The Physician's Choice | The Patient's Choice | Same High Quality 
Prior To Your Surgery  | After Your Surgery  | Open Communication

We are pleased that you and your physician have chosen the Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center at United Medical Park for your procedure/surgery. We are glad to have you as our patient. This booklet has information that will help you prepare for your surgery/procedure. Please take time to read it before you arrive so you will know what to expect. We welcome your questions, so don't ever hesitate to ask us. You are our guest, and we are here to help you.

The Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center offers:

• Close, convenient parking.
• A streamlined admitting process with more predictable scheduling.
• Fewer delays caused by emergencies.
• Personalized attention in an atmosphere designed to ease your anxiety.
• Convenient services, all on one floor.
• A tour of the facility prior to your procedure/surgery.
• A lab, Imaging Center, pharmacy and EKG services.
• The Café By The Rock delicatessen.

The Physician's Choice

The Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center was designed with input from medical professionals. It features state-of-the-art technology that is subject to the same rigorous approval process as technology in a hospital setting. We offer our physicians and surgeons.

• Convenient, one-call scheduling during regular weekday office hours.
• A specialized team of nurses and staff who work with the surgeons on a regular basis and know the physicians' needs and preferences.
• Anesthesia personnel who know the specific requirements of day surgery to assist in making preoperative decisions.
• Compliance with third-party reimbursement regulations in an efficient setting.

The Patient's Choice

The Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center staff minimizes your surgery-related anxiety with personal attention and a comfortable atmosphere. Our services include:

• A phone interview prior to your procedure.
• A tour of the Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center, available upon request.
• Convenient parking.
• A streamlined admitting process.
• A team of specialized nurses to care for you from pre-procedure through post-procedure stages.
• A comfortable post-procedure recovery area.
• A variety of beverages and snacks.
• Facilities designed so your close family can join you in the post-procedure recovery area.
• A quick return to comfortable surroundings as you recover at home. In most cases, you’ll go home the day of your surgery.

Same High Quality

Day surgery gets you home the same day to recover in familiar surroundings with your family. Advances in medical technology make it possible to perform many outpatient surgeries and procedures safely for healthy adult and pediatric patients in these specialties:

• Dental
• Ear, nose and throat
• Gastroenterology
• General surgery
• Gynecology
• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopedics
• Pain management
• Pediatric surgery
• Plastics
• Podiatry
• Urology

Prior to Your Surgery

• Instructions as to when to stop eating and drinking will be given to you by one of our nurses on the pre-op phone interview, including what medications to take the day of your surgery/procedure.
• Brush your teeth, and rinse your mouth. Try not to swallow any water.
• Shower or bathe the night before or the morning of your procedure. Wash your skin for 5-10 minutes with an anti-bacterial soap if you are having a skin incision.
• Leave all valuables including your watch, rings, necklaces, earrings and body piercings at home. If you are unable to remove your jewelry, we may have to remove it for you depending on the type of surgery you are having.
• Bring your insurance card to the Surgery Center.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring a case for safekeeping during your surgery. You may wear your hearing aid and dentures. If it becomes necessary to remove your dentures or hearing aid, we will provide a container.
• Notify your physician immediately if you develop a cold or other illness within one week of your scheduled procedure.
• Arrange to have a driver. Park in front of the Surgery Center. Enter the 1731 Ridgeway building.
• A family member or friend who accompanies you may remain with you until you go to surgery. During your surgery, your companion is welcome to wait in our lobby. Please leave small children at home with child care.
• When you arrive, we will ask you to register and sign consent forms.
• Just before the procedure, a member of the anesthesia team will review the nature of your surgery, your overall health and your medical history. We will talk with you about the most appropriate anesthetic selection.

After Your Surgery

When you leave surgery, you will be taken to our recovery area to allow some of the effects of anesthesia to wear off.

• If you had general anesthesia, you will remain under nurses' care in the recovery area until you are fully awake and feel comfortable. We take pain seriously, and we will treat it aggressively to keep you comfortable.
• It is normal to feel drowsy or weak for several hours after having anesthesia or sedatives. It usually takes 24 hours for the effects of an anesthetic to wear off.
• If you had a local anesthetic, you will rest and have refreshments in the secondary recovery area. You will receive discharge instructions from your nurse before leaving.
• Arrange to have a driver to take you home after surgery and someone to stay with you when you get home.
• Follow your doctor's discharge instructions on diet, medications, bathing and activity. You will receive discharge instructions from your nurse before you leave. Call the Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center at 319-833-5800 or 888-387-5301 if you have any problems or questions during the hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you cannot reach the Allen Ambulatory Surgery Center, call your doctor.
• Your final recovery will take place at home. No matter what surgery you had, you need to rest. Do not make plans for the evening after surgery except to relax and get plenty of sleep. Take your pain medication regularly. Refer to your pain brochure.
• Drink plenty of water and resume eating as directed. Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after surgery.
• Do not drive for 24 hours after being under anesthesia or having sedatives. A nurse will call you the next business day to check on your progress and answer any questions you may have. If we are unable to reach you, we will send you a card by mail.

Open Communication

• Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable.
• Make sure your doctor knows your complete health history.
• Tell your doctor about all of your allergies and reactions to medication.
• Provide a list of all prescriptions, herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications you're taking.
• Ask questions.
• Ask your doctor for legible prescriptions.
• Request written information about side effects.
• Compare the prescription with the medication.
• Understand your dosage directions.
• Read the medication’s warning label.
• At times, you may receive a medication dosage of a half tablet due to tablet size, availability or cost effectiveness. We give half tablets only when evidence supports the effectiveness of this dosage.
• Review your medication list before you leave, and bring it with you to your follow-up appointment.
• Tell the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses if you have allergies or if you've ever had a bad reaction to anesthesia.
• Ask your doctor or nurse when and how you will get your test results.
• Make sure you receive the results of all tests and procedures.
• Don't assume the results are OK if you don't get them in writing when you expect them. Call us to be sure. We want to hear from you.