Day of the Surgery

What to bring to the hospital

On the day of surgery, please bring the following: Valid photo identification, such as your driver’s license, California ID, or passport. If your child is 18 or older, bring a valid photo identification for him or her. Insurance, pharmacy, and Health Savings Account (HSA) card(s) for you and your child. A list of all medications that your child takes regularly, including doses, both prescribed and over-the-counter.

Your child’s favorite toy, blanket, or comfort item; a music or game player, and headphones.

If your child is an infant, please bring formula or breast milk in a cooler for after surgery. Bring your favorite book or activity so you have something to do while your child is in surgery.

Important tips for the day of surgery

• Parents: Please eat on the day of surgery so you are better able to care for your child, but do not bring food into the Treatment Center.

• Please arrive on time to avoid cancellation of your child’s surgery.

• Continue to encourage your child’s involvement, including picking a movie to watch, preparing his or her anesthesia mask, choosing a distraction for IV placement, etc.

• Occasionally you may have to wait longer than expected. Please understand that we will do everything we can to make you and your child comfortable during this wait.

Arrival

• Please park in the Main building.

• Valet parking is free on the day of the procedure/surgery.

• You will need to get a badge at the front desk of the hospital when you arrive.

• Go to the Treatment Center to check in.

Once you arrive at the Treatment Center

• While you are checking in, we strongly encourage you to change your pharmacy to the hospital’s pharmacy for your child's discharge medications. This will guarantee that you have your child's medications with you when you leave. Also, some medications will be difficult to fill at your local pharmacy. You can change it back at your next appointment.

• After check-in, you will be taken to an exam room, where a nurse will review your child’s medications, health, and allergies. The nurse will also ask you when your child last had anything to eat or drink, and you will be asked to review the consent form you signed.

• For safety, you will be asked many times to provide your name, your child’s name, the type of surgery being done, and the last time your child ate or drank anything.

Important information to know

• Your child may also be seen by child life specialists, who will help your child understand and cope with his or her visit to the hospital.

• Before surgery, your child may be given medication to help him or her relax.

• Your physician will decide the safest way to provide anesthesia to your child. Please ask about pain management options.

• For some children, an IV will be placed. An IV is a tube that goes in your child’s vein to deliver fluids and medications; we will talk about ways we can help your child cope with this IV placement.

• When your child goes into surgery, you will be taken to the Treatment Center Waiting Room, located near the check-in area. In this waiting room, you will be shown how to track your child’s journey during surgery.

• You will be told when your child’s surgery should be completed. Plan to return to the Treatment Center at or before that time so you can meet with your child’s surgeon.

During surgery

• To keep your child asleep during the surgery, he or she will be given anesthesia medicine through a mask, an IV, or both.

• Monitors will be placed on your child’s body to read vital signs during surgery. These include blood pressure, breathing, blood oxygen level, and heart rate.