• Call your insurance company to confirm your surgical coverage and benefits.
• It is preferable, but not required, to pay half of your deductible prior to surgery.
• If you do not have insurance coverage, call our Billing Department to get an estimate of charges. If paid prior to your surgery, your charges may be reduced. Note: There will be additional fees from the hospital, anesthesiologist, and assistant surgeons.

Billing Department
Phone: 402-637-0809
Fax: 402-637-0814
Email Us

• Discontinue use of all diet medications (including, but not limited to, Adipex, Lonamin, Tenuate, Meridia, Xenical, Redux, Fastin, and all over-the -counter diet medications). NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Schedule a pre-operative physical with your primary care physician seven to 14 days prior to your surgery.

• Discontinue use of aspirin, aspirin-containing medication, and anti-inflammatory medication (such as Advil, Motrin, or Naproxen). These medications may cause increased bleeding during your procedure. You may take Celebrex or Tylenol.
• If you are taking Coumadin, you will need special instructions from the physician who prescribed the medication.
• Discontinue use of Plavix, Aggrenox, Pletal, Effient, and omega-3 vitamins (such as fish oil, flax seed, and vitamin E).
• Discontinue use of all herbal supplements.
• For a complete list of medications that must be discontinued one week prior to surgery, please review our list of Medications to Discontinue. If you use a medication that is not on the list, you may continue taking that medication.
• Call Prescreening at the Hospital five to seven days before your scheduled surgery to speak with a nurse or schedule a time for a pre-screening interview.
• If your primary care physician requests any cardiopulmonary exams (stress test, echocardiogram, pulmonary function testing), schedule them at least three days before surgery. Make sure you have the doctor's name and phone number(s) so the pre-admit nurses can obtain testing results.

• Do not eat or drink anything eight hours prior to surgery arrival.
• Exidine (or Hibiclens) wash the night before and morning of surgery when instructed by your physician.

• Leave valuables at home, including jewelry (earrings, necklaces, body piercings) and electronic equipment (iPod, video games, etc.)
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• Do not wear any fingernail or toenail polish.
• Take only the medications your physician has instructed you to take.

• Crutches or walker. If you need assistance obtaining these items, please call our office.
• Photo ID
• Insurance card(s) or workers' compensation information
• Parent or Guardian (if under 18)
• Advance Directive (Living Will)
• Eyeglasses (if applicable)
• C-Pap machine (if applicable)
• Prescribed and over-the-counter medications and supplements in their original containers.
• Your medical history, including surgical history, allergies, and sensitivities. (You can ask OrthoWest for a copy of your Health History form.) Inform your pre-admit nurse of any problems you or your family may have with anesthesia, and if you have ever been diagnosed with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or C. difficile.

• Prescription refills will only be made during regular business hours. Narcotic refills cannot be given without the treating physician's permission. Please anticipate your needs.
• Each patient and surgery is unique; therefore, your post-surgical instructions will be unique based on the after-care your surgeon has determined.
• If you are unsure of your post-surgical instructions, please contact your surgeon's nurse by calling 402-637-0800 or 866-211-2432 and tell the receptionist you'd like to speak to your doctor's nurse (nurses rotate locations each day, so you can't call them directly).