Preparing for Surgery
Our team of reception staff, physicians and anaesthetists work together to ensure your surgery proceeds as safely and smoothly as possible.
Our office will provide you with written information about your admission and procedure, and ask that you take the time to carefully read all material given to you.
Before Your Admission
Depending on your type of surgery, we may arrange for you to see our peri-operative medical physician for a pre-operative medical assessment to evaluate your fitness for surgery.
If you have been referred for pre-operative pathology testing, please complete these tests 7-14 days prior to your hospital admission date.
We will send you all the information you need to prepare for your admission and surgery. Please read this information carefully and follow the instructions provided, including how to complete your hospital admission forms, your fasting and admission times, and any other important information.
Take care of yourself. In the weeks before your surgery, try to eat a nutritious diet and get enough sleep. Undertaking light exercise to maintain and enhance flexibility and strength will also be helpful in your recovery from surgery.
If you smoke, please cease this as soon as possible.
If you take any regular medications, please advise our rooms in case you need to cease any prior to surgery. If you have a consultation with our peri-operative physician, you will be advised during that appointment of any medications that may need to be ceased prior to surgery.
Further information, provided by Epworth Hospital, can be found here.
On the Day of Your Admission
We will advise you what time you need to fast from on the day of your procedure. Please ensure that you strictly adhere to the fasting time we give you.
Ensure that you pack a bag of everything you will need during your hospital stay, e.g. any required walking aids such as crutches or a frame (please label these with your name), toiletries, comfortable and loose-fitting clothing, supportive and enclosed footwear, and all medication you are currently taking.
Before you leave home, take a long shower, wash your hair and put on freshly washed clothes. This helps to prevent bacteria from coming into hospital with you.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Provided that your health insurance (or other third party, i.e. WorkCover, TAC, etc) has agreed to cover the cost, inpatient rehabilitation is available for our patients after surgery. Whether you have inpatient rehab after surgery depends on several factors, such as the type of operation you have had, your living arrangements, your general health, and your overall physical condition. Inpatient rehab is coordinated by the hospital during your admission. Soon after your surgery, a member of the hospital’s rehab team will attend your bedside and discuss rehab options with you in detail, including which rehab facility you may be transferred to.