What to Expect

From the moment you arrive at Progress West Hospital, we do all we can to put you at ease and make your visit more convenient. First, parking is reserved closest to the hospital for patients and their family members. When you enter, come directly to the second floor. There, you’ll be greeted by a guest relations representative who will guide you to the pre/post-op area and tell you what you need to do. While in the pre-/post-op area, you will be registered at the bedside. A family member is encouraged to stay with the patient before and after surgery.

Before Surgery

To pre-register for your surgery, please call 636.344.1109 as soon as your procedure is scheduled.

Your comfort and safety is our priority. When you come to the preoperative area, the nursing staff will greet you, provide warm blankets and attach warm air to your gown with a hose to keep you comfortable. Research shows that pre-warmed patients have better postoperative healing.

Before you go to surgery, a nurse will insert an IV and the anesthesia staff will talk with you about your health history. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions about the anesthesia that will be used in your procedure. Your doctor will see you, too, so you can ask any additional questions.

To ensure our patients receive the best care, we implement several safety initiatives before every procedure. These include:

• Site Marking Verification. This confirms we’re performing the procedure on the correct site and side of your body. 
• Antibiotic Timing and Selection. If necessary, you will receive an antibiotic that is specified by research for your procedure and timed for the optimal effect. 
• Hand-Washing Protocol. This ensures the entire surgical team has thoroughly washed their hands before beginning the procedure to further protect you. All your caregivers clean their hands, or foam in and out, before and after they come to your bedside.
• Medication Reconciliation. This confirms the prescribed medications don’t interfere with any medications you may be currently taking. We also provide a summary of what you can continue taking at home safely after surgery. A nurse and physician review the Medication Reconciliation.
• Two Patient Identifiers. This ensures the surgical team performs the right procedure on the right patient by matching up two unique identifiers, such as your name and date of birth.
• Re-verify Health Information. This step double checks your health background for accuracy. 
• Infection Prevention. This important step limits every avenue of infection to protect your health during and after surgery. We follow national guidelines and best practice protocols to ensure your safety. 
• Presurgical checklist. This is a final review of all safety steps before surgery begins. The checklist contains important steps in preparing you safely for surgery. Two nurses verify the checklist before taking you in the operating room.

During Surgery