Outpatient Surgery

Recover from surgery at home

As technology improves, more surgeries may be performed on an outpatient basis, without the need for an overnight stay at Doctors Medical Center of Modesto. That means you can return home the same day as your surgery and recover in the comfort of your own home. The benefits of outpatient same-day surgery include:

• More convenience
• Lower cost
• Less stress
• Predictable scheduling

With an outpatient surgery, you can avoid the costs and stress associated with hospitalization and recover at home. Talk to your doctor to determine if your surgery can be done as an outpatient. Following are some tips to help you plan for your same-day surgery.

The day before your surgery

On the day before your surgery:

• Make arrangements for an adult to accompany you
• Notify your doctor if you have any changes in your health (develop flu-like symptoms, fever, cough, runny nose, or you find out you are pregnant)
• Do not eat or drink after midnight unless directed by your doctor (includes no hard candy or chewing gum)
• Do not smoke after midnight

The day of your surgery

On the day of your surgery:

• Remove all jewelry and body piercings
• Limit makeup
• Wear casual, loose clothing
• Do not smoke on the day of your procedure
• Bring a list of medications you take with their dosages along with the name of the doctor who prescribed them
• Bring any paperwork, medical history and test results your doctor gave you
• Bring your insurance card and a legal form of ID
• Arrive at least 90 minutes, preferably two hours, before the scheduled time of your surgery for admission and preparation procedures

You will be given a gown, slippers and asked to remove contact lenses, dentures and any prosthesis.

After your surgery

After your procedure, you'll be taken to a recovery area. Staff will monitor you until you are ready to go back home. You cannot go home until an adult is there to accompany you. Once you are fully awake, your family can visit you. After surgery, you can expect:

• Usually one to three hours in the recovery area after surgery
• Discomfort in the area of your surgery
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness

If you experience pain after surgery, request medication from your nurse or doctor.

Returning home

Your physician will provide discharge instructions regarding diet, activity limits or recommendations, and medications.

For the next 24 hours, avoid the following activities:

• Driving or operating equipment
• Signing important documents
• Making important decisions
• Drinking alcohol
• Strenuous activity

You will receive a follow-up call within 24 hours to see how you are doing.

If you have any questions or are experiencing problems, call your doctor.

Canceling your surgery

If you need to cancel or reschedule your surgery, contact your doctor and the Outpatient Center as soon as possible.

Getting to the hospital

From Hwy 99, take the Briggsmore Exit and head east onto Briggsmore Avenue. Turn right at the first light onto Orangeburg Avenue. Follow Orangeburg Avenue for approximately two miles. Turn left onto Florida Avenue. Doctors Medical Center will be on your left.

Parking on the day of your surgery

Turn left onto Florida Avenue. Enter the first driveway on the left. Turn left to go around the back of the property. The Outpatient Center is on the right and faces Orangeburg Avenue. Parking is marked “Outpatient Center/Pre-Admission center.” Handicapped parking is in front of the Outpatient Entrance.