Day of Surgery 

Patients are asked to arrive at Pella Regional an hour and a half prior to the scheduled procedure. This will enable staff to spend adequate time with the patient and their family during the pre-op process. Patients may bring a book or other items to occupy their time as delays in schedules do occur.

There are parking spots dedicated to surgical patients in the parking lot located right off Jefferson Street. Patients must stop at the Information Desk in the front lobby where they will be escorted to the surgery waiting room prior to the procedure.

Visitors are limited to 1 or 2 adults. They will get a pager while the patient is in surgery that will notify them when the staff needs them to return to the surgery waiting room.

Patients need to make arrangements for a family member or other responsible adult to drive them home after surgery. The surgery will be cancelled if these arrangements have not been made.

Patients are asked to follow certain instructions the day of surgery for their protection. A surgery may be canceled if they do not follow these instructions. 

Anesthesia

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) provide anesthesia services at Pella Regional. CRNAs are nurses who have additional education and training in the administration of anesthesia. They are also certified, which means they have taken and passed a national board examination. 

Patients meet an anesthesia provider immediately before surgery to answer the patient’s questions. They also evaluate the patient’s general health including medical history, laboratory test results, allergies and current medications to determine the type of anesthesia best suited for the patient. 

The anesthesia provider is responsible for the patient’s comfort and well being before, during and immediately after a surgical procedure. In the operating room, the anesthesia provider manages vital functions including heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, body temperature and breathing.