Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center is pleased to offer a full range of surgical services in our new, technologically advanced operating suites. Our highly-skilled care team of doctors, nurses, anesthesia personnel and other medical staff provide safe, compassionate care for our patients and in a state-of-the-art facility right here in your community. We look forward to caring for your surgical needs.
Our Services
Preparing for Surgery
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- Please arrange for an adult to drive you home from the hospital. For your safety, if you are having an outpatient procedure, an adult must remain with you for 24 hours after surgery. If you do not make these arrangements, we would be happy to work with you to reschedule your procedure for a date on which you can meet these important requirements.
- Follow any specific preoperative bathing, shaving, or cleaning instructions provided to you.
- If you become ill or experience any change in health before surgery, please contact your surgeon or the preoperative nurse at the hospital immediately.
- If you are a woman and suspect you are pregnant, it is extremely important that you notify your surgeon immediately.
- You may receive a preoperative health assessment call from a nurse one to three days in advance of your surgery.
- Many of our forms may be filled out in advance.
- Ensure you keep your COVID-19 testing appointment. If you fail to keep your appointment, your procedure will likely be canceled. After you are tested, please limit your exposure to decrease your risk of infection prior to your procedure/surgery date.
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- Please follow your surgeon’s instructions regarding eating and drinking prior to surgery.
- Take only medications your physician has instructed, with a small sip of water. Some medications, such as medications taken to control your blood pressure, are very important to take before your surgery, the day of your surgery, and the immediate days after your surgery.
- Wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing to the hospital.
- Wear flat shoes—slip-on styles are best.
- Remove any body piercings.
- Leave all jewelry and valuables home.
- Everyone is required to wear a mask when entering the building.
- Care partners may wait in the designated waiting area while you are in surgery. Please note, policies may change due to COVID-19.
- Pediatric patients are allowed a visitor in the Preoperative and Post Anesthesia Care Units.
- For the safety of all of our patients, personal electrical appliances such as hairdryers, electric razors, radios and televisions are prohibited within the hospital. Laptop computers, cell phones, battery-operated radios, DVD players and MP3 players are permitted. For the consideration of other patients, however, please use headphones when listening.
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Once the surgery is complete, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). You will be continuously monitored by a nurse until you are fully awake and alert and you will be instructed about activities and exercises that you may need to perform during this time. You are kept in the PACU until you are stable enough to be moved; this decision is made by your anesthesiologist.
Depending on the type of surgery and your post operative condition, you will proceed to the Post-Surgical Nursing Unit, or home.
everyBODYmoves Mobility Initiative
Mobility and exercise are important parts of your recovery. Movement decreases your risk for blood clots, infections, bed sores and constipation, and movement can improve your mood and appetite. If you are an inpatient, your care team is here to help you heal, which includes helping you stay upright and active. Together, you will set a mobility goal each day to reach your highest level of mobility. -
- Make sure you understand the instructions that your doctor or nurse will give you about taking care of your wound or any new medications you may need to take.
- Always clean your hands before and after caring for your wound.
- Make sure you know who to contact if you have questions or problems after you get home.
- If you have any symptoms of infection, call your doctor immediately. Signs of infection are:
- Redness or pain at the surgery site
- Drainage at the surgery site
- Fever
Registration & Checking In
If you have questions or concerns, call our preoperative nurse at 410-740-7798. For more information about our registration process, call 410-740-7670.
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- On the day of surgery, you will arrive at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center main entrance. A surgical scheduler will call with your arrival directions and our registration team will assist you upon your arrival.
- You should arrive no later than two hours before your scheduled surgery time. However, if your procedure is scheduled for 7:15am, please arrive by 5:30am when our registration desk opens.
- There is ample free parking available in lots B and C.
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- Bring a list of current medications you take, including name, dosage and how often each is taken. Do not bring the bottles. If you are uncertain about your medications, a family member or caregiver may bring the bottle to the hospital temporarily so our clinical staff can accurately record the information. Bringing home medications to can lead to confusion and medication errors, so, for your safety, we typically ask patients not to bring medications from home.
- Bring asthma inhalers if you use them.
- Bring your completed forms, insurance or Medicare card, a photo I.D. and any applicable co-pays. If you have a deductible or co-pay due at the time of your procedure, we accept credit cards or checks. If you bring a credit card or check book, please ask the person accompanying you to keep it in a safe place during your procedure until your discharge.
- If staying overnight, please leave your bag in the car. Your care partner may bring it in after surgery, when you have been taken to your room.
- If you use a C-PAP machine when you sleep, please bring it with you if staying overnight. Please write out your typical settings for us in case you are unable to relay them after surgery. You may leave the machine in the car with your overnight bag, to be brought to your room later.
- If you have an advance directive, bring a copy. If not, please tell the receptionist where you have it on file.
- If you need them, please bring your glasses for reading and your eyeglass case.
- Young children who will be undergoing surgery may bring a comforting toy or blanket.
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Please discuss any special needs with your admitting counselor. Special accommodations are available for patients with disabilities. In-room TTD equipment and closed-captioned televisions are available for patients who are hearing impaired or Deaf. Interpretive services are available for people who are Deaf or have limited English proficiency.
It is the policy of Howard County General Hospital to provide services to all persons regardless of your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disabilities. This non-discrimination policy applies to all facilities and programs of the hospital.
Forms and Information
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Please print and complete the following forms to bring with you on the day of your procedure.
- Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notification of Privacy Practices
- Authorization for Release of Medical Records
- Pre-Anesthesia Form
En Español: -
An advance directive is a legal document that allows you to give specific instructions about your medical treatment if you become unable to communicate. The document can be tailored to meet your individual preferences and values and can include information about the types of treatment you want or do not want in certain situations.
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Anesthesiology
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Howard County Anesthesia Associates, PA (formerly known as John C. Payne, PA) has been providing high quality anesthesia services for patients since 1973 here at Howard County General Hospital (HCGH).
Howard County Anesthesia Associates, PA is comprised of 20 board-certified anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists providing a variety of anesthetics for our impressive volume of surgical cases. Last year, more than 13,000 surgical cases were performed and we helped deliver more than 3,000 babies.
Although our anesthesia services assist almost all hospital departments, the bulk of Anesthesia care is seen in:
- The main Operating Rooms
- The Health Care and Surgery Center (TCAS/Same Day Surgery)
- Labor and Delivery Suite
- Interventional Radiology/Cath Lab
- Intensive Care Unit
- Emergency Department
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Anesthesiologists play a critical role before, during, and after surgery. They monitor and treat patients’ acute pain from the time surgery begins, while they are asleep, and until they have recovered and left the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). They diagnose and treat any medical problems that may arise during surgery or recovery and make informed medical decisions to protect and regulate critical life functions that may be affected by surgery.
Howard County Anesthesia Associates, PA also employs nurse anesthetists who assist with anesthesia care. Your safety and comfort during your surgical procedure are our primary goals and we do everything possible to help facilitate your recovery.
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