Before Surgery
Admissions and Registration
- You will receive a call from our registration team a few days prior to your scheduled surgery date. You will be asked to provide personal and insurance information.
Seven days before surgery
- Consult your physician to understand which medications you should stop taking before surgery.
- Certain medications can increase the risk of bleeding or other complications during anesthesia and surgery.
- You will need to provide your name and contact information of a responsible adult who also must accompany you home.
- Bring a complete list of medications.
- Bring your insurance cards and driver's license for the admission process.
- Bring any forms, X-rays, or test results.
- If you wear glasses, contact lenses or dentures, bring a case to store them.
- Do not wear make-up or hairspray.
- Leave all jewelry at home.
- Do not bring valuables with you.
Day before surgery
- You will receive a call from one of our nurses between noon and 6:00 p.m. to confirm your arrival time to ask you a few health-related questions.
- If you do not receive a call from us by 4 p.m., please call 717-531-3838 or 1-800-243-1455.
- If you reach our voicemail, please leave your name and phone number so we can return your call.
- Remember you are not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery unless otherwise instructed.
Day of Surgery
Checking in for Surgery
- Please plan to arrive between 90 minutes and 2-1/2 hours before your scheduled surgery to register and to check in.
- Valet parking is available at the Main Hospital entrance for a nominal fee and free to visitors with a disabled placard.
- During this time, you will:
- sign admission forms;
- change for surgery;
- meet your anesthesia team;
- review your health history;
- have your intravenous line (IV) started so you can receive fluids or medications during your procedure.
Your Family and Friends
- Your family or friends will be able to accompany you to the hospital; however, we request that only one or two support persons join you in the surgery prep area on the second floor.
- The rest of your family and friends may wait in the surgical waiting room on the main floor located near the gift shop.
- Wi-Fi is available most places in the hospital.
- Family members and visitors are responsible for all of your belongings while in surgery.
- Please leave all valuable items at home.
During Surgery
- Member of the operating room staff will escort you by stretcher to your procedure.
- The surgical liaison in the surgical waiting area provides visitors with updates throughout the procedure.
- All family members and friends need to check in with the information associate in the waiting area when they arrive.
- The family information board allows family members to stay connected with their loved ones. It uses a code number to represent the patient while in surgery. The family information board is updated by surgery staff throughout the procedure.
- The information associate is available for assistance in the waiting area from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Your surgeon typically calls or visits the surgical waiting area when surgery is finished.
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
- One or two visitors at one time may visit for ten to fifteen meetings before returning to the waiting area.
- It may take up to sixty minutes or longer before you are ready to have visitors.
- Please be respectful of our guidelines to ensure proper rest and recovery for all of our patients.
- Please silence your phones.
- Please keep noise to a minimum.
- Please remain at the bedside of your loved one.
- Do not bring food or flowers into the PACU.
- If you are experiencing cold symptoms, please do not visit the PACU.
- The nurse will provide the patient and family updates on the patient's condition and plan of care.
Going Home
- You will be given verbal and written instructions about medications, diet, permitted activity, and home care before you are discharged.
- If you are going home the same day of your surgery, you must have a responsible adult drive you home.
Financial Assistance
If payment of your medical bills is a concern, we may be able to assist you. We offer financial assistance based on income, family size and assets for medically necessary and emergent services. Uninsured patients who are not eligible for financial assistance will not be charged more than the amounts generally billed or emergency or medically necessary care.
Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center (HOSC)
Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center is a multi-specialty surgery center serving Hershey, Harrisburg, Lebanon and York areas. Some surgeries may be scheduled at this center.
Learn more about how to prepare for surgeries at Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center.
Patient Portal
Our patient portal is a convenient way to securely view your personal health information and interact with Penn State Health. They play a key role in your health care - providing a 24/7 connection to the information you need to make better decisions.