Thank you for choosing Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center for your procedure!

We will make every effort to keep you informed and comfortable during your stay with us.

You will receive a text message or email with a unique link to our preadmission portal- Please fill this out to expedite the preadmission process. If you experience any problems with the portal, please call us at 941-538-6526.

One of our nurses will call you to verify your information.

Please ensure that you have spoken to one of our nurses prior to the day of your procedure or your procedure may be cancelled.

IMPORTANT-Transportation:

For your safety, you will be required to have a driver take you home after your procedure. We will verify this information prior to you receiving any sedation.

**Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have a driver and someone to stay with you for 12 hours following the surgery**

Receiving sedation or general anesthesia with your procedure? Click HERE for an important notice.

Preparation for your procedure:

If you are having anesthesia, it is very important that you do NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure.

This includes gum, hard candy, and mints. It is important that your stomach be empty the day of surgery to avoid complications resulting in hospitalization.

If you take medications for high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, please discuss when to take these the day of surgery with the preadmission nurse.

Additionally, if you take blood thinners, please do not stop these without getting permission from the prescribing physician. Click HERE to see a list of blood thinners.

We can work with you in obtaining instructions to stop your medications for the surgery.

We will contact you with your arrival time the day before your surgery between 2:00 and 4:00 pm.

If you become sick or there is a change in your health prior to your procedure, please contact us at 941-782-5439 or the doctor’s office and we will determine if the procedure needs to be rescheduled. 

Day of your procedure:

Bathe or shower the night before or the morning of your procedure. Do not use perfumes, cologne, or body lotion. Contact lenses should be removed. Please wear warm, loose fitting comfortable clothing.

Please decrease smoking before surgery and do NOT smoke the day of your surgery.

Leave valuables at home including jewelry and watches and please remove any piercings prior to your arrival. You will need to bring your photo identification and insurance cards with you.

When you arrive to the surgery center, you will be asked to provide your phone number for a transportation contact. We will text and update your contact throughout your stay at the surgery center.

In the preop area, we will review your procedure and you will sign two consents, one for the procedure and one to consent to receiving anesthesia, if applicable. You will also be asked to undress completely and wear a patient gown. All female patients who have a menstrual period will have a pregnancy test performed. The preop nurses will prepare you for your surgery and are able to answer any questions that you may have. You will also see your surgeon and anesthesia provider prior to your surgery to answer any questions. 

After your procedure:

Following your procedure, you will be monitored by one of our PACU nurses for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the type of surgery. We will provide you and your driver with postoperative instructions specific to your surgery. It is normal to feel drowsy following anesthesia so please do not drive, make any significant decisions, or drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after.

We will call you within 3 days to check and see how you are recovering after surgery. If you experience any problems following surgery, please notify your surgeon’s office.

IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY- please call 911 or contact your local hospital emergency department.

**Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center does not administer blood and/or blood products**

**Please be advised that automobiles may not be left in the surgery center parking lot overnight without a permit, which can be obtained at the front desk**