Surgical Services

Pre-registration Procedure

You should pre-register at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center within seven days of your surgery. You may discuss hospital fees and insurance pre-authorization at that time. Please bring your insurance forms or medicaid coupons. All physicians’ professional fees will be billed separately from the hospital’s billing.

You may pre-register at any of the following locations:
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Palmer (Weekdays – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

To pre-register at other times, call (907) 861-6602 to make an appointment.

For patients who have difficulty with time or transportation, admitting information can be given to Mat-Su Regional by calling (907) 861-6000 and asking for an admissions representative.

If your surgeon requires preoperative labs, radiology, or other tests, his or her office will give you a package of paperwork to bring to one of our registration desks. If you require any preoperative testing, please allow at least two hours for this process.

Contact Information

Short-Stay Surgery
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
2500 S. Woodworth Loop
Palmer, Alaska 99645
(907) 861- 6981

Preparing for Surgery

The night before surgery, please follow these guidelines:

• Eat a light dinner.
• Do not use alcohol, street drugs, or over-the-counter drugs. (Including cigarettes and chewing tobacco)
• Do not eat or drink after midnight. (Including gum, candy, and water)
• Take prescription drugs with sips of water unless specifically told not to do so by your doctor.
• Take a complete bath or shower before coming to the hospital, with special attention given to the area to be operated on.
• Wash your hair and contain long hair in a braid, ponytail, or otherwise.
• Do not apply any makeup, deodorant, body powders, etc., to any area near the surgical site after your bath or shower.
• Wear comfortable clothing that will not be tight on the surgical site.
• Do not wear contact lenses, jewelry, or any valuables.
• Remove all nail polish.

The evening before your procedure or surgery, a nurse will call you to confirm your admission and surgery times and answer any questions you may have. At that time, additional information regarding your hospital stay will be given.

An anesthesiologist may contact you to obtain a health history, discuss anesthesia choices with you and answer any questions you may have.

A consent form for the surgery must be signed, either in the office with your physician or on the day of surgery, before any preoperative medication is given. Accordingly, if the patient is a minor, under 18 years of age, s/he must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who may sign the form at the hospital.

If your physical condition changes between the time you see your doctor and the time of your surgery, notify your doctor. (For example, if you develop a fever, come down with a cold, etc.)

If you are to have a general anesthesia or conscious sedation, have a responsible adult with you to drive you home after your operation, as you will not be released to drive yourself.

For the comfort of all our patients, we prefer that you have only one support person at a time with you in the pre-op and recovery areas of short stay surgery.

Before Surgery

Before surgery you will be greeted by a nurse who will help you prepare for surgery.

• Clothing will be removed and placed in a locker.
• If you wear dentures, they may be removed in the preoperative area and returned after surgery.
• A hospital gown and slippers will be provided.
• Medical history will be obtained and an IV may be started.
• Preoperative medications ordered by your surgeon or anesthesiologist will be administered.
• Operating room personnel will accompany you to the operation room.

After Surgery

For 24 hours after surgery, you must not drive or operate machinery because of the effects of anesthesia.

Surgery and anesthesia may leave you with a decreased appetite and feeling very tired. When you begin to feel hungry, start by drinking a few sips of a flat cola, ginger ale or lemon-lime soft drink. It may be several hours or even the next morning before you feel like eating. Don’t rush. If there is the slightest doubt, don’t eat or drink anything. You may experience some nausea. Call your physician if you continue to have problems, such as vomiting, increased pain, inability to urinate, etc.