temporary discontinuation.

To speak with a registered nurse please call Lancaster (717) 391-2486 or Lebanon (717) 675-1337 

One of our nurses will call you on the business day prior to your procedure to confirm your date and time. There is no need to arrive earlier, as this time will give the registration staff and nursing staff time to get you ready for surgery.

If you are diabetic, you must check with your primary care physician as to the dose and time to take your medication prior to arriving at the center.

If possible, please make arrangements for child care to allow for adequate recovery time. You will also need to make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you from North Pointe Surgery Center to your home.

If you use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to sleep at night, you will be instructed to bring your machine with you to North Pointe Surgery Center on the day of your surgery. Your CPAP machine may be used in the recovery room.

Please do not eat or drink anything after midnight unless otherwise instructed.

Your surgery day can be rather stressful. Please review this section to help ease your stress.

Before You Leave Checklist

1. If you routinely take heart or blood pressure medication, you will be advised by the pre-anesthesia nurses what medications you may take the morning of surgery with a sip of water.
2. Please bring your insurance card(s), photo id and any copayments with you for registration.
3. Please make sure you have a ride arranged to bring you to North Pointe Surgery Center, take you home, and stay with you after the surgery is complete. Your driver will be asked to remain in the building during your surgery.
4. Wear comfortable clothing and simple shoes so it is easy to dress after your surgery.
5. Please leave all jewelry and valuables at home. All jewelry and/or body piercings worn to NPSC must be removed. NPSC is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
6. Please bring appropriate cases for your eyeglasses, contact lenses, and/or dentures. You will be asked to remove these before your surgery.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, or you experience a delay in your arrival to NPSC, please call us as soon as possible at (717) 735-6650 or (717) 277-7009.

NPSC Pre-Operative Process

Once you have registered at the front desk, a pre-op nurse will escort you to the pre-op area. To make you feel more comfortable, please review NPSC’s pre-operative process:

• You will then be asked to change into a patient gown.
• The pre-op nurse will take your blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations and review your daily medications.
• You may have an IV started and your belongings will be placed in a locker until discharge.
• Your physician and operating room nurse will visit you in pre-op. Each of them will re-verify information and are available to answer any questions you may have about your surgery. Your physician will ask you to assist with identifying and marking the location of your surgery.
• If you receive anesthesia, you may be visited by an anesthesiologist.

After surgery, you will be taken directly to the recovery room where you will again be monitored by nurses.

Post-Operative Recovery

The length of time you remain in the recovery room depends on several different factors:

• Type of procedure performed
• Type of anesthesia you had
• Your pain level
• Your ability to tolerate fluids

You will be given something to drink and a snack during this time. Once you are fully recovered you will be taken to the post-op area where the nurse will review and give you your discharge instructions.

Please note: Everyone reacts differently to surgery. Rarely, patients may need to be admitted to the hospital following surgery for specific medical reasons. If the need arises, be assured that this decision will be made in conjunction with anesthesia personnel and your surgeon. In the event this decision is made, you would be transferred by ambulance to an acute care facility.

In the event of a medical emergency, please call 911.

A few guidelines to follow when you arrive home:

• You must have an adult stay with you for the first 24 hours as you may get dizzy or drowsy.
• Rest and relax – follow your doctor’s recommendations for resuming your normal activities.
• Eat a light meal when you feel hungry; heavy meals may cause nausea.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions for resuming any medications as well as pain medication that may have been prescribed. You will receive instructions specific to your surgical procedure and anesthesia in general at the time of discharge.
• Do not drive, drink alcoholic beverages, or operate heavy machinery or power tools for at least 24 hours after your surgery.

If you are experiencing pain not controlled by your prescription, bleeding through your dressing, nausea/vomiting, or any other issue since surgery, call your surgeon’s office. After hours, ask the medical bureau to page the surgeon on call.