CHRISTUS Surgery Center

When you are scheduled for surgery, you will be given a pamphlet for CHRISTUS Surgery Center. Inside, you will find information about our center, as well as instructions for completing your online health history. It is essential that we have a clear understanding of your current health status, including all medications you are taking, prior to your procedure. Any necessary lab work or medical clearances will be ordered through your physician’s office.

A few days prior to your procedure, a nurse will contact you to go over the health information that you provided. During this phone call, the nurse will instruct you as to your arrival time on the date of surgery, as well as what time you will be required to stop eating and drinking. Remember that for your safety, you will be required to have a “responsible party” who can take you home and stay with you for the first day after surgery if you are receiving anesthesia. These arrangements may need to be made in advance.

The first contact that you receive from CHRISTUS Surgery Center will be from the business office to coordinate and review your insurance, demographics, and answer all your questions in relation to the business component.

You will then be contacted by a nursing staff member within two days of your scheduled procedure to review your health information, give detailed instructions on what to expect, arrival time, and the protocol to follow.

• You do not need to arrive early. We have already scheduled time to get you ready for surgery.
• Before you leave home, bring directions to the surgery center.
• Bring your legal picture ID, medical insurance cards, and any required co-pays if applicable.
• Bring a copy of any power of attorney, advance directives, or custody paperwork if applicable.
• If you are to arrive before 7 a.m., there will be no one to greet you at the front desk. Please sign in, and a nursing personnel member will be with you shortly.
• If you are scheduled to arrive in the pm, please feel free to call the facility before leaving your house to ensure the surgeon is running on time. This is not required but may save you additional wait time before your procedure.
• Remember, due to HIPPA regulations, we are unable to release information to any unauthorized individuals who may call or come to the facility inquiring about your care without your consent.

Prior to Your Scheduled Surgery

• Complete the Patient Health Screening on One Medical Passport
• Call your physician immediately if you notice a change in your health between the time you saw your surgeon and the day of your procedure.
• Drink extra fluids the day before the surgery unless otherwise restricted by a medical condition but remember to stop all foods and liquids when the nurse instructs you to.
• You will receive specific instructions on when to stop eating and drinking and any medications you should and should not take before surgery when you talk to the nursing staff a week to two days before your scheduled procedure.
• If you are instructed to obtain a medical clearance, make sure you have an appointment to see your physician prior to surgery.
• Educate yourself on expected post op pain. This will be discussed in detail when you talk to the nursing staff. Please note that you may experience some discomfort after surgery. Our goal is to keep your pain at a tolerable level, rather than eliminating it.
• Refrain from smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages 24 hours before your procedure. If you are unable to refrain from smoking, please ask your nurse for alternative instructions.
• Take a shower prior to your procedure. You may have a dressing that cannot be removed until your follow-up appointment with your surgeon.
• Wash all bed linens prior to your procedure. Coming home to clean sheets helps reduce the risk of infection!
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of surgery (i.e., post op clothing that fits over bulky dressings, slings, etc.). You may wear pajamas if you wish.
• HAVE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE CENTER AND DRIVE YOU HOME FOLLOWING YOUR SURGERY. YOUR SURGERY CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT YOUR COMPANION. YOU WILL BE SLEEPY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE.
• Bring containers to store your contacts, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.
• Bring post-op equipment (i.e., crutches, braces, O2 if used at home, etc.)
• Remove all jewelry, including wedding bands and all body piercings.
• Do not wear makeup, hairpins, nail polish, body powder, or contact lenses if possible.
• For children: bring the child’s favorite toys, blankets, bottles, sippy cups, and diapers.
• Remember to bring your child’s car seat and or booster seat; We cannot discharge a child to a vehicle without proper safety devices in place.

We provide our patients with safe and comfortable anesthesia, administered by the best Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Having received years of specialized training, CRNAs have provided service to the Southern New Mexico area for several decades and our group of CRNAs comes with over 75 years of combined experience!

In the pre-operative area, prior to your surgery, the CRNA will come to discuss the plan for your anesthetic. They will review your health history and discuss the anesthesia methods that are most suitable for your procedure, addressing any questions you may have.

Anesthesia is billed separately from the surgery center. If you have any balance that was not paid by your insurance, you can expect to receive a bill for any anesthesia-related charges.

You must not eat or drink anything, including water, after midnight, the night before your surgery — unless you are directed to do so by a staff member at CHRISTUS Surgery Center or your surgeon. Food in the stomach can cause serious complications during anesthesia, which would require the surgeon to cancel or postpone your surgery to avoid a dangerous complication. Avoid alcohol and tobacco for 24 hours before your surgery.

For infants, babies, and children, there are special requirements regarding eating and drinking prior to surgery. Your nurse will discuss the specifics at the pre-operative phone call.

You may take any medications that you were instructed to take with a SIP of water the morning of your procedure.

For women, if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please notify your surgeon immediately. If you develop a cold, fever, respiratory infection, or other illness prior to surgery, please call your doctor or CHRISTUS Surgery Center.

Arrange for a responsible party ahead of time

Due to receiving anesthesia, you will not be capable of driving yourself home following surgery. You must have both a ride home from surgery and someone to stay with you the first day after surgery.

Changes in your health

If you notice a change in your health (i.e., cough, cold, fever, new onset loss of taste or smell, etc.), it is IMPORTANT to notify your physician and the CHRISTUS Surgery Center before your scheduled surgery date.

Wait times prior to surgery

Our staff at CHRISTUS Surgery Center recognizes that your time is important. Prolonged waiting before a procedure is both unnerving and inconvenient to you and the people who have accompanied you to our center. We strive to maintain a schedule that is as efficient as possible; however, there are many factors outside of our control that can alter the progression of surgical start times. These unavoidable events can result in a delay in the start time of your procedure. Whenever there is a change in your anticipated procedure starting time, our staff will always try to keep you informed and provide updates. Please ask our staff if you have any questions regarding your surgical time.

Why do we ask you to arrive earlier than your scheduled surgery time?

Getting you ready for surgery takes some time. We ask that you arrive before your scheduled surgery time to ensure sufficient time to complete the admission process. We will minimize your waiting time and strive to maintain an efficient surgical schedule. If you encounter a delay, please let us know how we can make your wait more comfortable.

Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)

When your surgery is completed, you will be taken to the PACU to recover. The length of time you will need to rest before leaving will depend on the nature of your surgery and your recovery progress after surgery.

We permit a family member or friend to join you in our recovery room when possible. Typically, we wait until you are awake to bring your family or friend into the recovery room. To prevent overcrowding, we must limit the number of visitors to one person at peak times. Therefore, we kindly request that you refrain from bringing children or others who cannot be left unattended in the waiting room.

Before you go home

Please be certain you understand your physician's instructions. You will receive instructions from our nurses regarding medication, diet, and rest requirements. On the day of surgery and possibly at the time of discharge, you may feel sleepy, tired, and dizzy. This is completely normal. We recommend that you go home and rest for the remainder of the day. For your own safety, it is important that you do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours after leaving CHRISTUS Surgery Center.

At home

You must have a responsible adult stay with you the night after surgery. If you experience any difficulties or complications after returning home, please contact your surgeon immediately. If you cannot reach your surgeon and your condition requires immediate attention, you must call 911 or be driven to the nearest emergency department. You may also call the staff at CHRISTUS Surgical Center any time between 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Fridays at 575-437-0890.

Patient satisfaction

A CHRISTUS Surgery Center staff member will contact you after surgery to check on your progress. You will also receive a patient satisfaction survey form that will help us to continuously improve our care in response to your suggestions. If you have provided us with your email address, you may be contacted by email regarding completion of this form online. We appreciate your input!

If you are a CHRISTUS Health patient, please use this link below to pay your bill.

If you are a patient of Southern New Mexico Surgery Center, please use this link to pay your bill.

Medical Passports are secure, online patient-controlled accounts that provide medical history information. Log in here.

CHRISTUS Surgery Center DOES NOT provide after-hours emergency care nor receive after-hours phone messages. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room.

On the day of your surgery, you will receive discharge instructions which include how to contact your surgeon directly for any questions or concerns after hours utilizing the surgeon's answering service.