Do I need to visit the facility before surgery?
Not required, but some patients may visit to drop off paperwork, or make a payment. All patients must have an up-to-date medical history, which is completed by the surgeon. Some patients may need blood tests, EKG or x-rays. Your surgeon will advise where you will have this done.
How do I know what time to arrive for my surgery?
You will be contacted by one of our interview nurses a few days prior to your surgery. They will ask you questions regarding your health history, previous surgeries, medication and allergies for our anesthesia department to review. Once, this information is obtained, the nurse will provide you guidelines to follow on the day(s) leading up to surgery. These guidelines include instruction to bring a detailed medication list (to include any vitamin/herbal remedies and over the counter medications), what medications you cannot take, driver information; to include a phone number, what items to bring, when you must stop eating/drinking, and the date and arrival time for your surgery.
What if I can't make my appointment?
Call your surgeon and our center at 910-323-1647 as soon as possible if you cannot make your scheduled appointment. Early notification can help us better accommodate you and other patients.
What should I wear?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes that cover your feet (NO crocs, flip flops or sandals). Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. If you wear contact lenses, you may have to remove them for the surgery, so consider bringing your glasses. If you have to wear your contacts, please bring contact solution and contacts case. Please do not wear any makeup as this can hide certain clinical signs. Please remove all body piercings prior to your arrival.
What if I have a question after I've talked with the interview nurse?
You can reach the interview nurse at 910-323-1647 option 2 between the hours of 8:30 - 5:00 Monday through Thursday and 8:30 - 2:00 on Friday.
What should I bring the day of surgery?
- Photo ID and insurance cards
- Copayments and paperwork
- Medication LIST (please include vitamins/herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications) and inhalers
- Eyeglasses or contact lens case
- Any medical equipment directed by your surgeon (compression stockings, crutches, braces, walker, slings or cooling packs)* If you forget to bring necessary medical equipment, your ride must retrieve these items so your surgery can proceed
- A favorite bottle or sippy cup for children
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes
- A responsible adult to take you home who must remain on the premises
- No valuables or jewelry
Why can't I eat or drink before surgery?
Eating or drinking before surgery increases the risk of complications under anesthesia, such as aspirating gastric contents during your surgery which is serious. These guidelines are all based on safety standards. Also, you will not improve your safety by not eating or drinking longer than necessary; in fact, at times, you may complicate things a bit.- Please follow all fasting guidelines provided to avoid surgery delay or cancellation.
Should I take my usual medications?
Most medications can be taken before surgery; however, some medications will be individualized. For instance, GLP-1 injections for weight loss, specific diabetes medications or blood thinners may be paused. It is best to call your surgeon's office with questions about your blood thinners. If you have questions about what to take, call 910-323-1647 and choose option 2 to reach an interview nurse.
Can I take herbal supplements?
Herbal medications may have harmful effects on the surgery. Many of these remedies may affect your clotting mechanism and interfere with anesthetic agents. We generally request that you stop all herbal medications two weeks before surgery. Please remember to mention these remedies when being asked about your medication.
Who can come with me?
One adult may stay with you before and after surgery. For children, up to two adults may come, but only one is allowed in recovery. Please avoid bringing young children as guests.
Should I bathe before surgery?
Yes. Shower or bathe and brush your teeth before arriving. Avoid using makeup, hairspray, colognes, perfumes or scented sprays as these items may interfere with the anesthesia monitoring and possibly hide clinical signs from anesthesia.
What if I'm feeling sick before surgery?
If you are not feeling well, have an elevated temperature, cough, cold, vomiting or diarrhea, please contact your surgeon immediately. During normal business hours, you can call FASC for advice. There are some surgeries which may be delayed for your safety if you are feeling ill.
What if I started my menstrual cycle?
This typically will not affect most surgical procedures. There are a few specific gynecological procedures which may be impacted by menstruation. You can call 910-323-1647 option 2 to speak to an interview nurse with any questions.
What if I think I might be pregnant?
It is very important for us to be aware of this possibility. Only essential surgery is done on pregnant patients. If there is any doubt, please contact us immediately.
What if I have special needs?
We will make every effort to accommodate any special needs you may have. We strongly encourage you to notify our facility in advance so that we can properly prepare to make you comfortable. Bring any assistive devices such as crutches, walkers, hearing aids, etc. If the patient cannot read, speak English or uses sign language, an interpreter is available. At our facility, we employ a video remote interpreting system which allows us to choose from several languages, including sign language.
What if I have a question after I've talked with the interview nurse?
You can reach the interview nurse at 910-323-1647 option 2 between the hours of 8:30 - 5:00 Monday through Thursday and 8:30 - 2:00 on Friday.
Can I talk to the anesthesiologist beforehand?
Yes. At FASC anesthesia is provided by NAPA (North America Partners in Anesthesia) and you will meet them on the day of surgery. They will review your health history and discuss various anesthesia techniques used for your specific surgery. Along with your input, th8(Will make a plan that best suits your needs. In some instances, the anesthesiologist may need to call you prior to your surgery date to review specific information from you about your health history, or medications.
Can I choose my type of anesthesia?
In some cases, yes. Some operations can be performed using a choice of different anesthetic types. Your anesthesiologist will discuss the options available for your specific surgery with you after reviewing your medical history. Your preference will be discussed and, together, you will decide the best plan for you.
How will my pain be managed?
We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our postoperative call at home. We need to inform and prepare you for each step of the process. This education will begin with our first contact. You will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain from a numerical scale called the Visual Analog Pain Scale, or for children, the Faces Pain Scale. Using the results of our communication, we will alter the therapy as needed in order to manage your pain. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable, choosing from oral medications, IV medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, just to name a few.
Will I receive sedation before surgery?
Sedation is tailored to each patient by the anesthesiologist after reviewing your medical history and discussing anesthesia options with you.
Can I drive home after surgery?
Do NOT plan to drive yourself home after your procedure. Any patient receiving anesthesia should not drive until the next day. All patients must have a responsible adult to drive them home and stay with them. Driving, walking, or public transportation such as a bus, taxi, Uber or Lyft is NOT allowed after anesthesia. The name, phone number and relationship of your driver is required during the check-in process and they must stay on the premises for the duration of your stay.
Can my driver/family member come into the preoperative area with me?
If the patient is 18 years of age or older, they will be brought back by themselves. Once the patient is ready for surgery, one guest will be allowed in both the pre-op and recovery areas if you so choose. In some instances, where the adult patient has special needs, an exception may be made.
If the patient is a minor, a parent or legal guardian is required to be with the patient to answer questions, sign consents and speak with the anesthesiologist. All parents or legal guardians of minors and dependent adults are required to remain in the building AT ALL TIMES. Please be sure to bring documentation of guardianship, if applicable.
Can I go into the OR with my child?
No; however, under special circumstances, this is handled case-by-case and discussed with your anesthesiologist. Safety and comfort are always priorities.
How do I know how much my copayment will be?
A member of our insurance billing team will contact you to review your insurance information after speaking directly to your insurance company. They will verify the authorization for your procedure, discuss estimated procedure cost, payment options and the amount of deposit required at check in on your day of surgery. You will be informed of any deductible balance due and co-pay amounts.
Will your facility file my insurance?
Our insurance billing department will submit insurance claims for you.
Why am I receiving more than one bill for the same surgery?
There are a number of separate charges associated with your surgical procedure. You MAY receive charges from several companies.
- Fayetteville Ambulatory Surgery Center, facility service
- NAPA, anesthesia service
- Surgeon, his/ her fee for performing your surgery
- Pathologist, services for tissue specimen removed during surgery requiring further examination
What type of credit cards do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and CareCredit. You are welcome to visit the CareCredit website at: www.carecredit.com to pre-apply for their services before your date of surgery. We also accept personal checks and cash. We DO NOT accept the Cape Fear Valley credit card.
When should I expect my fist bill?
We will bill you any balance due after your insurance company has paid your claim. There may be a delay if your insurance company has paid us incorrectly and we have re-submitted your claim for a corrected payment and allowance determination.
What is your credit and payment policy?
Full payment is due within 90 days of your surgery. Cosmetic surgery procedures must be paid in full before your surgery.
Who do I call for questions about my bill or insurance after surgery?
You can reach our billing department at 910-500-1349 Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm