Welcome to Midwest Spine and Brain Institute. You have made the important decision to schedule surgery and we are here to help you on your path to surgery and recovery. Let's begin with prior authorization for surgery.
Many surgeries do not require a prior authorization. However, if your insurance requires one, we will assist you in this process. A prior authorization representative from Midwest Spine and Brain Institute will contact you to obtain information needed to process this request, including but not limited to physical therapy notes, psychological evaluation and or nicotine testing.
The prior authorization is generally a quick process of less than one week but can occasionally take longer and on rare occasions up to 30 days. After the approval is received, a surgery scheduler from Midwest Spine and Brain Institute will call you to schedule a date and give you further information specific to your surgery. Preparing for surgery, preoperative physical.
Now that you have the date of your surgery, please call your primary care provider as soon as possible, at least seven days prior to your scheduled surgery date, but no more than 30 days prior to your scheduled surgery date. Based on your preoperative physical, additional testing or blood work may be necessary in order to appropriately clear you for surgery. If there are any concerns that need to be addressed, your surgery date may be changed to allow enough time to address these concerns to ensure you are safe to have surgery.
If you do not complete your preoperative physical before your surgery date, your surgery will need to be rescheduled. Preparing for surgery, medications. Certain medications and supplements must be temporarily stopped before your surgery.
Some of these medications include those that are meant to or could possibly thin your blood. These may include blood thinners such as Coumadin or Plavix, anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil or Ibuprofen, and all herbal supplements including those used for weight loss. There are other medications that you may be given or need to adjust before surgery.
Please see your surgery packet for further details. Check with the physician who prescribed your medications to determine which medications may need to be adjusted or stopped and when they can be started again. The surgery scheduler will also schedule your initial post-operative appointment at this time with one of our providers or nurses.
Preparing for surgery, preoperative call from the hospital or surgery center. A nurse from the hospital or surgery center will call you within a few days before your surgery date. Be prepared to discuss your current medications and allergies.
They will go over information that could include what time to arrive at the facility, when to stop eating or drinking, registration information, general information as to where to park and check in for surgery, who your driver is, identify your emergency contact, and answer any questions you may have regarding their facility and what you can expect during your time there.
