Preparing for orthopedic surgery

Several steps need to be completed before you have orthopedic surgery at HonorHealth, including:

  • Pre-surgery testing and registration.
  • Arranging transportation and after-surgery care.

It's important to follow instructions from the hospital and your doctor to avoid having your hip, knee or shoulder surgery or other orthopedic procedure canceled.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your surgery for any reason, contact your doctor's office and the hospital immediately.

If your doctor or the hospital needs to reschedule your surgery for any reason, you'll be notified as soon as possible.

Please make sure you provide a contact phone number that can be used to reach you prior to your surgery.

Contact your physician immediately if:

  • You develop an illness such as a cold, cough, fever, rash infection or other change in health status before surgery.
  • There's a change in the condition for which you're having surgery.
  • You have questions about your condition.

Insurance verification

Insurance coverage varies by company and plan. Find out if your orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgery location are in-network or out-of-network for your plan. It's important that you also confirm ahead of time whether your specific surgery and follow-up care is covered by your insurance. Be sure to find out if you have partial or full coverage.

Precertification or preauthorization is required by most insurance companies. It's your responsibility to find out and meet the specific requirements of your insurance coverage. Contact your surgeon's office to get the required documents for precertification. Your surgery may be delayed or canceled if HonorHealth does not receive confirmation of your precertification.

Payment

HonorHealth will contact you prior to your surgery date to verify your insurance coverage and confirm receipt of all precertification documents. You'll be informed of any deductibles, co-payment or co-insurance payments that you're responsible for paying. You may pay in advance or on the day of your surgery. Please note that you may also receive separate bills directly from your surgeon, anesthesiologist or other members of your care team. Contact their offices before your surgery for details on your financial obligations and to arrange payment.

For questions about hospital billing and financial services, call 623-580-5800.

 

Pre-surgery testing and registration

Pre-surgery testing is an important part of the surgery planning process. An HonorHealth nurse will contact you to discuss your upcoming surgery. This appointment may be done over the phone or in-person. Together, you'll review your current health status, discuss instructions for preparing for your surgery and outline all medical tests that must be completed before surgery. You'll need to give the nurse a complete list of all medications, herbs and supplements you take since some may increase your risk of bleeding or lead to other post-surgical complications. If you'll be completing this appointment in-person, please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment to complete paperwork. Bring your insurance card(s) and photo ID. Depending on the tests your physician orders, you may need to have an EKG, urine and blood tests, and X-rays. Your doctor will review the results prior to your surgery.

Preadmission nurse telephone numbers:

HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center 623-879-1804
HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center 602-870-6315
HonorHealth Piper Surgery Center 480-323-3024
HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center 480-882-6879
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center 480-323-3024
HonorHealth Greenbaum Specialty Surgical Hospital 480-882-6879
HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center 480-324-7064

If you choose to have your pre-surgery EKG, blood/urine tests or X-rays done at a non-HonorHealth location, please have your results sent via fax to the HonorHealth Preadmission department at the location where you will be having surgery.

Preadmission department fax numbers:

HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center 623-879-5821
HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center 602-870-6090
HonorHealth Piper Surgery Center 480-323-3287
HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center 480-882-6885
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center 480-323-3287
HonorHealth Greenbaum Specialty Surgical Hospital 480-882-6885
HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center 480-882-5836

Transportation

Medication given before, during or after surgery can cause drowsiness, lightheadedness and nausea. As a result, you won't be able to drive immediately following surgery, even if the surgery is done in an outpatient setting.

For your safety and the safety of others, please make transportation arrangements prior to surgery. Have the person who will be driving you home come with you to the hospital and wait in the visitor's lounge. This individual must be 18 or older. You will not be able to leave the hospital in a cab or rideshare service (such as Uber or Lyft), so please plan accordingly and make sure you have someone you know who can accompany you home.

Minors undergoing orthopedic surgery must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian must stay at the facility at all times while the minor is in HonorHealth's care. Parents or guardians should plan to have someone else drive them to and from the hospital so they can focus their attention on caring for their child.

Getting ready for surgery

One week before surgery

Unless otherwise instructed by your orthopedic surgeon, stop taking aspirin and aspirin-like products one week prior to surgery. This includes arthritis medications with aspirin, migraine medications with aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. In addition, stop taking certain supplements one week prior to surgery. This includes vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo and ginseng. You may continue taking other supplements, as needed.

NOTE: If you take prescription medication, it's important to ask your doctor what you should continue taking, including what, if any, medications should be taken the night before or the day of surgery. If you're advised to continue taking the medication, use only one tablespoon of water or less since you will be fasting in preparation for surgery.

Prepare your home for when you return after surgery to help minimize the risk of falling. You may need to relocate food and/or toiletry items so they are accessible, install grab bars in the bathroom, and clear walkways of throw rugs, cords or other potential hazards.

Eight hours before surgery

You may not eat anything solid, including chewing gum or mints, for eight hours prior to your surgery, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. You may still drink clear liquids during this time, which minimizes your risk of dehydration. You should stop drinking clear liquids three hours prior to your surgery.

The night before/morning of surgery

Take a bath or shower using antibacterial soap, brush your teeth and use antiseptic mouthwash the night before or morning of your surgery, depending on your surgery time. Antibacterial mouthwash helps reduce germs that can cause post-surgical lung infections. DO NOT swallow the mouthwash.

Do not shave the area or the area around where you will have surgery to minimize the risk of infection. Do not use any powders, colognes, deodorant, body lotion or cream, aftershave or makeup after showering.

Pack your toothbrush, toothpaste and other personal hygiene items, including a storage container for dentures if you wear them. Bring loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that does not need to be pulled over your head and well-fitting shoes with rubber soles for the trip home from the hospital.