Monday - Friday, 5:30AM to 5PM
COG Surgery Center

Day of Your Surgery

The Surgical Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group was built to allow our physicians and medical professionals to practice medicine with state-of-the-art technology and to provide you with high quality care in a comfortable environment.

Day of Your Surgery

  • Arrive promptly at the scheduled time. This will allow adequate time for all necessary admission procedures.
  • Please bring your insurance identification cards. If special financial arrangements are necessary, please call The Surgical Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group prior to admission.
  • Be sure to bring any paperwork your doctor gave you, such as test results or your medical history, and a list of medications you are taking.
  • Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. Upon arrival, you will change into a gown that we provide. You will be asked to remove contact lenses, dentures and any prosthesis.

There are large waiting rooms provided for your family with comfortable chairs and plasma TVs. The Surgical Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group has free WI-FI for your convenience. Find out more about what happens after your surgery.


Frequently Asked Questioins

  • What should I wear to the surgery center?

    On the day of your surgery, be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing, making it easy to dress and undress yourself. Also wear good walking shoes.

  • No. Please do not apply makeup the day of your surgery and remove nail polish prior to your arrival.
  • No. We strongly recommend you avoid smoking 12 hours prior to your surgery and for as long as possible leading up to the day of your surgery and the days following. Smoking could create complications with your anesthesia. In order to avoid surgical complications and medical complications, our surgeons do not operate on current smokers. Quitting two weeks before surgery helps improve your lung function & quitting for at least six weeks allows for proper wound healing. We strongly recommend smoking cessation for life.

    • Photo ID and insurance cards; we are required to verify these during check-in at the facility. Without them, your procedure will be canceled or postponed until you can provide them.
    • Any and all medications needed during your stay (i.e. inhalers).
    • Wear eyeglasses and bring a case to store them in while you are in surgery; do not wear your contact lenses.
    • CPAP machine if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
    • Walker, crutches, braces, or boot if needed, and a good pair of walking shoes.
    • Pillows for your comfort during your ride home. These will be used to help prop your leg or arm up in the car.
    • Do not bring any valuables such as loose money, rings, or other jewelry.
    • Payment for your procedure (deductible, co-payment, etc.)
  • You will be given specific instructions with regard to your arrival time 24-48 hours prior to the day of your surgery.

  • The surgery schedule may change several times leading up to the day before your surgery, so it is very common place to provide an arrival time 24-48 hours before surgery to avoid multiple calls and confusion.

  • When you enter the facility, you will be greeted at check-in. Admission and verification will take around 10-15 minutes. We will have several documents to review with you at check-in and do not want you to feel rushed during the process. We have built the time needed for registration into your arrival time. Please remember to bring:

      • Photo ID
      • Insurance card(s)
      • Payment for your deductible or co-pay
  • After checking in, a nurse will take you through a 30-45-minute pre-operative assessment that includes:

      • Confirming your information
      • Meeting with your anesthesiologist
      • Meeting with your surgeon
      • Meeting with your OR nurse
      • Taking your vital signs
      • Starting an IV
      • Performing any additional tests required on the day of surgery

      Once you are ready, your friends and family will be able to join you in this private room until it is time for your procedure.

    • There are no greater goals for The Surgical Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group than to keep you safe and provide you the care you need. We follow rigorous national guidelines and protocols (National Patient Safety Goals) with regard to both.
    • Before surgery, you will meet with your doctor to confirm the procedure and the correct surgical site. The surgeon will write his initials on your skin near the surgical site with a specialized skin marker.
    • For your safety, you will be asked multiple times by the members of your health care team to confirm your name, date of birth, planned procedure and which side.
    • Please be patient and understanding when you are asked numerous times to confirm the same information. This process is all part of a proven safety initiative and you should find comfort in knowing your healthcare team is committed to your care and outcomes.
    • Speak up. Do not hesitate to voice any concerns and ask questions throughout this process.
  • Your Nurse Navigator will give you an estimated length of surgery time during your pre-operative phone call.