Outpatient Surgery

Welcome to Vidant Beaufort Hospital. Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare needs. It is our goal to provide you with quality and compassionate care. Our team of doctors and staff are dedicated to making your stay as comfortable as possible. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to care for you.

About Your Surgery
Outpatient surgery is a way to have an operation without staying in the hospital overnight. Because outpatients are not actually admitted to the hospital, you can reduce your time away from work and home without sacrificing the quality of your medical care. Our normal hours of operation are 6:00am until 4:30pm, Monday – Friday.

Before Your Surgery
In many cases, lab tests and X-rays may be necessary before surgery. These tests must be done at least two working days prior to your surgery between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. When you arrive at the hospital for this appointment please check in at the front desk unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Financial arrangements will be discussed during this visit.
Please be sure to bring the following important information with you:

Medical insurance cards and claim forms
Social Security card
Photo Identification
Name and address of employer
Name, address and telephone number of closest family member
List of all medications you are currently taking
Advance Directives ( i.e. Living Will, Healthcare
Power of Attorney and/or an Advance Instruction
for Mental Health Treatment.)

If you have any questions about this visit or if these hours are inconvenient please call your doctor or our Outpatient Surgery department at (252) 975-4340. Our outpatient surgery staff is available 6:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday.

Night Before Your Surgery
Please do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before or after your surgery.
Eat an evening meal that will not upset your stomach.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. This includes water, chewing gum, and candy.
If you do eat something, your surgery may have to be postponed.
If you take medications please consult your doctor for instructions.
Take a complete bath and shampoo your hair.
Make arrangements for an adult to accompany you to the hospital and to drive you home after you are discharged. Under no circumstances should you drive after your procedure or operation.
In the event you develop a cold, fever, or other illness, or experience a change in the condition for which you are having surgery, please notify your doctor.

Day of Surgery
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING including coffee, juice or water on the morning of surgery. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow any water. If you eat anything, your surgery may be postponed.
Leave all jewelry, money, and valuables at home.
Do not wear earrings, rings, or watches.
Do not apply any cosmetics, including eye make-up and lipstick.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the hospital.
Long hair should be braided or secured with a rubber band. All hairpins, hair clasps and combs must be removed.
Bring the information your doctor has given you.
You must have a responsible person to drive you home.

A nurse will greet you, ask you questions and take your vital signs. You will be dressed for surgery and then escorted to the operating room. You and a member of the Anesthesia Department will discuss your anesthetic. Family members may wait in the surgical waiting room during your surgery.

After Surgery Going Home
Following surgery, you will be observed in a post-operative area until your doctor determines you may go home. Before leaving the hospital, you will be given written instructions, prescriptions and any other information that you may need following your surgery. Once you have been discharged, you may leave under the care of a responsible adult. The day after your surgery a nurse may call to see how you are doing and to answer any questions you may have.

If any problems or questions arise, please do not hesitate to call your doctor or a nurse in our outpatient surgery department at 252-975-4340, 6:00 am – 4:00 pm. After 4:00 pm, call 252-975-4100 and ask to speak to the nursing supervisor.

Pain Control
Your comfort is important to us, and we work with you to keep your pain under control. We need your help to keep us informed of your pain.

We will ask often about your pain and ask you to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0 being no pain
and 10 the worst pain you could imagine. Our goal is to keep your pain at a four or less.
If your pain is not relieved by medicine or you have side effects, please let your doctor or nurse know right away. Ask your doctor or nurse about non-medicine ways to control pain such as relaxing, using pillows, using cold and warm packs and keeping your time occupied with other activities.

Patient Concerns
Vidant Beaufort Hospital has a complaint/grievance process to address any concerns or issues you might have about the service provided to you. Please notify your nurse or contact a patient liaison at 252-975-4202 if you have a grievance or concern you would like to share with us.

You have the right to file a grievance directly with the North Carolina Department of Health Services Regulations (DHSR). You may call them at 1-800-624-3004 or mail your information to 2711 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2706 even if you do not use our process.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you have the right to file a quality of care complaint by calling the Carolina’s Center for Medical Excellence (a quality improvement corporation), at 800-722-0468. If you need help with this process, please call a patient liaison at 252-975-4202.

You may also contact The Joint Commission directly
at 1-800-994-6610.

Financial Information
The majority of insurance policies include outpatient surgery benefits and the hospital will bill your insurance carrier for you. These charges include x-rays, lab work, operating and recovery room fees, drugs, supplies and other hospital tests. Your hospital bill will not include physician charges. You will be billed separately for these services. Your insurance plan(s) and government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, may not fully cover your bill. The hospital will estimate any portion that you may have to pay based on benefit information. If any amount is not covered by insurance, you will be required to pay the difference.

Our Goal
Every member of our staff is dedicated to providing you the best possible care. We measure how well we have met our patients’ expectations through the use of an outside agency. You may receive a call from HealthStream Research after you’ve been discharged from our facility. We welcome your comments and input.