Experience Of A Patient

You call the office and within two rings, the phone is answered by, Wendy, our friendly receptionist. You ask some questions about the procedure you are interested in. Wendy answers a few of them and then tells you that she’ll be transferring you to Katie, our patient care coordinator, who can more fully answer your questions. After a brief wait, you are connected with Katie who does indeed answer your questions. After some conversation with her, you decide that you’re ready to come in for a consultation with Dr. Singer. Wendy schedules the appointment at a time that works for you. Wendy invites you to visit the website to download and fill out some paperwork since this will save you some time during your appointment.

You arrive at the office, open the door and are greeted warmly by Wendy. She seats you in the waiting room and you make yourself comfortable on the sofa.

If you haven’t already filled out the paperwork, you’ll spend a little time doing that. You complete that and hand it back to Wendy and she escorts you to the exam room.

Next Dr. Singer comes in and asks you about your goals and reviews your medical history. She examines you and discusses all of the options associated with this procedure as well as the risks. She addresses any other concerns you may still have. Dr. Singer then recommends the best course of action based on your goals.

Wendy tells you about the purpose of the next appointment and schedules that with you.

When you return for the second appointment, Dr. Singer and her nurse, Rosemarie, review the procedure with you in depth and answer any remaining or new questions. Dr. Singer takes measurements and some “before” photographs. Wendy then schedules the actual date of the surgery.

You return one week before surgery. Dr. Singer performs a full physical exam on you to make sure that there is nothing that will cause complications. She gives you a prescription for your lab work and medications and suggests you pick them up before the day of your surgery. She tells you that that’s much easier than trying to deal with it on your way home after surgery.

You report to the outpatient facility for surgery on the day of surgery. You walk in the door into a professional-looking reception area with comfortable chairs in the waiting area. There are cubicles set up where patients are providing their information to staff. One of the staff escorts you to the holding area, a room that has a stretcher, Oxygen connections in the wall and other trappings of a hospital exam room. Here you change into your surgical gown. The anesthesiologist comes into the room and asks you questions about your medical history. Then he tells you about the type of anesthesia that he will use for this procedure and what you can expect. Dr. Singer comes into the room and draws with a skin marking pen on you to precisely mark the areas on your body where the surgery will be performed. She smiles and tells you she’ll see you in the “O-R”.

You are escorted to the operating room. The nurse anesthetist lets you know that she will now be applying anesthesia. And that’s all you remember about the “O-R”.

You awaken in a blanketed hospital bed with side-rails. A friendly nurse checks in on you often. Dr. Singer comes in and says something to you. But you don’t remember what it was since you’re still under the influence of the anesthesia.

You probably don’t remember this either but someone who you’ve asked drives you home. (You had arranged in advance for someone to drive you home after the surgery).

A few days after surgery you return to Dr. Singer’s office. Now, you have questions…lots of them. Dr Singer answers them all, removes yours sutures and changes the dressings. She then sends you home with a few rules you’ll need to follow.  You’re done! A few weeks and you’ll be fully recovered.