Before Surgery

• In most cases, your child’s medical history will be obtained during a scheduled pre-operative phone call from one of the nurses at the center.
• The day prior to your child’s surgery you will be instructed to call Surgery Center of the Lakelands at (864) 725-7507 for your arrival time on the day of surgery. Generally, arrival time is about one hour prior to the scheduled surgery time.
• If your child is sick on the evening before or morning of surgery, please call the center at (864) 725-7507 to speak with one of the nurses to determine if surgery will be cancelled.
• If you need to cancel surgery for any reason, please call the center and your surgeon as soon as possible at (864) 725-7507 to let us know.
• Your child MUST NOT eat or drink anything from midnight until after the procedure is completed. This includes candy, gum, breathe mints, etc. Do not let your child brush his or her teeth without parental supervision, to ensure they do not swallow water. Remove all drinking glasses from the bathroom. This is very important, because vomiting while under anesthesia can be dangerous. Eating or drinking anything may cause surgery to be delayed or canceled.
• You will receive a call from our Business Office to discuss your insurance and financial obligations. If for some reason you are not contacted, please call the center. Please see the Billing Information section.

The Day of Surgery

• Your child should be dressed comfortably, and may wear their pajamas to the surgical center.
• Bring an empty bottle or sippy cup if your child cannot drink from a cup.
• Children may bring a favorite toy, blanket or pacifier. Bring diapers and wipes with you, if applicable.
• Please leave your home in plenty of time to arrive at the time specified during your pre-operative phone call. If you are going to be late, please call the surgery center at (864) 725-7507.
• You will have the opportunity to speak with the surgeon and anesthesiologist before your child’s surgery. They will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your child’s surgery.
• Please bring your child’s medication and insurance card(s).
• Consent for surgery must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please bring any legal documents concerning guardianship on the day of surgery. Stepparents, grandparents and other caretakers who are not legal guardians cannot sign the surgical consent form.
• In most cases, your child will have an IV started after they are asleep in the operating room. In some cases, depending on the age and maturity level of the child, the IV may be started in the pre-operative holding.
• At least one parent or guardian must remain in the center at all times.

After Surgery

• After surgery, a specially trained recovery nurse will monitor and care for your child while he or she wakes up. Once stable, a family member may be with the child in the Recovery Room.
• For the safety and privacy of your child, only one parent or guardian will be allowed to stay in the Pediatric Recovery Area with your child during the recovery phase.
• Recovery times may vary depending on the surgical procedure performed.
• The anesthesiologist will supervise all care until your child is ready for discharge.
• Your child will be discharged from the center after they have met appropriate established criteria. The nurses in the Pediatric Recovery Room will answer all your questions and explain all discharge instructions. Your follow-up appointments will be set up before you leave the center.
• Once you are home, please call the doctor if your child experiences any of the following symptoms:
  • Persistent nausea or vomiting
  • Fever over 101 degrees F.
  • Excessive pain
  • Any unexpected drainage or bleeding from the operative site
  • Extreme swelling or redness around the operative site
  • A nurse will call you on the business day following your child’s surgery to check on his or her condition. Feel free at that time to ask the nurse any questions that may have arisen since surgery. At any time after your child’s surgery please feel free to call the center or the physician’s office with questions or concerns. After hours, call the doctors answering service and the doctor will call you back. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
  • At discharge, you will be given a Patient Satisfaction Survey as a part of our Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program. Please share your comments regarding your and your child’s experience at Surgery Center of the Lakelands. We are interested in your comments and share them with our staff as a part of our efforts to provide the best quality care.