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Prepare for Discharge:
Establish a plan to care for family members and pets as needed.
Establish a plan for discharge to home.
Ensure you have adequate help when you return home for at least 5-7 days.
Determine if you plan on going to your home or other's home at discharge.
Ensure your ride home is at the hospital by the time specified by your care team
on the day of discharge (for many this is noon).
Fill regular prescriptions and have enough daily medications to last several
weeks after surgery.
Prepare your home with recommended changes as discussed on pages 10-12.
Understand when to stop and resume regular medications around surgery.
Check with your primary care healthcare provider/ surgeon if you are unsure.
Identify who will be your care coach throughout this process. Your care coach
will be expected to:
Attend all physician visits with you
Attend a total joint preoperative class with you
Be available during hospitalization for care coach training
Be at the hospital any time on day of discharge to pick you up, take you
home and be available for any final post-surgery/ home care instructions
TIMELINE AND TIPS - 1 WEEK BEFORE YOUR S URGE RY
CHE CKL IST:
Stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen (NSAIDS) 7 days prior to surgery. Please
confirm this instruction with your surgeon.
Get caught up on final home management issues.
Continue your exercises and nutrition program
Confirm what medications you may need to hold or take the night before or day of
surgery if you are unsure.
Make sure you are able to remove your wedding rings, piercing and jewelry. All must be
able to be given to your care coach on the day of surgery if you chose to wear them to
the hospital prior to surgery.
Manicures/Pedicures avoid up to one week prior to surgery.
TIMELINE AND TIPS - THE DAY BEFORE Y OUR S URGERY
CHE CKL IST:
Review all of your preoperative instructions.
