What You Need to Know
Day of Surgery to Hospital Discharge
When you arrive at the hospital you may park in the garage. The pre-op unit will provide a discounted parking ticket. A free parking ticket is provided to you on the day of discharge to home. Your visitors have the option of valet parking. Please pay for your parking in the main lobby.
Once you arrive to the hospital, please check in at the registration desk in the main lobby. You and your family/coach will be directed to the 3rd floor, surgical waiting area. Please sign in at the registration desk.
The Care Team will come out to greet you and escort you back to the pre-op area. Once your nurse has you settled, your family/coach will be brought back with you until your time of surgery.
Once you are in the pre-op area, you will change into a hospital gown provided for you, the nurse will perform a short physical assessment, your surgeon will meet with you, and you will be introduced to your anesthesia team who will discuss their plan. Your surgical site will also be identified and marked prior to your surgery.
Once you arrive to the hospital, please check in at the registration desk in the main lobby. You and your family/coach will be directed to the 3rd floor, surgical waiting area. Please sign in at the registration desk.
The Care Team will come out to greet you and escort you back to the pre-op area. Once your nurse has you settled, your family/coach will be brought back with you until your time of surgery.
Once you are in the pre-op area, you will change into a hospital gown provided for you, the nurse will perform a short physical assessment, your surgeon will meet with you, and you will be introduced to your anesthesia team who will discuss their plan. Your surgical site will also be identified and marked prior to your surgery.
Your Day of Surgery to Hospital Discharge
Injections
Your OR Experience
Once you leave the pre-op area, you will be greeted outside of your OR room by the OR nurse. The nurse will ask you questions you have heard before but, it is our process of checks and balances to make sure we are all in agreement with who you are and what you are having done while in our care. After that, your nurse anesthetist will begin to give you medication to make you sleepy. Most likely, you will not remember much after that. Your anesthesiologist will administer the spinal and then the OR team will take over to prepare you for the surgical procedure.
Spinal anesthesia is used during most surgeries. Your anesthesia provider will discuss other options if there is a contraindication to using spinal anesthesia. You are asleep for surgery regardless of what method is used.
At the close of your surgery, we will place a special dressing over your incision that will stay in place for 7 days (you will be able shower at home with this dressing as it keeps the water out). You will be in the OR for approximately and hour and half and start to wake up in the recovery room. If you had a total knee replacement, you may receive a special anesthesia block in your thigh to help reduce post-op pain. Once you are awake and start to have movement in your legs which usually takes approximately 2 hours, you will be transferred to the 4100 orthopaedic unit.
Spinal anesthesia is used during most surgeries. Your anesthesia provider will discuss other options if there is a contraindication to using spinal anesthesia. You are asleep for surgery regardless of what method is used.
At the close of your surgery, we will place a special dressing over your incision that will stay in place for 7 days (you will be able shower at home with this dressing as it keeps the water out). You will be in the OR for approximately and hour and half and start to wake up in the recovery room. If you had a total knee replacement, you may receive a special anesthesia block in your thigh to help reduce post-op pain. Once you are awake and start to have movement in your legs which usually takes approximately 2 hours, you will be transferred to the 4100 orthopaedic unit.
Recovery - Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit is also referred to as PACU.
After surgery you will be brought to the PACU where you will be monitored closely as anesthesia wears off. The length of stay in the PACU will be determined by many factors. You may be in the PACU between one and two hours on average. The nurses in the PACU will monitor your blood pressure, temperature, respirations, heart rate and oxygenation levels as well as continually assess your pain level.
Once the PACU Team determines that you are stable, you will be transferred to your room on the 4100 unit.
Blocks for TKR Patients in PACU
TKR patients that are planning on going home the same day of surgery will receive an Adductor Canal Block in the PACU.
After surgery you will be brought to the PACU where you will be monitored closely as anesthesia wears off. The length of stay in the PACU will be determined by many factors. You may be in the PACU between one and two hours on average. The nurses in the PACU will monitor your blood pressure, temperature, respirations, heart rate and oxygenation levels as well as continually assess your pain level.
Once the PACU Team determines that you are stable, you will be transferred to your room on the 4100 unit.
Blocks for TKR Patients in PACU
TKR patients that are planning on going home the same day of surgery will receive an Adductor Canal Block in the PACU.
Family/Coach Experience During Surgery, Recover and Family Lounge
Your surgeon will direct your coach/family to the Community Room on the 4100 nursing unit. Please have your coach/family check in at the nurses’ station at the end of the hallway.
One of the 4100 unit Team Members will direct your coach/family to wait in the Community Room until they receive a phone call from the surgeon with updates on your surgery.
Your coach/family may also utilize the tracking board which provides the progress of your surgery such as when surgery has started and when you are transferred to the recovery room.
One family member/coach is permitted to stay the night with you if desired and you are in a private room.
Make sure you have a family member or coach available to care for you at least 48 hours after discharge!
One of the 4100 unit Team Members will direct your coach/family to wait in the Community Room until they receive a phone call from the surgeon with updates on your surgery.
Your coach/family may also utilize the tracking board which provides the progress of your surgery such as when surgery has started and when you are transferred to the recovery room.
One family member/coach is permitted to stay the night with you if desired and you are in a private room.
Make sure you have a family member or coach available to care for you at least 48 hours after discharge!
Welcome to the 4100 Unit
Occasionally, a same-day surgery will require an overnight stay. If your surgeon decides this is appropriate, the information below pertains to your stay.
Inpatient Unit
Once you are transported to the unit you will be greeted by staff members that will be providing direct care to you. You will be reunited with your coach/family once you are settled.
Mobility
Research has shown that early mobilization following surgery can decrease complications. Expect mobilization (getting in and out of bed, going to the bathroom, transferring to a chair) will happen the day of surgery!
Your Hospital Stay
Our goal is to help you manage your pain. You will experience surgical pain following surgery. However, we will work with you to help manage your pain appropriately. If you are in pain or discomfort, please tell us. Good pain control requires a partnership between you and your caregivers. Managing your pain will help you recover more quickly.
Getting Started
Mobility will begin on the day of surgery. You will receive Physical Therapy evaluation and customized therapy program will be developed.
DO NOT get out of bed without assistance of a team member until you are cleared to safely do so.
DO NOT get out of bed without assistance of a team member until you are cleared to safely do so.
Physical Therapy
For same day discharge patients, you will be assisted to walk from the stretcher to a recliner with a walker after staying in the PACU. You will also be assisted with putting on your gym clothes and the PT staff will come to get you to take you to the gym.
Together, the therapist and orthopaedic physician assistant will decide if you are able to be discharged the same day or will need to spend one night.
If you stay one night, you will have a mega PT session the morning on the day of discharge.
Together, the therapist and orthopaedic physician assistant will decide if you are able to be discharged the same day or will need to spend one night.
If you stay one night, you will have a mega PT session the morning on the day of discharge.
Meds to Beds Program
UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital now has the option for patients to order their medication through the outpatient pharmacy (UPMC Rx Express) before being discharged and medication will be delivered to the patient’s bedside.
IMPORTANT: Read the information under "Learn More" if you decide to order your medication through UPMC Rx Express.
Learn MoreIMPORTANT: Read the information under "Learn More" if you decide to order your medication through UPMC Rx Express.
Discharge Process, Time, and Getting Home
Home physical therapy is set up by your discharge coordinator starting your day of surgery. Once you are discharged, home PT will come to your home and continue for 1 week after surgery. Once your home therapist releases you to outpatient therapy, you can choose a facility close to your home. Call our office and let us know who to send your PT orders to. It is helpful to have the name of the facility and their fax number to provide to us.
Your nurse will go over your discharge instructions with you. Same day surgery patients will be discharged 4PM – 5PM day of surgery. One night patients will have a mega PT session in the morning after staying the night, and discharge is 11AM.
Have your ride pick you up at these times. If for some reason your ride is delayed, we may ask you to wait in the Family Lounge.
Sometimes your discharge process may be delayed due to a few reasons:
Your nurse will go over your discharge instructions with you. Same day surgery patients will be discharged 4PM – 5PM day of surgery. One night patients will have a mega PT session in the morning after staying the night, and discharge is 11AM.
Have your ride pick you up at these times. If for some reason your ride is delayed, we may ask you to wait in the Family Lounge.
Sometimes your discharge process may be delayed due to a few reasons:
- Inability to urinate.
- Not having a method of co-pay for take home medication.
- Delayed take home medication delivery (to patient's bedside) from the hospital's outpatient pharmacy.
