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On the Day of Surgery - Surgical Guide To Right Posterior Total Hip Replacement (Modified/Pose Avoidance)

You and your companion will start your day at the information desk in the main lobby. Our patient liaisons will begin your initial check-in. They will then direct you to Patient Access Services, where you will complete your admission and receive a wrist band. From there you’ll head to the Family Atrium. Here, you will complete your surgical day check-in and get important information about the structure of the day.

The Family Atrium is a lounge area and central hub where our patients and their support person can wait before their surgery begins. To enhance communication on the day of surgery, phone calls and/or text message updates may be sent to a person of your choosing. A status board is also available in the Family Atrium to keep visitors up to date on the patient’s location. The atrium has Wi-Fi and cell phone use is allowed. Please be mindful that there are other patients and visitors in the atriums and keep noise level low while using your cell phone or other electronic devices. Children under the age of 14 and pets are not allowed in the hospital.

Members of the preoperative nursing staff will greet you and escort you to the pre-surgical holding area. Here, you will meet an advanced practice provider. They will reassess your health status and medical/surgical history while preparing you for surgery.

The preoperative nursing staff will complete your admission process, check your identification band, help you change into a hospital gown, and prepare your surgical site. The nurses will also start an intravenous (IV) line. This is a thin, clear tube that will be placed in one of your veins. The IV line will be used by your team to give you fluids, medications, and blood products, if needed. They will also review the surgical consent form with you and have you sign it. Your surgeon will confirm your identity and sign your surgical site with a surgical marker. These steps are an important part of the process designed to ensure your safety.

Once you have been prepped, the nurses will gather your belongings, which should fit in one small HSS bag that is labeled. Your belongings will remain with the Security Department until you are either awake enough to receive them in the recovery room or until you reach your inpatient room. Eyeglasses and hearing aids can be securely stored in our lock-up for valuables, which is managed by HSS Security. They will return them to you after your surgery.

Please do not smoke or vape on the day of surgery. The use of nicotine products (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, gum or patches) has been shown to increase the risk of complications following surgery. They can inhibit bone and wound healing by decreasing blood flow to the surgical site. They can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also referred to as blood clots. Please discuss quitting smoking with your surgeon and HSS internist.

Joint replacement surgery generally takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The total amount of time from entering the operating room to moving to the post-anesthesia care unit is usually about 2.5 hours. Your surgeon will provide more specific details. They will also plan to meet with your family in the Family Atrium or will make other arrangements to contact them after your surgery.

You can call the Family Resource Line (212.774.7547) if you would like further information on what to expect the day of surgery and for updates on our visitor policy. Please encourage your visitors to call if they have any questions.