Have questions?

Phone: 847-367-8100
Fax: 847-367-8335

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to visit the Center before surgery date?

All patients will need an up-to-date (completed within 30 days of surgery) medical history and physical form. Some may need blood tests, EKGs or x-rays. Your surgeon will advise where you will have this done.

Some families may elect to bring their children for a preoperative tour of Hawthorn Surgery Center.

Some patients may choose to come to the Center before their surgery date to complete paperwork or make payments. Patients must complete all preoperative documentation using One Medical Passport via the Pre-Registration Link before the day of surgery.

May I pre-register for my surgery?
Yes. We strongly encourage you to have completed all the registration forms using One Medical Passport via the Pre-Registration link before the day of surgery. We prefer that you simply walk in the day of your surgery and be shown to your room rather than fill out pages of paperwork. For your convenience, we have provided an online registration feature.

What if I cannot make my appointment?
Please notify the surgeon and the Hawthorn Surgery Center at 847-367-8100 as early as possible if you cannot make your scheduled appointment. Early notification can help us better accommodate you and other patients.

What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothing. Button-down shirts or blouses are best. Wear comfortable shoes. Leave all jewelry at home, including body-piercing jewelry. If you wear contact lenses, you will probably have to remove them for the surgery, so consider bringing your glasses. If you have to wear your contacts, please bring contact solution and contacts case. Please do not wear any make-up as this can hide certain clinical signs.

Why must I refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery?
You refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery in order to prevent the risks of aspirating gastric contents during your surgery. This complication is very serious and you need to strictly abide by our requirements.  This has nothing to do with nausea and vomiting after your surgery, as some think.

We have very clear policies as to specific times before surgery when you must refrain from eating and/or drinking. These are all based on safety standards. Please follow the instructions given to you by our pre-operative nurse.  Non-compliance may result in the cancellation of your surgery.

Children have different fasting schedules than adults – so please check in the Children and Special Needs Adults section.

Should I take my usual daily medication?
You will receive specific instructions from our pre-operative nurse regarding which medication to take on the day of surgery and which ones to hold.  Diabetic medications will be individualized. We will usually hold diabetic medicines and manage your sugar at the Center. You will be contacted before your surgery leaving no doubts in your mind as to which medications you should take.

People using inhalers must bring them to the Center on the day of surgery.

Please call us with any questions you may have.

May I continue my herbal medications?
Herbal medications may have harmful effects on the surgery. Many of these remedies may effect your clotting mechanism and interfere with the anesthetic agents. (The list of drugs and their side effects are too great for this site.) We generally request that you stop these medications two weeks before surgery. Please remember to mention these remedies to the pre-operative nurse when being asked about medication.

Who may accompany me?
You must have a responsible adult to drive you home following your procedure. Patients are required to have one family member/guest accompany them to their procedure and to stay at the facility from the time of admission to the time of discharge. Two family members are permitted to accompany a patient to the facility, but only one may enter our clinical areas with the patient. No children under the age of 18 should accompany a patient to the facility. Patients who are aged 17 and under must have an adult parent or guardian accompany them.

Will I receive sedation before going into the operating room?
We will individualize each patient’s care.

Will I be contacted before my surgery?
Yes. We call each patient before the surgery to gather information and answer any of your questions. Preoperative instructions will be given by the nurse who calls you. You can also call the Center directly with any questions.

Should I bathe and wash my hair before leaving home?
Yes. You can take a shower, bathe, brush your teeth, etc. Please do not use make up, hair spray, nail polish or toiletries. These may interfere with the anesthesia monitoring and possibly hide clinical signs from the anesthesiologist.

What should I do if I am not feeling well?
If you are not feeling well, please contact your surgeon immediately. During normal business hours, you can call the Center for advice. There are some surgeries which are safer if delayed when you are sick. We need to know specific details to make that decision. Please do not delay in contacting your surgeon or the Center.

What should I do if I started my menstrual cycle?
This will not affect most surgical procedures.  Call us if you have any questions at 847-367-8100.

What should I do if I believe that I am pregnant?
It is very important for us to be aware of this possibility. Only essential surgery is done on pregnant patients. If there is any doubt, please contact us immediately.

May I drive home?
Any patient receiving anesthesia should not drive until the next day. A patient receiving sedation for a procedure needs a ride home. The few patients who have procedures performed under local anesthesia alone could possibly drive home, depending upon the procedure.

We would strongly recommend that all patients have a ride home and will be received by a responsible adult when they arrive home. Patients will not be allowed to drive, walk or take public transportation after sedation or anesthesia. Please make the appropriate arrangements.

May I speak to my anesthesiologist before the surgery?
All patients will be seen by the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery prior to entering the operating room. Sufficient time should be spent to answer any questions you may have. If you need to speak to the anesthesiologist before the day of surgery, you are welcome to call the Center and we will arrange for you speak with an anesthesiologist.

What if I have special needs?
We will make every effort to accommodate any special need you may have. We strongly encourage you to call the Center in advance so that we can properly prepare to make you comfortable. Do not hesitate to call and suggest anything that may make your day easier.

Should I bring my special needs equipment?
Yes. Please bring any walkers, post-op crutches, hearing aids, etc.

What must I bring with me on the day of surgery?

  • Bring case for eyeglasses or contacts
  • Bring insurance identification cards, driver’s license, and co-payments/deductibles
  • Make sure you have a ride home and someone to care for you at home
  • Bring a favorite bottle or “sippy cup” for your child
  • Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing
  • Leave all jewelry and valuables at home

How will my pain be managed?
The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our postoperative call at home. We need to inform and prepare you for each step of the process. This education will begin with our first contact. You will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain from a numerical scale (0-10) called the Visual Analog Pain Scale, or for children, the Faces Pain Scale. Using the results of our communication we will alter the therapy as needed in order to assure your comfort.

The management of your pain will be taken very seriously. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable, choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc. and prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. Remember that information on pain management gives you the appropriate expectations and hence a smoother, more comfortable recovery.

May I request what type of anesthesia I will receive?
Yes, in certain situations. Some operations can be performed using a choice of different anesthetic types. Your anesthesiologist will discuss available options with you after reviewing your medical history. Your preference will be discussed so that the most appropriate anesthetic plan is made.

Will I receive any sedatives before surgery?
You and your anesthesiologist will develop an anesthetic care plan.

What are the risks of anesthesia?
All operations and all anesthetics have risks and they are dependent upon many factors including the type of surgery and the medical condition of the patient. Most patients operated on in surgery centers are of the healthier group of patients, and in these circumstances serious complications, while they can occur, are fortunately very rare.

May I go into the operating room with my child?
There will be circumstances where it is appropriate for a parent to come into the operating room. Studies and experience show that this decision needs to be individualized and discussed between you and your anesthesiologist. There are many situations where other choices are better and possibly even safer.

Why must I refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery?
You refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery in order to prevent the risks of aspirating gastric contents during your surgery. This complication is very serious and you need to strictly abide by our recommendations. This has nothing to do with nausea and vomiting after your surgery as some think.

We have very clear policies as to specific times before surgery when you must refrain from eating and/or drinking. These are all based on safety standards. You will receive specific instructions from our pre-operative nurse prior to the day of surgery.  If these requirements are not followed, it may result in the cancellation of your surgery.