Columbus Community Hospital
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Pre-admission

Columbus Community Hospital’s pre-admission service is designed to answer any questions or concerns you may have before your surgical or endoscopic procedures at CCH.

The nurses in pre-admission will call you between one and five days before your scheduled procedures to obtain health history inofmration (including past surgeries and dates), verify any allergies, update current medications, and provide preoperative instructions. This is the time during which the nurse can answer any questions you may have regarding your procedure.

The screening phone call may take 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on your health history and medications. Be sure to let the nurse know if your primary care provider performed a pre-operative workup, or if your surgeon or primary care provider gave you any instructions.

Be sure to make arrangements for a driver to take you home on the day of your surgery if you are receiving sedation. You will not be able to go home in a taxi, Uber, public transportation or VIP Transportation (the hospital's transportation service). For safety reasons, if you are receiving sedation, please arrange to have a responsible adult stay with you overnight.

Surgical pre-admissions phone number: 402-562-3160.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Days or weeks before scheduled surgery

  • We may require a pre-operative exam (history and physical) with your primary care provider before your surgery. You also may need to undergo blood work, laboratory testing, an electrocardiogram (EKG) or X-rays. Your surgeon will instruct you on what will be required before your surgery/procedure.
  • Bring a list of medications for your surgeon to review. This includes prescribed medications, vitamins, herbals and over-the-counter products. 
  • There may be medications you need to stop right before surgery. Be sure to let your surgeon know if you take:
    • Blood thinners
    • GLP-1 or SGLT2 inhibitors
    • Phentermine or any weight loss medications

The night before surgery

  • Do not drink any alcohol 24 hours before your surgery.
  • Do not use any tobacco/vaping products eight hours before your surgery or as directed by the surgeon.
  • Do not eat any solid food after midnight before your surgery. The nurse or surgeon will direct you as to when you should stop drinking liquids prior to your procedure.
  • Shower using antibacterial soap before coming to the hospital. A special soap called Hibiclens may be ordered for certain surgical procedures.

Day of surgery

  • Arrive at the time the preadmissions nurse indicated. 
  • Call your surgeon if you have any symptoms of illness such as fever, cough or cold.
  • Shower with antibacterial soal or Hibiclens soap as instructed.
  • Brush your teeth.
  • Do not use creams, lotions, deodorant, makeup or jewelry. Remove all piercings. 
  • Take medications with a small sip of water as directed by a surgeon or nurse.

What to bring

  • If you have glasses, contacts, hearing aids or dentures, bring a case in which to store them while you are in surgery, or leave them at home. 
  • Bring along a copy of your advance directive, if you have one, so it can be scanned into your medical chart.
  • If you stay overnight, bring your continuous positive airway  pressure (CPAP) or other sleep apnea machine.
  • Remember your photo ID and insurance card.
  • Leave jewelry, money and valuables at home.
  • Bring a current list of your medications. This includes prescribed medications, supplements, herbals, eye drops, inhalers and over-the-counter medications.

Pain management

  • Pain management is a priority after a surgical procedure. Pain feels different for each individual, so we ask that you let the doctors and nurses know when you're experiencing pain or discomfort. 
  • Let the staff know if you have allergies to any pain medications, and what reaction you have to the medications. Report what has worked and not worked to control your pain in the past. 
  • Often pain is harder to control once it has taken hold; be sure to ask for pain medication before the pain becomes severe or unmanageable. Take prescribed pain medications as directed.

Contact us 

For more information on CCH’s pre-admission process or other services offered through CCH, contact us at:

Columbus Community Hospital
4600 38th St.
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-1800
402-564-7118
info@columbushosp.org