Baptist Health offers comprehensive general surgery care with expert providers and a compassionate care team. Our general surgeons offer a wide range of surgical services and procedures that can be elective or are sometimes performed in emergency situations. General surgeons are surgical specialists with a broad skill set. They play a role in patient care from diagnosis to operative care and into postoperative management. At Baptist Health, we utilize the latest technology for general surgery procedures. Many procedures are minimally invasive utilizing laparoscopic techniques that often result in less pain and a faster recovery. Our goal is to get you or a loved one on the road to recovery quickly, so you can get back to enjoying life. General surgery includes surgical procedures in conditions affecting several areas:
- Alimentary tract
- Abdominal care
- Breast, skin and soft tissue
- Endocrine system
- Surgical Critical Care
- Surgical Oncology
- Trauma
What to Expect:
If you or a loved one are having a surgical procedure, feeling anxious is understandable. Our care team wants you to feel prepared and informed of our surgical process. The more you know, the more comfortable you will feel. More information is listed below about what you can expect:
You will be in contact with our care team before your surgery, so you’ll know what to expect. A member of our staff will confirm your surgery date, time and location as well as review preoperative instructions such as:
- Medications to take before your surgery
- Instruction for when to stop eating and drinking
- What type of clothing you should wear
- When to arrive for your procedure
Upon arrival for your procedure, our staff will review surgery details. An anesthesiologist, the physician responsible for administering regional or general anesthesia, will come and talk with you and your family. Your loved ones are welcome to be with you at this time. After any questions you may have are answered and you’re ready for surgery, we will begin the procedure.
When you enter our operating room, we try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. The operating room is a clinical, controlled environment where your surgery will take place. One of the first things we do is greet you and introduce the team that will be taking care of you during your procedure. We’ll then make sure you’re as comfortable as possible by providing an extra pillow or warm blanket. Your anesthesia will begin to set in, and the surgical team will begin their work. During the course of the procedure, we’ll keep your family updated on how the surgery is progressing. Once the surgery is complete, you’ll be moved to our post-operative care unit where you will begin surgery recovery.
Our post-operative care team are the providers that will care for you once your surgery is complete. You can expect a quiet, comfortable atmosphere. Our staff will check on you frequently. By taking your temperature, making sure you are warm and managing your pain or nausea, we work to relieve any discomfort you may have post-surgery. We also keep your family informed about your post-operative recovery process. Before you leave the facility, or are discharged, a care team member will review at-home care instruction from your doctor. You will receive a written copy of these orders and will be encouraged to set up a MyChart account through Baptist Health to easily manage your care after leaving our facility.
Our main goal is to meet your healthcare needs and get you back on the road to recovery as soon as possible. But some patients may require more closely monitored care after surgery. If you are admitted to our facility to stay the night after surgery, we work to keep you comfortable, safe and back home as soon as possible.
