Your Home Tonight Admission

Fasting Requirements

To complete your procedure safely, it is important that you do not eat or drink anything (including water) after midnight the night before your admission, unless specifically instructed otherwise. If you eat or drink anything within this time, your surgery may be postponed to a later date.

Medication

Take only the medication prescribed by your physician, surgeon, or anesthesiologist.

Children

When a child is a patient at Home Tonight, we make a special effort to ensure his or her comfort. Children recuperate in a pleasant environment, with mom and dad by their side. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the time of admission and discharge. We encourage parents or guardians to remain with their children during the entire time.

Children must fast before their surgery. It is important that your child has nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the procedure. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow before your child's admission. It helps to bring their favorite blanket or stuffed animal.

The nursing staff of Home Tonight urges you to call if you have any other questions about your child's stay. The Home Tonight number is 492-5614.

Shower and Shampoo

Please take a complete bath or shower and shampoo your hair before coming to the hospital. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that will be easy to put on for your return home. Wear no makeup, and no nail polish on your fingers or toes.

Do bring slippers. You will be given a hospital gown to wear.

Do not bring valuables. Leave them at home. The hospital cannot be held responsible for these items.

Please be on time for your Home Tonight admission.

Parking

Parking is available in the hospital parking garage. Drivers entering and exiting the parking garage more than once during the day should request a receipt so that no more than the maximum daily fee will be charged. Drivers park free when picking up patients, including drivers who have stayed through Home Tonight procedures with the intention of bringing a patient home after surgery.

Directions to Home Tonight

Follow signs from the garage to the main lobby of the Hospital. Once you are in the hospital, there will be signs to direct you to the Home Tonight unit.

On the Home Tonight Unit

Approximately one hour prior to surgery you will arrive at the Home Tonight unit. You will be greeted and shown to the area where you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and be admitted by your nurse. After your procedure, you will stay in the Recovery Room for a short period before being brought back to the Home Tonight unit. (For certain procedures, some Home Tonight patients will not go to the Operating and Recovery Rooms.)

Patient Discharge

You will probably be ready for discharge about two hours after your procedure, at which time your nurse will review your discharge instructions.

Your Ride Home

You must make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home. Because of the effects of your anesthesia, you may not drive sooner than 24 hours after you are discharged from the hospital. We advise you to make arrangements for someone to stay with you at home following surgery.

We'll call you at home

You will receive a phone call from a Home Tonight nurse to see how you are doing. The Home Tonight nurse will be happy to answer any questions youmay have at that time.

Visitors

Please encourage your friends to visit you at home. During your stay, family members who wish to inquire about your progress may call 492-5614. Remember, you will only be with us for a fewhours. To better assure your rest and comfort, we ask that you limit your visitors to one person, and that you not bring children under age 14 with you.

Visitors are requested not to use cellular phones while in the hospital, as these may interfere with sensitive medical equipment.

Smoking

Community General Hospital does not permitsmoking by patients, visitors or staff. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy for safety and health reasons.

No Alcohol

You should refrain from consuming alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after your procedure.

If You Need To Postpone

A decision to postpone your admission for either personal or medical reasons should be made in consultation with your doctor. Some developments which may require cancellation are symptoms of the common cold or flu. Please discuss any such symptoms with your doctor as soon as you are aware of them, no matter how insignificant they seem.

Home Tonight Checklist

This checklist will help you prepare for your surgery. Check off each item to avoid cancellation or unnecessary delays.

Do not eat or drink anything, including water, after midnight the night before your admission. Consult your physician regarding medications.

Take a complete bath or shower and shampoo your hair. Do not wear makeup or nail polish on your fingers or toes.

Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing, such as a jogging suit, and bring slippers.

Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.

Please be on time for your Home Tonight admission.

Park in the garage and go to the main lobby of the Hospital. Then follow the signs to Home Tonight.

Make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home. Even if you take a taxi, you must arrange for a companion to ride with you. Patient discharge will be approximately two hours after surgery.

We advise that you make arrangements for someone to stay with you at home following surgery.