What to know before you arrive

Appointment arrival

Every visitor needs to check in at Security for a visitor ID badge. Formal ID (i.e., government ID) is required.

All patients and visitors can speak with our staff at the main entrance front desk for guidance on finding their location.

You can make surgical procedure and follow-up care as safe as possible. Here’s what you need to know.

Bring a list of any questions you have about your surgery to your pre-surgical doctor’s visit.
Bring a list of all the prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications that you are currently taking or that you took until very recently. Be sure your surgeon is aware of any allergies you have to medications and foods.
Be sure to follow any other pre-surgery instructions you were given.

Shower or bathe and wash your hair. Don’t wear makeup or perfume.
Leave jewelry, money, credit cards and other valuables at home.
When you arrive at the hospital, you will be given an Informed Consent form to sign. Read it carefully. Make sure everything on the form is correct. If you don’t understand something, ask questions before you sign the form.

Hospital staff should ask you about the following more than once before your surgery:

When packing for the hospital, bring only the necessities. These include:

A government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport)
Your insurance card
Any paperwork or forms related to your treatment or procedure
Your prescription plan benefit card, if you have one
A list of your current medications with dosages
A copy of your advance directive, if you have one
Charger for your cell phone, iPad, etc.
Paper and pen for jotting down notes and questions
Eyeglasses, dentures and hearing aids
Personal care items (e.g., disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, soap, shampoo, a comb or hair brush)
Comfortable clothes and shoes to wear during your stay and/or when you go home