• PLEASE use the website’s pre-registration link to pre-register online. The pre-registration will include your personal information, as well as your health/medical information. The registration process should take approximately 15-30 minutes and will assist our staff in providing us with valuable information about you. Pre-registering online provides information including your current list of medications, allergies, medical and surgical histories. The pre-registration process also reduces the registration and interview time the day of your surgery. If you are unable to pre-register online, please call to inform us.

• IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PRE-REGISTER ONLINE, PLEASE have the following available:

• List of current medications including any vitamins, herbals and over the counter medications
• Include dosages, the reason you take the medication, and when you took your last dose
• List of your allergies, including the reaction
• Medical and surgical history

• One of our nurses will phone you approximately 24-72 hours prior to your surgery to discuss and/or review your health status, current medications, allergies, and other pre-op information provided from your online patient registration or to perform a phone interview. If you do not receive a call from a nurse, please call the center.

• Your surgeon may write a prescription for pain medication for your use at home. You will need purchase your pain medication at the pharmacy of your choice. If your surgeon gives you a prescription in his office prior to your surgery, please get it filled ahead of time so you have the pain medication ready once you are discharged from the center and home.

• PLEASE DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes any fluids, food, gum, mints, chewing tobacco, etc. If your surgery is after 2pm, you may have a light snack early in the morning. No milk products. You must have an 8 hour period of nothing to eat or drink prior to your check in time. This is for your safety. Failure to follow these instructions could result in the cancellation of your surgery.

• YOU ARE REQUIRED to have a responsible adult stay with you during your procedure, drive you home and stay with you following your surgery/procedure. For your safety, we cannot allow you to take a taxi cab or any other public transportation home unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Failure to comply could result in the cancellation in your surgery.

• If you wear contact lenses, please bring the lens case with you or wear your glasses the day of your surgery.

• PLEASE be sure to bring your photo ID, insurance card, and any required payment with you.

• PLEASE leave all valuables at home. All jewelry must be removed, including ALL body piercings.

• PLEASE arrive one hour prior to your scheduled surgery/procedure, or as directed by your pre-op nurse.

If you develop a cold or persistent cough, fever, or any other health related problems, or need to cancel your surgery for any reason, please notify your surgeon and also call Bakersfield Specialists Surgical Center. Thank You.

• Once here in our center, you will be escorted into the privacy of your own patient preparatory bay where you will be asked to undress and put on a surgical gown, cap, and booties. A nurse will then take your vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygenation), place an intravenous catheter in your arm for medication administration, and interview you. The surgeon and/or anesthesiologist will then interview and conduct a physical examination and/or pre-surgical examination. You surgical team will be available and happy to answer any questions you may have prior to your surgery.

• Following the completion of your surgery, members of the surgical team will take you to the recovery area where a recovery care nurse will take care of you.

• During this time, the surgeon will speak with your family member or friend regarding the surgery.

• Your safety and comfort are the top priorities for the recovery care nurse. Your blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, and oxygen saturation will be closely monitored while you are recovering from the anesthesia and surgery. He/She will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible. You will be asked several times to rate your pain or discomfort level and treated accordingly.

• Once you are awake and alert, your family or friend can be brought back to join you in the recovery area.

• The recovery care nurse will go over detailed discharge instructions with you and the friend or family member and answer any questions you may have. You will receive a copy of the discharge instructions to go home with you.

• A nurse from our center will call you the next business day following your surgery to check on you and answer any questions you may have.

• It is important to follow the discharge instructions given to you by the center to help ensure a proper and safe recovery. If at any time you have questions or concerns about your recovery from surgery, please call your surgeon’s office or the surgery center. If the situation is an emergency, don’t hesitate to call 911.