Surgery

2009-03-16 16:00:17 UTC

The Surgery Department at Harrisonburg OB/GYN is dedicated to serving our patients with courtesy and professionalism. We understand having surgery is stressful. By completing work accurately and in a timely fashion unnecessary stress is avoided. Our department will be the liaison between you, your provider and the hospital.  We will contact your insurance company to assure all requirements are met prior to your surgery. Any question you have will be answered to the best of our ability. Our department hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:00pm. You may reach Martha Shifflett at (540) 810-1447 or Teressa Lugar by phoning (540) 434-3831; ask to be transferred to the Surgery Department. After hours, leave a confidential voice message at either number and expect a call back the next working day.

There are many forms associated with our department and may be found  by going to forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a preoperative appointment?

You will be given two appointments, usually on the same day; one in our office and one at the hospital. Our office appointment which typically takes 40-45 minutes will be an opportunity for you to ask any remaining questions, review and finalize paperwork and have a brief physical exam. At this time the Doctor determines you are free of any colds, flu, infections or any condition that could potentially compromise the success of your surgery. A $100.00 deposit is required on all surgeries. The deposit will be collected at check in on the day of your preop visit and prior to seeing your Physician. Not having your deposit could result in cancellation of your surgery.

The hospital appointment is longer; one to two hours. You will be interviewed, given all necessary instruction for the day of your surgery and if ordered lab work and/or x-rays will be done.

I am scheduled as an out patient, how long will I be in the hospital?

Typically out patient surgeries that are scheduled in the morning are released by mid to late afternoon. 

What is deemed a medical emergency?

We understand once the decision is made to have surgery it becomes a stress factor because you want to get the unpleasantness over with as soon as possible. But true emergencies are life or death situations and extreme pain that can not be controlled by medication; those situations will be taken care of immediately. With all other surgeries efforts will be made to schedule your surgery as soon a possible.

How long will I be off of work?

Time off from work depends on the type of surgery you are having.  Few surgeries we do today require more than 4 weeks; many only a few days. This will be discussed with you prior to scheduling your surgery so you can make plans ahead.

Will my insurance pay for my surgery?

The Surgery department will work with your insurance to fullfill requirements that must be met prior to your surgery.  We recommended you also phone the company prior to your surgery to verify your coverage.  Be sure to get the name and phone number of the representatives you speak with.

If I need to change or reschedule my surgery, how much notice do I need to give?

Scheduling or changing a surgery date is strongly discouraged but sometimes even we need to switch a day. We understand the difficulties patients go through making arrangement for child care, arranging coverage at work and the mental stress associated with surgery.  Because all work must be redone, we never change a surgery date on a whim; we ask the same of you. It is recognized there are unavoidable circumstances and if that occurs  we must have 2 weeks notice.

Why is my surgery date so far in the future?

In non emergent situations, surgery appointment dates are based on three schedules, yours, your physician and the hospitals.  Insurance companies may  requires additonal testing or second opinions before they  approve a surgery. All of these factors play into your appointment date. But, if you are in an emergency situation you will be taken care of immediately.

What is needed prior to scheduling my surgery appointment?

1. You must schedule an appointment with your provider to determine what surgery is needed. At that appointment the provider will review any medical records you bring with you and give his recommendation. Please make sure your request to have records transferred to our office are here prior to your appointment; not having the records could delay the process of scheduling.
2. We need your insurance card.
3. You need to come to the appointment with your calendar. Please know which dates will be convenient. It is best to have checked with your family and employer, if you work, to clear dates with them prior to your appointment. It is a long process to coordinate schedules and this process starts with you.

I am scheduled for an in patient surgery, how long can I expect to be in the hospital?

That depends on the type of surgery you are having; typically the stay will be 1-2 nights.

If I have Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Disability papers, when do I need to turn those in and when can I expect them back?

To prevent a delay in completion, FMLA and Disability papers must be turned in 2 weeks prior to your surgery.  We will need to have the correct address, phone and fax numbers to the location we are to send the forms . Most forms are filled in after your surgery to ensure accurate information is given. The first set of forms are done at no charge. There will be a $10.00 fee for each form.  This fee will be collected prior to the forms being completed.

I was given a start time of 10:00 am for my surgery, could that change?

YES, that could be moved one way or the other depending on the hospital schedule and your physician. When asked for contact information be sure to give complete and accurate information. Make yourself available for a phone call at least 48 hours prior to your surgery; you may be asked to come to the hospital at a different time. Many circumstances can occur that would influence a hospital surgery schedule. Your surgery could be delayed because of an emergency at the hospital. If you are schedule for mid morning your surgery could be moved to as early as 7:30 am. Only in an extreme circumstance would a case be cancelled for the day.