Creekside Surgery Center

Serving Anchorage and all of Alaska for your Orthopedic, Ear Nose & Throat, Podiatry and Pain Management needs

Patient Info - Creekside Surgery Center

Preparing for Your Surgery

Prior to Surgery

  • To facilitate surgery, it is best to pre-register at Creekside Surgery Center at least 1 day prior to your surgery. You may fill out the necessary forms in advance to minimize paperwork on your day of surgery. At this time, you may also talk to one of our preoperative nurses to review your medical history.
  • One of our nurses will talk to you 1-2 days prior to surgery (in person or by phone) to review your medical history, your surgical history, current medications, and determine if you need to be seen by the anesthesia team prior to surgery. Depending on your medical status, you may be asked to come to Creekside Surgery Center to be evaluated by our anesthesiologist.
  • Please take all of your medications as directed by your surgeon. Our preoperative nurses will review your current medications and help you determine which to take prior to your surgery. You should inform your surgeon if you are taking herbal or other nutritional supplements, as these may interfere with your anesthesia or make you more prone to bleeding. It is best to stop taking non-essential herbal or nutritional supplements 1-2 weeks prior to surgery.
  • Please make arrangements in advance to have a responsible adult (over age 18) drive or escort you home from the facility. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home. There is a possibility that your surgery will be delayed or canceled if you do not have a responsible adult scheduled to take you home. For your safety, we do not allow our patients to be picked up alone by a taxi.
  • You may need to rent or buy special equipment or supplies before your surgery. Your physician will order equipment for your specific needs; please make sure you bring them with you to the surgery center on the surgery day.
  • Please fill your prescriptions prior to your day of surgery. There will often not be time to fill them after surgery.
  • If not previously discussed please change list of medications you are on to list of medications you are currently taking.

Night Before Your Procedure

  • Unless otherwise directed by your surgeon, do not eat anything (including gum, chewing tobacco or mints) after midnight on the night before your procedure. You may take your morning medications with small sips of water if needed.

Day of Surgery

What to Bring: Please be sure to bring the following:

  • Your pre-op paperwork, if you did not already pre-register.
  • Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or dentures. Bring their containers, if appropriate, for safekeeping, or plastic covered containers will be available. Lockers will be provided.
  • Insurance cards and Picture Identification Card or Driver’s License.
  • For your comfort, you may also bring a personal book or magazine.
  • If not previously discussed with our nurse, please bring a list of medications you are on including dose and when you take them.
  • Please do not bring your medication to the center unless instructed by your physician.
  • Leave valuables at home (jewelry, large amounts of cash).
  • Arrival: Plan to arrive at least 1.5 hours before your surgery, or earlier if instructed by your physician. One visitor is allowed to accompany you throughout your pre-op stay.
  • Clothing: Dress comfortably. Wear clothing large enough to fit over extra dressings you may have on your surgical site.
  • Upon arrival and registration: You will be taken to the preoperative area. You will change into a gown, which will be provided. Our preoperative nurse will meet with you to go over any medical history not previously discussed and sign any remaining forms. If your procedure requires anesthesia, an IV will be started (pediatric IVs may be started after induction of anesthesia). At this time our anesthesia team will meet with you to discuss the type of anesthesia that is best for you for your procedure. We provide general and regional anesthesia as well as sedation for less invasive procedures. If you and your anesthesia team decide that a nerve block will be performed, it will be done next, usually under sedation. You will meet your OR nurse and your surgeon will stop by for any final questions. You will then be taken back to surgery.

“During a Racquetball tournament my knee swelled up huge and even after days of icing and rest I could not get the swelling down.  Met with the team at Creekside Surgery Center and scheduled a needed surgery and went on to play later in the US Nationals with my wife.  I was impressed with the center and my surgeon, thanks.” ~ Joe Law, Anchorage

Extremely pleased with Creekside Surgery Center, very professional, courteous, and caring staff. Could not have asked for more!! ~ P. A. H.

Creekside surgery center is a superb facility. I, after a fairly severe truck accident, as well as a bad fall on the ice, ended up at Creekside for eight separate orthopedic surgeries within five years. Each time I went in for a procedure I was treated with the utmost care and compassion. ~ John W. Gaskins