Surgery Instructions for Patients – Children's Orthopaedic and Scoliosis Surgery Associates, LLP
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Surgery Instructions for Patients

Important Information for Families

Preparing for Surgery

If your child is scheduled for surgery with Children’s Orthopaedic & Scoliosis Surgery Associates, the information below will help you prepare for your upcoming procedure. Please review these instructions carefully and contact our surgery scheduling team if you have any questions.

Steps to Prepare Ahead

Before Your Child’s Surgery

Important safety guidelines

To help ensure your child’s safety, please follow these guidelines:

  • No anti-inflammatory medications (Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Aspirin, etc.)
  • Tylenol is permitted
  • No immunizations within 2 weeks of surgery
  • Certain antibiotics may need to be stopped (please confirm with your provider)

Please notify our office if your child:

Has had pneumonia, RSV, or MRSA within the past 6 months

Becomes ill before surgery

If your child develops symptoms such as cough, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please contact our surgery scheduler at least two days before surgery.

When to stop eating:

AgeLast Solid Food / FormulaLast Clear Liquids
Under 2 years8 hours before surgery (Breastmilk allowed up to 4 hours before)3 hours before surgery
Over 2 yearsNothing after midnight3 hours before surgery

Clear liquids include:

  • Jell-O
  • Popsicles
  • Pedialyte
  • Apple juice
  • Soda

Required information and documents:

Parents or legal guardians must ensure the following before surgery:

  • Custodial paperwork is provided if applicable
  • Updated insurance and contact information are on file
  • We have a current list of all specialists your child sees (cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, hematology, etc.)
  • Required medical clearances are completed prior to surgery

Failure to provide appropriate consent or documentation may result in surgery being rescheduled.

Where Procedures Take Place

Surgery Locations

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

Primary surgery location:

Address
501 6th Ave South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Children’s Orthopaedic & Scoliosis Surgery Associates performs many procedures at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Our team works closely with the hospital to ensure a safe and coordinated surgical experience.

Where to check in:

  • Free parking is available in the ACH parking garage next to the Outpatient Care Center.
  • Use the bridge from the 2nd floor of the garage to enter the Outpatient Care Center.
  • Continue across to the main hospital.
  • Look for the “Doggie Door” landmark.
  • Check in at the Surgical Pre-Registration area on the 2nd floor.


View the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Visitor Guide  (PDF)

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

Important pre-surgery call:

The hospital’s Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) team will contact you the day before surgery with:

  • Your finalized surgery time
  • Feeding instructions
  • Medication instructions
  • Anesthesia details

If you have not received a call by 4:30 PM, please contact:

Pre-Admission Testing (PAT): 727-767-8431

If your child will be admitted the day before surgery, call Admissions the morning of admission to confirm bed availability:

Admissions: 727-767-4161

If PAT is scheduled:

If your child has a separate Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) appointment prior to surgery:

  • Arrive at the scheduled date and time listed on your prescription.
  • Sign in at Pre-Registration on the 2nd floor.
  • All PAT appointments take place in the Pre-Operative Unit.

Support for your child:

The Child Life Department offers hospital tours and preparation activities to help children feel more comfortable about their upcoming procedure.

Phone: 727-767-4323

If your child is staying overnight:

    • Two parents may stay in the hospital room.
    • Out-of-town families may request accommodations at the Ronald McDonald House on campus.

You can call: 727-767-7694 for more information and room requests.

Please contact the surgical facility directly to obtain an estimate for the facility charges associated with your child’s surgery. The estimate provided by our office reflects only the physician’s professional fee for performing the procedure and does not include hospital or facility fees.

For hospital financial questions, please contact:

Financial Clearance: 727-767-3030

St. Joseph's Hospital

BayCare surgery facility:

Address
3003 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Building A
Tampa, FL 33607

Children’s Orthopaedic & Scoliosis Surgery Associates performs select procedures at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The hospital team will coordinate directly with you regarding final arrival details.

St. Joseph’s Hospital BayCare Surgery Facility

Arrival time notification:

Your final surgery time is determined by the surgery center and will not be confirmed until the day before surgery.

  • The facility will call you in the afternoon with your arrival time.
  • If you do not receive a call, please contact the surgery center directly.

Required before surgery:

To avoid cancellation, the following are required before surgery:

  • Completed Pre-Op Nurse Interview
  • Confirmation call prior to surgery

Please bring the following on the day of surgery:

  • Photo ID
  • Insurance card

Failure to complete the required pre-op interview may result in your procedure being rescheduled.

Complete forms online:

St. Joseph’s Hospital is part of BayCare.

Families are encouraged to register in the myBayCare Patient Portal to complete required forms and review instructions prior to surgery.

Please contact the surgical facility directly to obtain an estimate for the facility charges associated with your child’s surgery. The estimate provided by our office reflects only the physician’s professional fee for performing the procedure and does not include hospital or facility fees. For hospital financial questions, please contact: 813-852-3116

Constipation after Surgery

After surgery, your child may become constipated for a number of reasons:
  • Lack of movement and mobility
  • Not eating or drinking normally
  • Use of pain medications that decrease motility of the intestinal tract.

If this should happen, here are some solutions to help:
  • After discharge from the hospital, your doctor has recommended that your child take a stool softener. Some of these stool softeners include Surfak, Colace, or other generic still softener. Please take as directed until bowel movements become regular.
  • If this does not help, your child may need laxative. Take 1 Dulcolax tablet with an 8oz glass of water or juice.
  • If after 24 hours, your child still has not had a bowel movement, take 1 Dulcolax tablet with 8oz of water or juice and 1 Dulcolax suppository per rectum.
  • If your child still has not had a bowel movement, please call the office for further instructions.

Understanding Your Coverage

Insurance & Financial Information

Insurance benefits are verified prior to surgery. This includes:

  • Deductible
  • Coinsurance
  • Out-of-pocket responsibility
  • Authorization requirements

 

Surgical Estimates: 727-568-6934

A surgery deposit may be required based on your insurance benefits.

Hospital Estimates

Please contact the surgical facility directly to obtain an estimate for the facility charges associated with your child’s surgery. The estimate provided by our office reflects only the physician’s professional fee for performing the procedure and does not include hospital or facility fees. For hospital financial questions, please contact:

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital: 727-767-3030

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital: 813-852-3116

Contact Our Surgery Team

Questions About Surgery?

Our surgery scheduling team is here to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Diane, Sydney, and Viviana will be your point of contact until the time of your surgery.

Main Surgery Phone: 727-568-6856

Main Surgery Email: surgerysched@chortho.com

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