Getting Ready for Surgery

At St. Luke's, we make every effort to help you feel prepared and comfortable throughout your treatment. We encourage you to talk with your doctor about what to expect before, during and after your procedure. If you have any questions or special requests regarding your time at St. Luke’s, we’d be happy to work with you and your doctor to make sure that your needs are met.

The following information will help you prepare for your visit.

Talk to your doctor

When you find out you're having surgery, have a discussion with your doctor about any medications you may be taking. You might need to stop taking some medications before your surgery. If you have any other questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your doctor and surgeon.

Schedule your pre-surgical appointment

If your surgery will be at St. Luke's SurgiCare in the main hospital, you'll need to schedule a pre-surgical appointment. STAR (Surgical Screening Admission Registration) appointments are scheduled seven to ten days prior to your surgery. This quick visit will ensure that you're ready for surgery.

Call 319/369.8392 to schedule your STAR appointment. View map.

Complete your medical history form & register online

A current, accurate medical history helps us care for you safely. When you complete the medical history form include the names of all prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements and vitamins you may be taking. You can download the form and bring it with you to your STAR appointment or submit an online form.

Call your insurance provider

Call your insurance provider to confirm the details of your coverage and pre-certification. St. Luke's has a dedicated team of financial counselors. If you have questions about the cost of your procedure, please contact them at 319/369.7513.

Arrange transportation

Make sure you have transportation to and from the hospital the day of your surgery and arrange for someone to stay with you at home. When you arrive for surgery at SurgiCare, please park on the North parking ramp structure and enter through the SurgiCare entrance.

Follow pre-surgical instructions

You will receive specific instructions about how to prepare for your surgery. These may include information about your medications, instructions to stop smoking and guidelines for when you must stop eating and drinking. If you have not received these instructions, contact your surgeon's office or St. Luke's at 319/369-8392.

Healthcare Associated Infection Rates

At St. Luke’s, we continually work to provide the best care possible for our patients.  One way in which we do that is by constantly monitoring and working to eliminate healthcare-associated infections.  A recent Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) report shows the results of the 2011 study which outlines the progress Iowa Hospitals have achieved regarding reducing infections.  The results are below and the full report is available here.

The 2011 report includes information for which Iowa hospitals voluntarily collect and report data with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes and reducing infections.  IHC has been releasing to the public, hospital-specific healthcare-associated infection (HAI) performance information in its Iowa Report since 2005.  “Healthcare quality, improvement and transparency are the cornerstones to the healthcare we provide.” said Sherrie Justice, St. Luke’s director of performance improvement. “The 2011 IHC report follows through on our commitment to our patients and healthcare providers.”

Download a pdf of the complete 2011 Iowa Healthcare Collaborative Study on Healthcare Associated Infection Rates report.

If you have questions or would like more information about preparing for your surgery, contact our team at 319/369-8392.