When Surgery does not Require an Overnight Stay
Surgery does not always mean an over-night stay at the hospital. At Penn Highlands Healthcare, outpatient surgery, also known as ambulatory or office-based surgery, is becoming more common.
Outpatient Surgery at Penn Highlands Healthcare
Outpatient surgery provides patients with the convenience of recovering at home, and can be performed at lower cost. Most outpatient surgeries can take anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours.
Although outpatient surgeries may not be medical emergencies, they still require some form of anesthesia or pain medication. The same anesthetic techniques used in hospitals may be used for outpatient surgery, ranging from local anesthesia to numb a small area of the body to general anesthesia, which results in total loss of consciousness and pain sensation. The surgery will most likely require you to prepare in the same way that you would for hospital-based surgery.
Your physician will give you specific instructions on how to prepare the night before and day of your surgery. By being prepared before surgery, you can increase your chances of a safe and successful experience.
Outpatient Surgery at Penn Highlands Hospitals
Outpatient Surgery at Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Your surgeon has scheduled an outpatient surgical procedure for you at Penn Highlands Huntingdon Hospital. In an effort to make your day of surgery as easy and comfortable as possible, we have a few suggestions and reminders.
Before your procedure, read all the information in the educational packet from the hospital, provided to you by your physician so that you and your support person know what to expect. If you have questions, call the Pre-Anesthesia Testing office, 814-643-8625 or contact your physician.
We look forward to serving you and will make certain that your visit is as comfortable and convenient as possible.
About the Ambulatory Care Unit
The Ambulatory Care Unit is for patients whose surgery can be completed in a single day. You arrive in the morning, undergo surgery, and return home the same day. The brief stay in the Hospital will cost less for you and your insurance company and is often more convenient for you and your family.
- Your surgeon will schedule the date of your operation during your office visit, and the Pre-Anesthesia testing Staff will contact you the day before your surgery, typically afternoon with your arrival time. This arrival time is NOT the time your surgery is scheduled; it will allow an ample period of time to prepare you for surgery.
- Patients and families are encouraged to bring books or personal music devices on the day of the surgery to enjoy during their wait times.
If for any reason you know you will be away from home the day before surgery, please call the Hospital at 814-643-8404 anytime after 4:00 PM to ask for your arrival time.
Pre-Anesthesia Testing (P.A.T)
Before your surgery, your surgeon's office will forward information from your pre-anesthesia questionnaire to the Pre-anesthesia testing office for the anesthesia doctor to review. The anesthesia doctor will determine if you require a visit for P.A.T. or if a phone call from the P.A.T. staff is sufficient. If a P.A.T. visit is required the staff will contact you to set up an appointment. The pre-anesthesia interview is presently done in the 3rd floor P.A.T. office.
During your pre-anesthesia phone call you will receive instructions from the Ambulatory Care Unit nurse about your surgery visit. You will also be asked questions about your medical history and medications.
If you are asked to come in for a pre-anesthesia interview, you will
be interviewed by the anesthesia department.
Please be sure to have all testing done as instructed by your surgeon’s office or at least 7 days prior to surgery.
Please bring your health insurance card and a list of current medications to your testing appointment. (If you do not have health insurance, arrangements for payment need to be made. You must call 814-643-8844 or 8495 to discuss payment arrangements.)
If you use the CART for transportation, be sure to alert your surgeon's office personnel to this, so they can schedule your appointment accordingly.
PH Huntingdon FAQs
Outpatient Surgery at Penn Highlands Mon Valley
Same Day Surgery at Penn Highlands Mon Valley
MVH provides one-day surgical and diagnostic procedures, as well as diagnostic procedures for radiology and the anesthesia pain management clinic. The Endoscopy Unit (GI Lab) serves patients for endoscopic and therapeutic procedures related to gastrointestinal conditions.
Outpatient Surgery at Penn Highlands Tyrone
Pre-op Testing and Anesthesia Clinic at Penn Highlands Tyrone
PH Tyrone provides a Pre-op Testing and Anesthesia Clinic to prepare patients for surgery.
Our healthcare professionals meet personally with each patient in advance of their scheduled surgery to review their medical history and other important information and to complete any testing needed before surgery.
The goal of this visit is to determine if a patient is best prepared for surgery and the anesthesia that will be administered during their surgical procedure. It also allows us to identify any potential complications with surgery or anesthesia that may be related to a person’s medical status or medications they may be taking.
During their visit to the Pre-op Testing and Anesthesia Clinic, we provide patients an overview of what to expect on the day they have their surgical procedure. We also review the different types of anesthesia that are options for each patient and tailor the anesthesia to each patient’s needs.
We understand that patients may be anxious and stressed in anticipation of their surgery. Our goal is to help each patient feel more comfortable by providing information and answering any questions they may have regarding their surgery, anesthesia, and their recovery following surgery.
If you are scheduled to have surgery at PH Tyrone and need to make an appointment at the Pre-op Testing and Anesthesia Clinic please call 814-684-6375.
