Well in Advance

Your doctor may have told you to have certain laboratory or other testing done in preparation for your surgery. Please be sure that you make arrangements for these tests according to your surgeon’s instructions. Review and follow all the preoperative instructions you received from your surgeon and from this brochure. Not following them could cause serious complications or cancellation of surgery.

If a change occurs in your physical condition prior to surgery, such as a cold, rash, sore throat, cough, fever, or upset stomach, notify your physician. Also, call your doctor if you have cuts or wounds near the surgical area. Your physician may wish to reschedule your surgery.

Before Surgery

Once your surgery is scheduled, you will be receiving a text message and email to complete your health history. We may contact you to discuss your health history once we review it. If you do not have access to the internet, please call us to arrange a time to complete it at 484-628-3024. Your surgery could be cancelled if we are unable to reach you for your health history.

If you are having a procedure that requires anesthesia (sedation) you MUST make arrangements for someone to drive you home following your surgery. Please note: One to two days before your surgery date, you will be notified of your exact time to arrive. This time is usually one hour before the start of your operation.

If you are unable to keep your appointment or you are delayed, please contact the SurgiCenter immediately at 484-628-3050.

Gather the items you will need to bring

  • Your health benefit identification card, even if workers’ compensation.
  • Your driver’s license. If you do not have a driver’s license, please bring another form of photo ID, if available.
  • Cases for glasses, contacts, and/or hearing aids. We’ll provide a container for dentures or bridgework.

If you have young children, be sure to make arrangements for someone to take care of them while you are having surgery. Arrange for a relative or friend to drive you to the SurgiCenter and take you home. Generally, patients can expect to be in and out – from arrival through discharge – within two to three hours. Your specific procedure, however, may require more time, so please check with your doctor. You may use a taxi after surgery, but only if you have an escort to go with you or if you received only local anesthesia. This precaution is for your safety. Arrange for a responsible adult to be with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.

Medications

Please take your medications for the following with a sip of water the morning of your procedure:

  • Asthma
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stomach
  • Chronic Pain
  • Steroids
  • Parkinson's
  • Glaucoma
  • Seizures
  • Heart
  • Cholesterol
  • Blood Pressure - EXCEPT ACE inhibitor and Angiotensin receptor blocker medications.

DO NOT take:

  • Diabetic medications, including insulin
  • Lisinopril, Losartan and all other ACE and ARB medications
  • MAO inhibitors
  • Diuretics
  • Potassium
  • Injectable weight loss medications such as GLP-1’s (ex. Wegovy, Ozempic) – need to be held 1 week prior to procedure.

If you take blood thinners such as Coumadin, Plavix, Pradaxa, Eliquis, etc., please check with your cardiologist or provider to see if you may stop them prior to surgery. If approved to stop, please do so as instructed. Please stop ALL vitamins, herbals, and supplements five days prior to surgery. Many of these medications interfere with clotting.

If you have questions, please call 484-628-3024.

The Night Before Surgery

If having anesthesia and your arrival time is before 6 a.m., eat nothing after 10 p.m. the night before your procedure (this includes food, candy, lozenges, gum, and chewing tobacco).

If having anesthesia and your arrival time is after 6 a.m., eat nothing after midnight prior to your procedure (this includes food, candy, lozenges, gum, and chewing tobacco). Do not smoke, use any tobacco products, or consume alcohol after 10 p.m.

Do not take any medication after midnight unless instructed in the medications section of this brochure or instructed by your doctor.

The Morning of Surgery

Up to two hours before your scheduled arrival time, we would like you to drink at least 16 oz of a clear sugary drink (ex. Gatorade, Sprite, apple juice). May also drink black coffee or plain tea, but do not use milk, cream, or non-dairy creamer unless instructed otherwise by your surgeon.

Arriving at Spring Ridge SurgiCenter

When you arrive at the SurgiCenter, park anywhere in front of the building or your driver may drop you off at the front door. Take the elevator to the third floor. Please check in with the registration staff at the front desk. A nurse will call your name and escort you to the private pre-operative area. A friend or family member may wait in the lounge or accompany you. Please limit to one or two people.

At this time, you will be prepared for your procedure and your personal belongings will be secured in a locker. If you are to be sedated, an IV will be started. The anesthesiologist will visit you prior to your surgery. Then, you can relax on your recliner or bed for a short time while you await your operation. Just before entering the operating room, you may be asked to remove any eyeglasses. If you wear contact lenses, hearing aids, or dentures, you may need to remove them.

During Surgery

Depending on the type of procedure and the medication selected, you may be awake, sedated or asleep during surgery.

You may need to be admitted to the hospital of your choice if:

  • More extensive surgery is needed.
  • Complications arise due to the anesthesia or surgery.
  • You experience more pain than expected.

During your surgery, your driver may stay in the waiting area on the third floor. If your child or a dependent adult is having surgery, a responsible adult must stay on the third floor at all times.

Planning Your Discharge

Before you leave the recovery room, you will be given specific written instructions regarding your care after discharge from the SurgiCenter. It is important to have your caregiver available during the postoperative discharge instructions, as you may experience difficulty remembering those instructions due to the type of anesthesia you receive.

For your comfort and safety, we recommend:

  • You have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours following surgery. Take it easy until your physician says you can return to your normal routine. 
  • Do not drive, operate machinery or power tools, or drink alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours following surgery.
  • It is very important to remember you must have a responsible person to drive you home.
  • It is natural to experience some discomfort in the area of the operation. You may also experience some drowsiness or dizziness for the first 24 hours depending on the type of anesthesia you receive.
  • Follow your physician’s instructions regarding diet, rest, and medication.
  • If you feel you are having problems after discharge, contact your physician. If your doctor is not available, call the Emergency Department at Reading Hospital at 484-628-3637 or the Emergency Department of your choice.

If you have any questions, you may contact the SurgiCenter at 484-628-3050 from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Insurance & Financial Information

The Reading Hospital SurgiCenter at Spring Ridge has worked with your physician’s office to obtain the insurance and financial information needed to submit your insurance claim. As a convenience to you, our billing staff will make every effort to check your insurance coverage, based on the information that was provided to us.

However, it is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that the physician’s office has the most updated insurance information to expedite payment of the insurance claim (i.e. referrals and preauthorizations). Our billing staff will provide you with an estimate of any co-payment or deductible your insurance company may require.

Please be prepared to pay the co-payment and deductible on the day of surgery. Any patients without insurance or whose insurance does not cover the surgical procedure to be performed should also make arrangements to pay their facility fees on the day of surgery. Any coinsurance will be billed after insurance pays. For your convenience , we accept cash, personal checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, Visa, Master Card, Discover and CareCredit.

Regardless of the type of insurance you may have, ultimate responsibility for the SurgiCenter bill rests with the patient or guarantor. If your insurance company does not make payment within 60 days of submission, the account will become your responsibility and payment in full will be required.

You will receive separate bills for the following:

  • Your surgeon, dentist, or podiatrist.
  • Anesthesia - if you received general anesthesia or required sedation administered by anesthesia personnel.
  • Laboratory tests - for any lab tests required prior to, during, or after surgery.
  • Radiology/imaging - for any x-ray services required prior to, during, or after surgery.
  • Pathology - for the examination of any tissue or specimen removed during surgery.

If you have any questions about your bill, insurance issues, or financial responsibilities, you may contact the billing office at 484-628-3072.

Following Surgery

You maybe asked to complete a questionnaire on the care you received during your stay. Your comments are very important to us and will help us improve our services and provide the finest care in outpatient surgery in Berks County. A member of the SurgiCenter staff will attempt to call you the next business day to check on how you are doing. If you would prefer not to be contacted, please let us know before you are discharged. If we are unable to contact you by telephone and you have concerns about your surgery contact your surgeon.

If you have concerns about the SurgiCenter, please contact us at 484-628-3079.