Surgery
Your Surgery Date
We will give you a surgery date during your clinic visit OR our Surgery Scheduler will contact you by phone.
Please call the Surgery Scheduler immediately if you have changed your mind about having surgery; this will give us the opportunity to take care of another child who is waiting.
Changes in Your Child’s Health
Please call the Admissions office at 916-453-2204 if you notice any change in your child’s health within 3 weeks of your surgery date:
Cough
Sore throat
Breathing problems
Runny nose/congestion
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rash
Skin redness
Night sweats
Body/scalp itching Lice
Exposure to a contagious disease – chicken pox, measles, etc.
Has cuts/scrapes/skin lesions near the planned surgery area
Appointments
Pre-op and post-op appointments are a very important part of your child’s care. If the surgery date changes, these appointments may need to be rescheduled. Please call your Care Manager if you have questions.
Children with medical problems may require clearances from their specialists such as a neurologist or cardiologist.
We may require an evaluation with our pediatrician or pediatric anesthesiologist to ensure that your child is as prepared as possible for a safe surgery and anesthetic.
Please remember to bring to your appointment:
A list of current medications your child is taking
X-rays or other diagnostic images/reports
Your child’s primary care and referring physicians’ name, address, phone and fax numbers
Insurance card and picture ID
Arrival For Surgery
We will call you the day before your surgery to give you instructions and let you know what time to arrive at the hospital. If surgery is scheduled for a Monday, you will get a call the Friday before your surgery.
Check in at the hospital lobby reception desk at your arrival time.
You will be directed to the 4th floor Same Day Surgery/AM Admission area.
We request that only 2 adults accompany the patient to the 4th floor surgery area. Due to space restrictions and limited seating, additional friends and family members that come on surgery day will be asked to wait in the 1st Floor Main Lobby or cafeteria. Minors (less than 18 years old) should not come to the 4th floor. Minors waiting on the 1st Floor cannot be left unattended.
You will be given your child’s belongings for safe keeping.
After Surgery
For same day surgery, your child will be discharged directly from the PACU.
For overnight stays in the hospital your child will be transferred from the PACU to one of our inpatient care units.
If your doctor gives you a medication prescription, you can fill it at a community pharmacy or at UC Davis across the street.
For more helpful details, please review your Patient & Family Information Handbook.
Delays
Delays may occur when a hospital emergency case is put ahead of yours or the patient before you has a procedure that lasts longer than planned. It is never easy to wait, so try to keep your child occupied by reading, watching television or using distraction activities. Our Child Life Professionals are available to help you.
Surgery Checklist
Please review your surgery checklist to ensure that necessary arrangements are made, equipment is available, paperwork is complete and your child is ready for surgery.
Have your checklist completed and readily available for use during your preoperative phone call.
Bring your list with you on surgery day.
Click here for a printable version of the Surgery Information and Checklist.
Definitions
Admissions Office: Room where surgery check-in begins
AM Admission: Come to the hospital the day of surgery and
stay at least one night
Early Admission: Come to the hospital earlier than your
surgery day
ICU: Intensive Care Unit
NPO: Latin (nil per os) meaning “nothing by mouth” – refers
to fasting
OR: Operating Room
PACU: Post Anesthesia Care Unit (recovery room or wake-up
room)
Pre-Op: Preoperative (before surgery) appointment in the
outpatient clinic
Pre-op Holding: Before surgery preparation area in the
Surgery Department
Post-Op: Postoperative (after surgery) appointment in the
outpatient clinic
Same Day Surgery or “SDS”:Come to the hospital and leave the same
day as surgery
Contact Information
Hospital Main Line House Supervisor
916-453-2000
Admissions Office
916-453-2204
Outpatient Clinic Appointments
916-453-2180
Surgery Schedulers
916-453-2081 916-453-2100
Transportation / Lodging
916-453-2095
Triage (advice) Nurse
916-453-2182