Pre-Testing

Your surgeon may require pre-testing. Please follow your surgeon’s instructions and have the pre-testing done promptly. If you have any questions, please call your surgeon’s office directly.

Smoking, Drugs and Medication

Ideally, patients will quit smoking one month prior to surgery. However, if that is not possible, patients must NOT smoke or chew tobacco at least 24 hours before the procedure. There should be no illegal drugs in your system.

Some medications must not be taken for a specific amount of time prior to surgery (i.e. blood thinners). Please discuss your medication list with your primary care physician to determine when and how to reduce / discontinue medications, as well as when and how to restart them after surgery. DO NOT stop taking medications without your physician’s guidance.

Billing Information

It is your responsibility to find out if your insurance company or HMO requires pre-certification before you have a procedure performed at our facility. If you fail to do this, you may have charges that an insurance company or HMO does not pay. You can contact your third party carrier by calling the number on the back of your coverage card or through your insurance agent. If you have medical insurance through your job, your Human Resources personnel should be able to give you a number to contact.

If you are paying for the procedure yourself, you may have already arranged for payment through our business office. If this has not been done, please contact our business office at 309.683.4807. Self-pay arrangements are required before services are performed.

Registered Nurse Phone Interview

A nurse from our Pre-Op Center for Health Chart office (PRECHEC) will call you 3 to 4 days before your procedure. You will be asked about your health and be given special instructions. It is important to speak with one of the PRECHEC nurses.

If we haven’t spoken with you 2 days before your scheduled surgery, please call 309.683.4704 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Confirm Time of Arrival

Your surgeon’s office may have instructed you on what time you need to arrive for your scheduled surgery. If not, a representative from the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center will call with your arrival time 1 business day before your surgery. If you miss this call or do not receive a message from us regarding your surgery arrival time, you may call us at 309.683.4486 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Schedule a Responsible Adult to Take You to the CFHASC

You will need to have a responsible adult to drive you to and from your procedure. It is recommended that this person remain with you the rest of the day and throughout the next night to monitor any post-op reactions. Now is a good time to plan ahead to make arrangements with someone who can be with you during this time.

Pediatric Patients

Surgery can be overwhelming for children and their parents. Our Child Life Specialist and compassionate staff are skilled at making medical procedures a comfortable experience for the entire family.

Some children will do better on the day of their procedure if they’ve been prepared by having a Pre-Op tour. If you think this type of preparation would help your child, please call 309.655.7433.

Parents, please make arrangements for your other children to stay with family, friends or other caregivers for the day of the patient’s surgery so you can remain focused on your child.

Legal Guardianship

A family member or significant other must call the PRECHEC office (Pre-Op Center for Health Chart) at 309.683.4704 at least one week prior to the day of surgery if Legal Guardianship (i.e. Power of Attorney, DCFS, etc.) exists for the patient. This will verify that surgical consent has been addressed.

Advanced Directives

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is initiated as the need arises. We do not honor Living Wills.

Interpreter / Special Needs

These services are available with advanced notice. Please notify your surgeon’s office of any special needs.

Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center, you are guaranteed the right to medical care that respects your personal privacy, values and property. If you have concerns that these rights have been violated, we have a process in place to assist you in addressing this.

Change in Health

If your physical condition changes, for example, if you develop a cold, cough, flu-type symptoms, fever or other changes in your health, call your surgeon prior to your arrival at the Center for Health Ambulatory Surgery Center. Your surgeon may determine it is not safe to proceed with your surgery and we will reschedule.