Surgery

Personalized Surgical Care, Close to Home

Our Surgical Services team is committed to supporting you throughout your entire surgical journey. We provide expert care for a wide range of procedures, from minimally invasive outpatient surgeries to complex inpatient operations. From your first consultation to recovery, our skilled surgeons and care teams work closely with you to ensure safety, comfort, and the best possible outcomes. We strive to make every step of your experience personalized, compassionate, and easy to understand, helping you feel confident, informed, and cared for every step of the way.

Our staff is available to you anytime. We encourage you to contact us without hesitation for any immediate needs or concerns by calling 309-449-3321.

 

Before Your Surgery

  1. The day prior to surgery, or the Friday before surgery if scheduled for a Monday, your physcians nurse will call you to confirm your arrival time and relay any pre-op instructions.
  2. The night before your surgery you may eat a light meal before 11:00 p.m. Do not drink or eat anything after midnight—not even coffee or water. Your nurse will confirm these times in your pre-op call.
  3. In the event that your physical condition changes (i.e. if you develop a cold, persistent cough, fever, flu, skin rash or important change in the condition for which you are having your procedure), or you need to change the date, or cancel your procedure for any reason, contact the surgery scheduler at 309-449-4245 or if no answer call 309-449-3321.
  4. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before or after anesthesia. Alcohol may alter the effect of your anesthesia or the medications you are given.
  5. It is your responsibility to arrange in advance for a responsible adult to drive you home. As a genreal rule, surgical patients are not to drive 24 hours after anesthesia.  

The Day of Surgery

  1. Only take the medications you have been instructed to take in the morning with a small sip of water
  2. Wear loose, casual, comfortable clothing to fit over any dressings. No jewelry, make-up, fingernail polish, cologne or perfume. Patients should wear glasses as opposed to contact lenses to the hospital. 
  3. Bring your insurance card, photo ID, and list of regular medications with you on the day of the procedure.
  4. Arrive at the Emergency Room entrance and check in at the front desk. Here, you will be asked to verify your personal, companion and insurance information. Our goal is to get your checked in quickly and into your room for a seamless experience. 
  5. Parking is available outside of the Emergency Room. Additional parking is available in Lot-G. 
  6. For outpatient procedures, the average length of stay from the time you arrive until the time you are ready to leave the hospital is approximately 4-6 hours. It is difficult to make an accurate prediction in every instance; therefore, you will be given the best estimate at the time of your admission.

After Your Surgery

  1. For outpatient surgical procedures, patients will be discharged once they are in stable condition. Patients may also be moved to a hospital room if their procedure requires an overnight stay. 
  2. Your physcian will meet with you after surgery and prior to discharge to speak with your about the procedure and discuss post-op instructions. 
  3. Written post-op instructions will be given prior to your departure. 
  4. A nurse will call you the day after your procedure to check-in our your recovery, answer any questions and schedule your post-op appointment. 

Family Chaperone General Information

The surgical waiting area is located off the admitting desk ground level and up the stairs. This area provides a comfortable place for surgery patients’ families to meet the physician and receive updates. Coffee, television, newspapers, and magazines are available in the area for your convenience.

Visitors are welcome to dine in the hospital cafeteria from 11:00am-1:00pm, Monday-Friday. A vending area with snacks and soft drinks are also available next to the Candy Striper Gift Shop. 

HMC offers free WiFI to visitors. The information desk attendant can provide you with the most recent password.