- Once the decision for surgery is made between you and your surgeon it’s important to understand what happens next.
- Your physician will tell you the possible date for surgery only if your case is an emergency and must be done in the next few days.
- Your physician and his clinical team may tell you what days your physician performs surgery and at what facilities. In most cases the physician has one day at an outpatient surgery center and one day or half days for inpatient cases.
- The Surgery Order form gets forwarded to our Surgery Scheduler, then
- The surgery order is processed with your insurance company to get approval. We must have the notes from your visit with the doctor so it may be 24-48 hours from your visit before this process is started.
- We also have to be certain the facility is covered in your insurance plan.
- The process of receiving approval for surgery from an insurance carrier can take from 1-30 days depending on the insurance carrier.
- Once insurance approval is received, your account is reviewed within our billing department. We require that all balances be paid in full before surgery is scheduled. We also review your insurance benefits to see if there is a co-pay or co-insurance due to the surgeon. If there is, this will be collected prior to scheduling your surgery.
- Once this step is complete, our Surgery Scheduling Department will contact you to discuss potential dates for your surgery. It will be helpful to us if you have already reviewed your calendar and work place policies for time off for surgery. This allows us to pick a date and not have to change dates later.
- The Surgery Scheduler then contacts the Hospital and schedules your case.
- After your case is scheduled with the hospital, you will be contacted with the following appointments required to prepare for surgery:
- PreAdmit appt at the facility for labs, EKG, Chest Xray etc depending on your age, general health and type of surgery being performed. You will also sign your consents for surgery.
- Appointments with your Primary Care Physician and/or any Specialist with whom you treat for medical conditions that may be affected by surgery.
- Physical Therapy Prehabilitation before surgery and/or your first PT Evaluation after surgery.
- Your first appointment after surgery to see your surgeon.
