From your first consultation through admission and recovery, Central Maine Healthcare is committed to making your surgical experience as smooth as possible. Understanding what to expect can ease any concerns and help you prep for success.
The type of surgery you have will determine your length of stay in the hospital. Inpatient procedures usually require an overnight stay and possibly more, so our team can monitor your recovery. If you’re scheduled for outpatient surgery, you’ll likely go home the same day with instructions for self-care.
Before Surgery
Pre-Admission Testing (P.A.T.)
Prior to your scheduled surgery, you will have an appointment with a member of our P.A.T. team, which can be held in our office or via a phone interview. This appointment can take up to two hours, and ensures we provide the safest and highest level of care.
A registered nurse will review your health history, medications and allergies, and complete an anesthesia screening. We’ll also coordinate any additional testing you may need for your surgery, such as an EKG (electrocardiogram), X-ray and/or lab work.
Please bring the following information with you to your appointment or have it available during your phone interview:
- Current list of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, including dosage information
- List of any allergies
- List of any previous surgeries
- Names and phone numbers of your primary care provider and any specialists you are seeing
- Copy of Health Care Proxy or Living Will, if applicable
At this time, your nurse will also review pre-surgery instructions, including any eating restrictions, medication usage and more, and provide written instructions for further review following the appointment. We also encourage you to ask any and all questions.
One to two days before your procedure, your pre-admission nurse or another member of your care team will call you to confirm your surgery and arrival time, and answer any last-minute questions you might have.
Also, be sure to arrange for an adult to bring you to the hospital and take you home.
Insurance & Financial Assistance
Central Maine Healthcare accepts most major insurances. We will submit your bill to your provider or responsible party you designate when you register for surgery. While our billing teamwill make every effort to validate your coverage prior to your visit, individual insurance plans vary, so please review your plan. We’re happy assist you if you need help filling out your insurance forms.
As part of our mission, we provide access to medically necessary health care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Learn more about our financial assistance program.
Day of Surgery
What to bring
- Driver’s license or state identification card
- Health insurance card(s), including supplemental insurance
- Referral and pre-certification forms
- Deductible and/or co-payment, if applicable
- Recent test results, X-ray films or other relevant forms that your primary care provider surgeon has asked you to bring
- Cases for eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures and/or hearing aids
- List of all of your medications, including vitamins and herbal supplements, their frequency and their doses—or the medications themselves in their original containers
- Your documents for power of attorney, living will and advanced care planning, if you have them
Please do not bring valuables (large amounts of cash, laptop computers, etc.) or wear jewelry.
Arriving at the hospital
Please arrive with your adult companion about one and a half to two hours before your scheduled surgery to have time to register and prepare.
Surgery prep
After your admission, you’ll meet your surgery team, including your surgeon, nurses and anesthesiologists. Together, they’ll help prepare you for your procedure by:
- Reviewing your medical history and current medical condition
- Taking vital signs and providing gown and ID bracelet
- Reviewing any allergies or past experiences with anesthesia.
- Reviewing the surgery you have planned
- Addressing any questions or concerns, and ensuring you feel comfortable and prepared
During your surgery
Along with your surgeon, you will have a dedicated team with you in the OR to monitor all aspects of your health and comfort. This team may include a surgical technician, registered nurse and anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist.
Waiting area for family and friends
Your loved ones have several places to stay during your surgery, including comfortable waiting rooms, on-site cafeterias, spiritual areas and more.
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.