After Surgery

PACU (post-anesthesia care unit)

Each of our surgical centers is equipped with a designated unit for patients emerging from anesthesia. Patients are carefully assessed and monitored as they regain consciousness. The average stay for each patient is about 60 minutes.

If your procedure requires an overnight stay or recovery in the hospital, you will be transferred to a general hospital room for continued care and recovery before discharge. Your comfort is a top priority: most of our hospital rooms are private, with individual bathrooms and flexible visiting hours. Cable TV, phone and free Wi-Fi are available to keep patients connected. Your nursing team will monitor your pain level and help promote healing throughout your stay.

About 60 percent of our patients have same-day surgery, and are discharged a few hours after surgery. In that case, you’ll move from the PACU and back to our dedicated same-day surgery unit. Your nurse will provide detailed instructions on your recovery process, and your doctor will give you any needed medicine for pain control and make sure you are stable enough to go home.

Medical Surgical Nurses

For surgical patients requiring more extensive follow-up care, our hospitals include a dedicated medical-surgical nursing unit with a specially trained team members. These nurses are not only skilled in clinical care, but play an important role as educators—teaching patients how to care for themselves at home and recognize potential problems.

Discharge Instructions

Once you’ve been cleared to go home, your nurse will review your discharge instructions with you and your family member and will give you a packet with:

• Written instructions
• Follow-up information
• Prescriptions and other medications
• Emergency contacts

Please read this information carefully before you leave the hospital to make sure that you understand everything. Be sure to ask your surgeon or any team member if any information is unclear.

When you are ready to leave, we will escort and discharge you into the care of your adult companion. Do not drive a car, operate machinery or do anything that requires your full concentration for at least 24 hours, unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon.

Rehabilitation & Ongoing Care

If you need physical or occupational therapy following your procedure, we offer personalized rehabilitation programs on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. We’ll work closely with you to create and achieve your goals, and communicate regularly with your surgeon to ensure you’re progressing well.

Need a little longer to recover? Both Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital offer swing bed programs for patients who need extra care following joint replacement or general surgery. Our dedicated team is here to help you regain strength, mobility and independence, so you can safely return home.