Surgery

At MyMichigan Medical Center Midland, please use the main hospital entrance upon your arrival and check in with the front desk. They will direct you to the Robin elevators located directly behind the main entrance reception desk. Take the Robin elevators to level 2 and check in with the surgical waiting area desk. Once you are signed in, your family or support person will be asked for a cell phone number and will be offered a pager. The pager will flash and vibrate once your surgery is completed to let your family/support team know the surgeon can speak with them to give an update.

After registering, a staff member will call you when it is time for you to come back to the pre-op room. This is where you will change into a patient gown. There are lockers for belongings in the pre-op holding area so your family members and/or support person do not need to carry your possessions around or take them back to the vehicle.

In pre-op you will be asked to verify your name, date of birth, the type of surgery you are having as well as the name of your surgeon performing your procedure multiple times. This verification process is for your safety and will be performed by our nursing and anesthesia staff.

Once you have confirmed your information is correct, you will be asked to wipe down the surgical area of your skin with a special chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) cloth. This is to help prevent the possibility of infection. If your surgery is for your upper or lower back area, staff will help you reach hard to wash areas as needed.

The nursing staff will also start your IV at this time. The IV will be used to provide your antibiotics, nausea and/or pain medications, as well as your anesthesia. You may also have other tests administered at this time such as a pregnancy test, blood sugar check, and/or a nicotine test.

Before going back to the operating room you will meet with your anesthesiologist. He/she will talk with you and answer the questions you may have about the anesthesia process. It is important to discuss current medications, including over-the-counter supplements, previous surgical history and/or previous experience with anesthesia. Please bring your medication bottles with you as well as a list of any allergies.

Once you have been prepared for surgery, your family/support person may join you in your room until it is time to go back to the surgical suite.

When you are taken to surgery, your family/support person is welcome to wait in the surgical waiting room. You will be assigned a “pin number” that will be given to your family so they may periodically check on your status using the television screens in the surgical waiting area lobby and hospital cafeteria. The pin number will also serve as your password should family members ask for information about your care.