75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

What Every Patient Needs to Know

Welcome to the Cody Ambulatory and Inpatient SurgicalPavilion at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson.

This page is designed to help you understand what to expect before a scheduled procedure at Mather Hospital. It contains information on every aspect of preparing for surgery. This includes pre-surgical testing, insurance coverage, how to prepare on the morning of surgery, and what to expect in recovery after the procedure is completed.

Please read each page carefully. If you have any questions after reviewing this, feel free to contact the department that might best be able to respond by using this contact list.

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Pre-Surgical Testing

The Pre-Surgical Testing Department is located on the main level of the Cody Ambulatory and In-patient Surgical Pavilion. Pre-surgical testing is designed to ensure a smooth surgical experience. Please read and follow the instructions below to help make this experience as simple as possible.

1. All patients scheduled for surgery or a procedure must first register through the Pre-Admitting Department. To register please call (631) 476-2807 between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. After hours, leave a message and your call will be returned by the department.
2. Depending on medical history, patients may be required to schedule an appointment for pre-surgical testing. The patient should discuss this aspect of their treatment with their physician prior to the procedure.
3. If pre-surgical testing is needed, the patient should make an appointment at the same time they register for the procedure. The appointment may be scheduled 21 days prior to the date of surgery.
4. The pre-surgical testing process may take up to two hours, depending on the amount of testing required. Allow a sufficient amount of time when scheduling a pre-surgical testing appointment.
5. FORMS - Patients must complete paperwork upon arrival for pre-surgical testing, including information concerning medical history and current medications. To facilitate this process, patients must be prepared with social security number, insurance information, and photo ID.
   Click here to download and complete your forms in advance.
6. The pre-surgical staff will provide instructions with any restrictions prior to pre-surgical testing. This may include fasting, refraining from using certain prescription medications, herbal supplements and over the counter drugs.
7. During a pre-surgical appointment, a health assessment and physical exam is conducted. This may include laboratory tests, EKG and X-rays. These services are provided by a professional health care team, which includes: Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Medical Assistants (MAs), and X-ray Technicians.
8. The health team will communicate with your surgeon and medical provider your pre-surgical testing results. It will be decided at that time if a medical evaluation/clearance is necessary.

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Insurance Coverage/Information

Please determine the answers to these questions prior to the day of your procedure.

1. Does your insurance company require any of the following (including Medicare):
• Preauthorization prior to entering the Hospital?
• Precertification before certain procedures are performed?
• Notification that you have been admitted to the Hospital?
2. Generally, it is the responsibility of the patient or the family to inform the insurance company of hospitalization. This notification may be required even if your admission to the hospital was an emergency. You may be responsible for an increased deductible or penalty payment if the insurance company guidelines are not followed.
3. Many insurance companies also require that supplies, equipment, treatments, and services following hospitalization be provided by agencies they have approved. If your doctor orders equipment, treatments, etc., following your hospitalization, check with your insurance company to make sure those services are covered and provided by the appropriate agency.

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Before Surgery

1. No eating or drinking of any liquid (including water), food, hard candy, chewing tobacco, or gum after midnight prior to the scheduled procedure unless otherwise directed by the Pre-Surgical Testing staff.
2. The Anesthesiologist requests no smoking after midnight.
3. Please check with your physician as to whether you may have a small amount of water up to three hours before admission.
4. Check with your physician regarding the medications you should take on the morning of your procedure.
5. Do not bring money, valuables, or jewelry (inclusive of body jewelry and piercing), on the day of surgery.
6. Check with your physician for any special instructions. Also ask whether a medical evalutation* is required.

*A medical evaluation is a letter from your primary physician detailing your history and any concerns for surgery.

Please call (631) 476-2717 between 3 pm and 7 pm the last business day before surgery to verify the time you must arrive at the Cody Surgical Pavilion.

If you have any further questions, please call us at 631-476-2807.

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The Morning of Surgery

Preparing at Home

Bathe as usual the morning of surgery using antibacterial soap. Wear loose, comfortable fitting clothes – shirts or blouses that button down the front. Please do not wear any jewelry (including earrings, rings, body jewelry), hairpins, contact lenses, makeup or nail polish. Glasses and dentures may be worn and, if necessary, will be removed just prior to going to the operating room. All other valuable items should be left at home.

All patients MUST have transportation and a responsible adult to accompany them home. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE YOURSELF! Please make arrangements for an adult to stay with you at home for 24 hours.

Be prepared to report 90 minutes prior to your operation/ procedure to allow for preparation time.

1. During preparation, you may have ONE adult family member or friend remain with you.
2. When you arrive you will be asked to change into hospital attire, then directed to the pre-operative area.
3. At this time, you will meet the members of the surgical team, who will review your medical history, generate a plan of care and start an intravenous infusion.
• You will be asked to sign an informed consent, which verifies that you and your physician have fully discussed your procedure, your expectations and the risk and benefits associated with your procedure.
• Depending on the type of procedure, someone from the health team will mark the correct location on your body where the procedure will be performed. This is called “site marking,” and is a critical step to ensure your safety, especially when the surgery involves a designated side (i.e., correct arm, leg, eye, etc.).
4. Before your operation, an anesthesia care provider will speak with you to discuss the type of anesthesia you will receive during surgery.
5. Your adult family member or friend may accompany you to the door of the operating room suite and will be instructed to wait in the surgical waiting area so the surgeon may speak to them following your surgery.
6. In the Operating Room, before the surgery begins, a “time out” will occurr. This is when members of the surgical team will once again reassure that they are performing the correct procedure on the correct side on the correct patient.
7. A receptionist is stationed in the surgical waiting area in the lobby of the Cody Surgical Pavilion from 6 am to 8 pm to assist family and/or friends with communications and updates concerning your surgery.
8. If a family member or friend is unable to remain at Mather Hospital, they should leave a contact number with the OR receptionist to call after the surgical procedure is completed.
9. After the OR receptionist leaves at 8 pm, a post anesthesia care unit (PACU) staff member will keep family and/or friends informed of patient progress.

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After Surgery

After surgery, patients are taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), located adjacent to the Operating Room Suite.

1. In PACU, nurses frequently take vital signs: pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
2. They also begin your post-operative exercises, which generally include turning, coughing, deep breathing and leg exercises.
3. Inpatients remain in the PACU until they are reactive (awake and moving). Once a patient is reactive, he/she is transported back to their hospital room.
4. Following an outpatient procedure, the patient will be transported to the Ambulatory Surgery Unit to complete the recovery phase. There the patient will receive a light snack and written discharge instructions.
5. If you are in pain, tell the nurse so he or she may provide you with medication ordered by your physician.
6. The physician will determine patient diet and level of activity.
7. It may be necessary for staff members from other departments at Mather such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Dietary Services to provide you with additional discharge instructions.

Before you leave the hospital, make sure that all of your questions are answered and that you understand all of the written discharge instructions you received from your nurse.

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Important Phone Numbers

About the Cody Ambulatory and Inpatient Surgical Pavilion

Click here to learn more about the Cody Ambulatory and Inpatient Surgical Pavilion

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