Outpatient Surgery: We're Here for You

You will be instructed by your surgeon’s office on what time to arrive for your procedure. Our goal is to have you at the center approximately one hour prior to your surgery. However, delays may occur that are beyond our control.

Drink and snack machines are available in the waiting area for friends and family. Complimentary coffee is also available. Visitors are prohibited from eating in patient areas.

After you are admitted into Lowery A. Woodall Outpatient Surgery Center, you will be asked to wait in the lobby until called by your admitting nurse. Patients are admitted in order of their surgery schedule, not on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will be called, then taken to your room to prepare for your procedure. At this time, we will provide instructions on changing into a cloth gown and whether you will be able to leave on any undergarments or socks. This will depend on the procedure you are having.

Only one adult visitor is allowed in the pre-op area unless a child is under the age of 18, then both parents or two adults can be present. A visitor pass will be given to the visitors with you, and they can only enter with a pass. Personal medical information will be reviewed on the day of surgery. If you would like that to be done in private, please let the receptionist know at check-in so that family and friends will not be welcomed into the pre-op area until after the interview. It is very important for your safety to give complete and honest answers to these questions. An anesthesiologist and operating room nurse then will ask some of the same questions regarding your medical history.

At least one parent of minors should remain in the center while his or her child is in surgery. (Please be courteous not to eat or drink in front of the children.)

Immediately after your surgery, you may be transferred to the recovery room, sometimes referred to as Phase 1 Recovery. You will be returned to your room to be with your family when you no longer require oxygen, you are awake and you can tolerate any discomfort or nausea.

Recovery in your room is referred to as Phase II Recovery. Only one adult visitor may be present at this time unless a child is under 18, then both parents, or two adults, can be present. You may be discharged home when you are awake, reasonably comfortable, able to tolerate small amounts of fluids, and – in some cases – when you are able to empty your bladder.

Complete instructions for your care will be given to you and a family member or significant other. Someone must be available to sign you out and drive you home. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home if you have had any medication. If this is a problem, please contact us. If your surgeon orders medications, prescriptions will be given to you. Not all medications can be called into the pharmacy. A staff nurse will call you the day after your surgery to check on you.

Comfort And Pain

Most patients experience some discomfort after surgery. It is important to note that not all patients experience pain in the same way. The amount and type of discomfort you may experience also depends on the type of surgery you are having. To help us meet the goal of pain control and comfort, we must work together.

During your stay, you will be asked to rate your pain. The scale used is 0-10; 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst possible pain. This scale will help us evaluate the discomfort you are experiencing in relation to your treatment plan.

Other points:

It is important to fill your prescription and follow instructions.

Take pain relief drugs when pain first begins. It is easier to keep your pain under control rather than play catch-up. It will take more medication and will take longer to get you comfortable.

Pain medication is best tolerated if taken with food.

Call your surgeon if you have prolonged nausea when taking your pain medication.

Notify your surgeon in advance if you have a pain management contract.

Patient Surgery Status Text Messaging

At Lowery A. Woodall Outpatient Surgery Center (LAW), we strive to keep family and friends updated on a loved one’s progress throughout surgery. For convenience and to help relieve the stress of waiting, we offer a text messaging service for quick updates.

Upon the patient’s arrival, a member of our staff will register cell phone numbers for text messaging. Texts on the patient’s care status will be sent directly to the recipients during the procedure.

Here is one example of the messages: “The patient’s procedure has begun.”

Please note this is a one-way communication service. It is not possible to reply back to a physician or nurse through these text messages. Also, to safeguard the patient’s privacy and comply with HIPAA guidelines, messages are encrypted and only sent by authorized medical staff.

Some carriers may not support this service. While this is a free service of our center, standard carrier rates and charges may apply.

For more information about this service, ask the pre-op nurse involved in your care when you sign in for your procedure.