In order to make your surgery most successful, please read the following information carefully.

Preparing For Surgery

You are welcome to visit the Center prior to the day of your surgery for pre-registration but this is not mandatory. Your physician can pre-register you from his/her office if this is more convenient. A representative from the Tullahoma Surgery Center will try to contact you 24 to 48 hours prior to your planned procedure to inquire about your medical history, evaluate your needs and answer any questions. The staff at the Center will give you pre-operative instructions and confirm your appointment. This can be difficult since many patients are at work, so please feel free to call the Center at (931)455-1976.

Please notify the nurse if you take medication for heart, high blood pressure or diabetes so he/she can advise you about taking the medication on the day of surgery.

Your Recovery Period

After your surgery, you will be moved to our fully equipped recovery room or set-down unit and monitored by our physicians and nurses until you are ready to go home. Most patients are discharged after anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours.

For your safety, please arrange for someone to stay at the center during your surgery and to drive you home when you are discharged. Center policy does not allow anyone to drive themselves home.

The Day of Surgery

• Please arrive promptly at the scheduled time. This will allow adequate time for all necessary admission procedures.
• Wear casual, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily removed. For your comfort and safety we encourage you to wear low-heeled shoes. Please avoid wearing nail polish and cosmetics. Leave contact lenses at home or bring your lens case with you. All valuables (including jewelry and wallets) and other personal items should be left at home.
• Bring your insurance card and driver's license.
• To maximize the comfort of all visitors, we suggest that adult patients be accompanied by only one person.
• For cases between 7:00 a.m. and 12 noon, please do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. Any food or liquid in the stomach can cause serious complications and your surgery may be postponed or canceled. This also applies to persons having local anesthesia.
• For cases 12 noon and after, do not eat or drink anything after 6:00 a.m. Before 6:00 a.m., you may have black coffee or tea (no milk, cream or creamer), juices (no pulp or red colored varieties), soft drinks, or water. Any food or liquid in the stomach can cause serious complications and your surgery may be postponed or canceled. This also applies to persons having local anesthesia.
• If you are instructed to take any medication on the morning of surgery, please do so with only a small sip of water. Take your usual medicines for your heart and blood pressure. Do not take diabetic medications unless directed by your physician. If you are taking any blood thinners (including Ecotrin/aspirin, Persantine, Plavix, Pletal, Ticlid, and especially Coumadin/warfarin), get specific instructions from your doctor.
• Do not smoke immediately before or after receiving anesthesia. Smoking may interfere with the anesthetic and produce nausea during the recovery period. Our Center is a non-smoking facility.
• Call your surgeon if you develop a cold, fever or respiratory problem before your surgery. If you cannot reach your physician, contact the Center.
• For women who know or suspect they may be pregnant, please notify your physician and the Center.
• Make arrangements to be driven home post-operatively.

If you need additional information, please call us at 931-455-1976 for assistance.