As your surgery nears you may start to feel uneasy. The staff at St. Charles Surgical Hospital is here to provide you with information that will put you and your caregiver at ease and let you know what to expect.
The Night Before Surgery
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight unless the anesthesiologist has given you special instructions with reference to medications.
If you are instructed to shower with a special product please do so.
The Morning of Surgery
Do not eat or drink anything unless the anesthesiologist has given you special instructions with reference to medications.
Bring your insurance card and picture ID. Wear comfortable clothes. Preferably front closing upper garments and flat shoes.
Leave all jewelry and valuables secured at home. An in-room safe is available if this is unavoidable.
If you are due to be discharged the same day of surgery you must have a responsible adult with you to drive or escort you home.
The staff will be in contact with your family members for the duration of your surgery using a pager system that is set up upon admission.
After Surgery
Your family members will be informed of your progress during the recovery phase of your care using the pager system.
You will be in the recovery room cared for by specially-trained nurses and an Anesthesiologist to manage any discomfort.
Your surgeon will review your surgery with your family member.
You will feel sleepy after surgery.
If you are to be discharged the same day of surgery you must have a responsible adult to drive or escort you home.
We encourage that an adult stay with you for your first post-surgical night.
You should not drive, make any important decisions, or operate any machinery for the first 24 hours after your surgery.
Post Op – Once You Get Home
Drowsiness, dizziness, sore throat, muscle soreness and headaches are all common side effects of anesthesia and could take several days to resolve.
A nursing staff member will contact you once you are discharged from the hospital to evaluate how you are progressing and to assist you with your concerns and questions.
Service Animal Policy
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), St Charles Surgical Hospital welcomes the use of service animals by any person with a disability. We do not allow service animals in areas of the hospital where they would cause a major change to hospital operations or a threat to the safety of others or the hospital.
- Disability, as defined in the ADA, is any physical or mental impairment that limits 1 or more major life activities, such as breathing, hearing, or caring for oneself.
- Service animal, as defined in the ADA, is any dog that is trained to do work or tasks for the person with a disability. Disabilities can include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. A service animal is not a pet because it is specially trained to help a person overcome the limitations caused by the disability.
Can I bring my comfort or emotional support animal to the hospital?
No. According to the ADA, comfort or emotional support animals are not considered service animals.
- Service animals receive special training to do specific tasks that a person may not be able to do because of their disability.
- The ADA does not consider the sense of companionship, comfort or security that animals may provide as a “trained task.”
Do I have to provide identification or information about my service animal?
No. St Charles Surgical Hospital does not require information about a person’s disability or proof of the service animal’s training.
- If a staff member is not sure that an animal is a service animal, you may be asked:
- Is the animal a service animal?
- What tasks/services has the animal been trained to perform?
- A staff member should not ask a person about his or her disability.
What are my responsibilities?
- You are responsible for the care and behavior of your service animal at all times. If you have to go to an area that is off-limits to service animals (see next page), you will need to make other plans for the animal during this time. Hospital employees may not take care of the service animal at any time.
- Hospital employees and patients (other than the owner) may not pet or play with your service animal.
- You should report any incidents, such as bites or scratches, to a hospital staff member. If your service animal bites, you will be asked to remove the dog from the hospital immediately.
- Service animals should not be exposed to any patient’s open area of skin (for example: cuts, surgical wounds, area around a drainage tube, etc.).
- Everyone, including the dog’s owner, should wash their hands with a waterless alcohol product (like Purell) or soap and water after touching the service animal, its equipment, or any other item the dog has touched.
- You should not bring your service animal into the hospital if the dog is sick, has diarrhea (loose poop), fleas, ticks or sores. If your dog shows any signs of poor health or is not house-trained, you may be asked to remove the dog from the hospital.
- You should be able to control your service animal at all times. You may be asked to remove the dog from the hospital if it is out of control (for example: uncontrolled barking, not able to follow your instructions).
Where is my service animal allowed in the hospital?
You may bring the service animal to any area of the hospital where the general public is allowed. Service animals are not allowed in:
- Areas where the hospital must take special steps to reduce the risk of infection, including:
- operating rooms (ORs) – Holding and Recovery Room
- a clean patient room that is not assigned to a patient
- pharmacy and central processing areas
- clean & sterile supply/storeroom
- rooms for other medical procedures, including rooms used before and after surgery
- food prep areas
- areas that may be dangerous to the animal
Can my service animal stay overnight in the hospital?
- Your service animal may stay overnight if you or your caregiver are in an inpatient room that allows service animals.
- Service animals are not allowed on any furniture in the hospital. This includes, but is not limited to, furniture in the registration area, family waiting room, patient’s room, etc.
- You are responsible for the care of your service animal at all times. You should have a plan for your service animal at all times.
- You should have a plan for your service animal in case you are unable to care for it at any point or if you must go to an area of the hospital where service animals are not allowed.
- You may want to:
- have a family member take the animal outside for a break
- have the animal stay with friends or relatives
- board the animal
Hospital employees cannot care for service animals at any time.
Where can my service animal go to the bathroom?
- Neutral Ground on St Charles Avenue. This is the grassy location on the main road in the front of the hospital.
- You must bring materials (like poop bags) to clean up after your dog. A garbage can is available for disposal outside the facility.
Contact us
For questions or concerns, a member of management can be reached by calling the main hospital #: 504-529-6600.
