Surgery patients brought in too soon before their surgery

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We have a problem with surgeons bringing all of their patients into outpatient waiting all at the same time even though they may not be scheduled until hours later.

They do this so they can continue to work if a patient cancels. I understand why but the patients get understandably irate.

I would like to start a program where we tell patients to come in 1 1/2 hrs prior to their surgery however stay by the phone should a cancellation occur and we would need them to come in earlier.

Does anyone have a program like that now?

Thanks!!!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

no, but we give them a beeper and 30 minute lead time if they want to go off campus.

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Nope ours are told if they are morning to be in the building by 06:30, 09:30, 11:30. Then it's sit and wait. If there have to be cancellations they are either called early or sent home.

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Specializes in ICU, Education, Peri-op.
We have a problem with surgeons bringing all of their patients into outpatient waiting all at the same time even though they may not be scheduled until hours later.

They do this so they can continue to work if a patient cancels. I understand why but the patients get understandably irate.

I would like to start a program where we tell patients to come in 1 1/2 hrs prior to their surgery however stay by the phone should a cancellation occur and we would need them to come in earlier.

Does anyone have a program like that now?

Thanks!!!

We had a surgeon do this, leading to up to 8 hr waits in Short Stay before surgery. He didn't want to follow the rule that every patient must be seen before surgery but after admit so he would make them all come in and sign off their charts all at 0600. When patients complained, his solution was to give Ativan. I started telling patients exactlly how long they would have to wait and the reason for it (because the MD didn't want to walk 50 feet from the OR to see them.) Enough people started leaving and complaining to the hospital that he was forced to stop this practice.

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The hospital where I am a patient you are to arrive 90minutes prior to the time of your surgery. YOu are called the day before to be told when you are having it and a nurse geos over your chart with you to verify things are correct, then you go over it again with the nursein pre-op and again with the surgeon/resident who puts an initial on your body part to be oporated on. in my case the right side of my face, it is so akward to have someone sign your face ;)

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Specializes in Oncology.

I hate how everyone is NPO after midnight whether their surgery is at 6am or 3pm. Seems rather cruel.

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I hate how everyone is NPO after midnight whether their surgery is at 6am or 3pm. Seems rather cruel.

ya that is frustrating. I once was scheduled for 2pm npo after midnight surgery didnt actually happen till 5pm boy was i hungry. Usually I do not care if surgery runs late. it means surgeons (probably mine) are taking all the time they need for their patietns and they will probably do the same with me, but this surgery they did not even tell me they were running late. took me to holding at 1 did all the initial check in stuff then i heard NOTHING till I asked at 3. I understand they cant give details but a hey your doc is running late just hold tight would have been nice.

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Specializes in ICU, Education, Peri-op.
I hate how everyone is NPO after midnight whether their surgery is at 6am or 3pm. Seems rather cruel.

We don't do that to people. If their surgery is 1200 or later, they can have clear liquids till 0600. It has really helped.

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actually ya it is nothing solid after midnight but clear liquids till 3 hours before

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