Your pre-admission visit:
Once your surgery has been scheduled, you will be invited to the hospital for a detailed pre-admission visit. Be sure to make a list of medications you are taking and bring it with you. This visit may also involve chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood tests and a urine analysis.

You may be asked to:

• fill out insurance forms
• provide the name and address of your emergency contact
• learn about your rights for an advanced directive – your written directions for your care.

With today’s advanced surgical methods, blood loss during surgery has been reduced. However, your surgeon may recommend that you donate blood in the event that you need of a blood transfusion during surgery. You or a designated donor may give blood in advance, usually up to 3 units at one-week intervals, for three to four weeks before your surgery. The last donation must be made 48 hours before surgery. Your surgeon may recommend that you donate blood for a blood transfusion during surgery. If you or a designated donor gives blood, the last donation must be made 48 hours prior to surgery.

The night before surgery you:

• must stop eating and drinking before midnight to keep your stomach empty and help reduce nausea
• will be given special soap to scrub your hip or knee the night before and the morning of your surgery