Preparing for Surgery

Surgery Day 

On this page:

It’s the day of your surgery. Our teams are here to guide you every step of the way.
 

The Surgical Day Care Unit (SDCU)

The Surgical Day Care Unit is where more than three-quarters of surgical admissions at The Ottawa Hospital begin. It is the area where you check in, prepare for surgery and receive care before and after your procedure.

This is general information about what happens before, during and after your surgery day. Your surgeon and the nurses in the Pre-admission Clinic and Surgical Day Care Unit will share details specific to your procedure.

If you have questions about preparing for your surgery day, contact the Surgical Day Care Unit the day before your procedure. 

Types of surgical care

Day care surgery

Day care surgery is for patients who need a surgical procedure and can be discharged the same day. At the Civic Campus, some day care surgeries require an overnight stay in the Surgical Day Care Unit, with discharge at 8 a.m. the next morning.

Same-day admission surgery

Same-day admission surgery is for patients who require surgery followed by a hospital stay. These patients arrive at the hospital on the day of their procedure rather than the day before.

Preparing for surgery

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Eating and drinking

Do not eat or drink anything except water after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes coffee, tea, chewing gum and hard candies. You may drink water up to three hours before surgery.

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Getting yourself ready

Take a shower or bath before coming to the hospital. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and remove all makeup and nail polish.

Special circumstances

If you develop a cold, flu or infection before your surgery, contact your physician. If you cannot reach your physician, contact the Surgical Day Care Unit. 

In rare cases, your surgery may be cancelled on the day of your procedure because of emergency surgeries or a lack of available beds at The Ottawa Hospital. If this happens, your physician or their office will contact you. We will work to reschedule your surgery as soon as possible. 

If you are on the urgent waiting list, you will not receive a specific admission date. The hospital will contact you as soon as a bed is available, and you will be admitted the same day or the next day if you need time to make arrangements.

Your arrival time

The afternoon or evening before your surgery day, you will receive a call with your arrival time from one of the following:

  • Surgical Day Care Unit at the Civic Campus.
  • Admitting Department at the General Campus.
  • Patient Registration at the Riverside Campus.

Your arrival time is when you must be at the hospital. It is not the time of your surgery. Your surgical time will be shared with you after you arrive in the Surgical Day Care Unit.

If you have not received a call with your arrival time, please call to confirm it yourself.

If you are being admitted on the day of your surgery:

Civic Campus

613-761-4602

Between 2 to 4 p.m. the day before your surgery.

General Campus

613-737-8200

After 7 p.m. the day before your surgery.

If you are being admitted on the day before your surgery: 

Civic Campus

613-761-4335

Between 10 and 11 a.m. on the day of your admission.

General Campus

613-737-8200

After 1 p.m. on the day of your admission.

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Arrive on time!

Arrive at the hospital at your assigned arrival time. If you arrive late, your surgery may be postponed or cancelled. 

The time before your surgery allows nurses to complete required paperwork, give medications, perform tests and start an intravenous (IV) line if needed. Family members may wait nearby, return home or work or leave contact information so staff can provide updates.

Please share all important medical information with your nurse, including reactions to medications or anesthesia or any hearing difficulties. 

Items to bring with you

Please bring these items with you to the hospital on the day of your surgery

  • Medications. During your preadmission visit, you received instructions about which medications to take on your surgery day. Bring a list of your medications with you.  If you have asthma, bring your inhaler. If you have diabetes, bring your insulin.
  • Your provincial health insurance card.
  • Your (or your spouse’s) personal insurance policy that covers additional costs, such as private or semi-private rooms. The policy information required: policy/class/level, the address and the telephone number of the insurance company (not required if already provided when you pre-registered)
  • Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) details. If your surgery is related to a work accident, bring your WSIB file number and accident details.
  • Credit card number. Used only as a last resort for uninsured services and only with your consent. Your insurance company and you will be billed first.
  • A living will. If you have a living will, advance directive, or a document naming someone to speak for you, tell your health-care team as soon as you are admitted.  
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Where do my belongings go?

If you are staying in the hospital, staff will assign you a bed after surgery and send your belongings to your room. Leave money and valuables at home, including jewellery and keys.

Contact us

Surgical Day Care Unit – Civic Campus

613-798-5555 ext.13599 (Admitting)

The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus
3rd floor, section D
1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON  K1Y 4E9

Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except overnight patients)

Surgical Day Care Unit – General Campus

613-737-8407
613-737-8899 ext. 78200 (Admitting)

The Ottawa Hospital – General Campus
Critical Care Wing (CCW), 2nd floor
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L6

Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Surgical Day Care Unit – Riverside Campus

613-738-8531 (Admitting)

The Ottawa Hospital – Riverside Campus
Main Level
1967 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON  K1H 7W9

Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.