surgery at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital

A registration specialist will call you to get your registration and insurance information. If he or she is unable to reach you, you can contact pre-registration services at (616) 774-1720 or (800) 884-4024, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. You also can register anytime online at preregistration.spectrum-health.org.

It is important that you receive the information you need and that your health care team does as well. A registered nurse from pre-surgical services will contact you about your health history, including allergies, medications and any pre-surgical testing you may have had. We will be asking what your most important concern is and we encourage you to ask any questions you have at that time. If you wish to contact a pre-surgical services nurse, call (616) 643-9250 or (800) 806-7412, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Our registered nurse will give you instructions regarding:

  • Directions and parking
  • When to stop eating and/or drinking
  • What medications to take the day of your strategy

You need to make plans for transportation home after your surgery. At discharge, you must have an adult to go home with you. We also recommend that an adult stay with you for 12 hours after your surgery.

  
THE DAY BEFORE YOUR SURGERY

Unless your doctor or registered nurse gives you specific instructions to do otherwise, do not eat any food, including gum or candy, after midnight prior to surgery. In addition, do not drink any liquids for four hours before surgery.

If you eat or drink before surgery, your surgery may be canceled.

If you are told that you may have clear liquids, these include:

  • Water
  • Apple, grape or cranberry juice
  • Jell-O without fruit or toppings
  • Broth
  • Coffee or tea (without cream)
  • Sodas (ginger ale, Sprite, 7UP, colas)
  • Sports drinks·
  • Pedialyte

We recommend that you:

  • Do not smoke the night before and the day of your surgery. All Spectrum Health facilities are smoke-free environments.
  • Do not use alcohol and/or recreational drugs for 24 hours before your surgery.

The time of your surgery may change. If that happens, we will call you one business day before your surgery.

  
THE DAY OF YOUR SURGERY

Depending on the type of surgery and the needed preparations, your scheduled time of arrival may be one to three hours before your surgery time. Please note the following:

  • Bring a list of your current medications and dosages, including any herbal supplements.
  • Keep taking your medications as prescribed unless otherwise instructed by your doctor or registered nurse.
  • Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
  • Bring your glasses or contacts and storage case.
  • Leave jewelry at home and remove any body piercings.
  • Nail polish and acrylic nails may stay on unless otherwise instructed by your doctor or registered nurse.
  • Leave your suitcase in your car until after surgery.
  • Bring a copy of your advance directive, if you have one.

Before your surgery, a registered nurse will review and update your health history with you, and an anesthesiologist will talk with you about your care and comfort.

  
AFTER YOUR SURGERY

You and your family will be given discharge instructions before you leave the hospital.A registered nurse will call you at home after your surgery to check on you and answer any questions you may have.Follow up visits should be scheduled with the physician's office. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these visits, please call (616) 588-1200. For driving directions and parking information, call Butterworth Hospital at (616) 391-1774 or visit: www.spectrum-health.org/directions.