Once you and Dr Allen decide that surgery will help you, you will need to prepare yourself mentally as well as physically for the surgery. This is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly with fewer problems.
Dr Allen will give you a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays (if required), are usually performed a week before the surgery.
Discuss any medications you are taking with Dr Allen and your GP to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery. If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications, you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding.
If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery.
Report any infections to Dr Allen. Surgery may not be able to be performed until all infections have cleared up.
post surgery home planning
Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry.
Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls. Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often.
Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms.
day surgery checklist
Have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours.
Do not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home.
The combination of anaesthesia, food, and car motion can quite often cause nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Begin with a light meal and try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours.
Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain medication until the pain is severe, you will have more difficulty controlling the pain.
Are my medical records kept private and confidential? Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of their employment. Dr Allen abides strictly by the Privacy Act.
Do I need a referral from my GP before my appointment with Dr Allen? Yes.
What should I expect during my first visit? The best and only way to find out which treatment is right for you, is to consult Dr. Allen who will listen to your needs, examine you and provide you with expert advice. He will also tell you what you need to know about the treatment you are interested in, or recommend another to meet your needs and goals.
What fees can I expect to be charged? Information on our current fee structure is available from our office. We are not a Bulk Billing practice and therefore require payment at the time of consultation. All visits to the rooms are deemed “out-patient” services and are therefore partially refundable under Medicare. These rebates vary according to your position re the Medicare Safety Net threshold.
Will my health fund cover the fees? For any in-patient services such as surgery, in general, your private health fund and Medicare will cover a portion with an associated item number. Please note that there will be an out-of-pocket gap for your surgery, and this varies from one procedure to another. We will give you an estimate of your gap prior to your surgery. Remember it is your responsibility to ensure your health fund will adequately cover your surgery.
What are your acceptable means of payment? You can pay via EFTPOS, Bank cheques, personal cheques, cash or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA or Amex).