Ready to Get Your Life Back?
At OSL, you and your physician will discuss all your options. If you decide surgery is the best course of action, you will work with your physician and his team to schedule a surgery date. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule and offer you the best plan for an optimal outcome.
First – Register
Your surgery will be performed at Specialists Hospital Shreveport. Once you’ve been scheduled for surgery, you can register for surgery. Just click below to begin the process!
*If you don’t have access to a computer, you can register at the time you complete your required pre-surgical lab work.
Second – Pre-Admit/Labs
1. Lab Orders
You’ll either receive a lab order from your surgeon when you’re scheduled for surgery, or your orders will be mailed to you from the clinic prior to your surgery. Your surgeon’s assistant may also fax your orders directly to the Specialists Pre-Admit Department for you. Please take the order with you when you go to Specialists Pre-Admit /Lab for your Pre-Admit testing and labs.
2. When & Where?
Your pre-admit testing must be completed within (30) days and no less than (7) days of your scheduled surgery date. Please keep in mind that the Specialists Pre-Admit / Lab does not schedule appointments; patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Specialists Pre-admit/ Lab is located on the second floor of Specialists Hospital:
Specialists Pre-Admit/ Lab
1500 Line Avenue, Suite 202
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Hours:
Monday- Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
No appointment necessary
3. What to bring?
Bring the following to your Specialists Pre-Admit appointment:
- Your lab orders and completed paperwork (if not registered at Specialists Hospital, please do so here.
- Photo ID & Insurance card
- Current medications & supplements
Fasting is NOT necessary before your Pre-Admit testing and labs. You may want to bring a snack or water while you wait. There is also a snack shop on campus. Our building does run a bit on the chilly side, so you may want to bring a sweater or sweatshirt to have while you wait.
4. What to Expect
During your Pre-Admit Exam & Labs, you can expect the following:
- You will complete a urinalysis, blood work, and an EKG.
- A Specialists nurse will review all medications you are currently taking and advise you about any medications that should be discontinued prior to your surgery.
- If there are any discrepancies with your pre-admit testing, your surgeon will contact you prior to your surgery. We will not contact you regarding your testing unless there is a discrepancy that interferes with having surgery.
Third – Before Surgery
- A Specialists nurse will notify you of your surgery arrival time the day before your surgery, sometime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your surgery falls on a Monday, a Specialists nurse will call you the Friday before.
- Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. This is very important. Your stomach should be empty during surgery. An empty stomach reduces the chances of an aspiration and its complications. The only exception is that you may take necessary medications the morning of surgery with a sip of water. Your surgeon, medical doctor, or anesthesiologist can help you determine which of your medications, if any, are necessary on the morning of surgery.
- Shower using an antibacterial soap (Dial or Hibiclens) and sleep on clean sheets the night before your surgery. This step will help reduce your chances of postoperative infection.
- A note about shaving. Please be careful when shaving your legs or body parts. A cut near the surgery site could potentially be cause to reschedule your surgery.
- If you have been instructed to get clearance from another physician (i.e., cardiologist, oncologist, etc.), please be sure you do so asap before your surgery and ask that the records be faxed, emailed, or mailed to your surgeon.
- Dental Work: Ideally, any dental work should be done at least four weeks before surgery. Dental complications occurring too close to a planned elective surgery may result in the surgery being delayed. Additionally, we recommend you delay any additional elective dental work for at least six months after your surgery. If there’s an urgent need for dental work, ask your doctor or dentist if preventive antibiotics are needed. Always… check with your physician and dentist.
- Hydrate before surgery! Up until midnight before your surgery, you should increase your water or non-caffeinated beverage intake. Being properly hydrated will help with IV placement on the day of surgery and will also help with constipation, which can result from some of the pain medications given after surgery.
- Contact your surgeon’s office if:
- You have a fever (101.1 or above) and are not feeling well. Your surgeon may ask that you see your primary care physician to ensure you do not have an infection. Having an active infection may mean rescheduling your surgery.
- You have an open wound that is not healing or is near your pending surgery site. Your surgeon may have you visit the clinic or see your primary care physician to determine if the wound is infected. Having an active infection may mean rescheduling your surgery.
