Questions to Ask Before Surgery
All surgeries have benefits and risks that a patient should consider before consenting to a procedure.
Patients should ask their doctor these important questions. If the answer is not clear, ask for further explanation until the answer is understood.
For more help, review the Tips for Communicating with Your Physician below.
Important Questions
- What is the operation being recommended?
- Why is this particular surgery being recommended?
- Are there different way of performing this operation?
- Why is the procedure necessary?
- Are there other treatment options available based on the patient's current medical condition?
- What are the benefits of surgery, and how long will they last?
- Is there any published information regarding the outcomes of the recommended procedure?
- What are the risks and possible complications of having the operation?
- What happens if the surgery is not performed?
- Is a second opinion needed?
- What is the surgeon's experience in performing this procedure?
- Where will the surgery be performed?
- What type of anesthesia will be administered?
- What can be expected during recovery?
- What are the costs of this operation?
Communicating with Your Doctor
It is important for a patient to ask questions and express concerns to the physician. The following suggestions may help improve communication.
- If the physician's answers to questions are not clear, continue asking questions until the answer is understood.
- Take notes, or the patient can ask a family member or friend to take notes during appointments. The conversation can also be recorded, so that the information can be reviewed later.
- Ask the physician to write down instructions.
- Ask the physician for printed material about the medical condition. Most have this information in their offices.
- If there are still questions, ask the physician where to go for more information.
Determining the Costs of Surgery
The physicians who care for patients during surgery at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center are not employed by the hospital and, therefore, have separate fees and billing systems. Before surgery, discuss the fees with the surgeon, and ask about any additional fees. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Surgeon's fee for surgery
- Hospital fees
- Fees for other services. Patients may also be billed separately for the professional services of others who might be involved in their care, such as the assisting surgeon, anesthesia care team and medical consultants.
Patients should check with their insurance company prior to surgery to be certain of what portion of the costs will be their responsibility. If anticipated costs present a problem, discuss other financial solutions with the surgeon or call a Atrium Health Floyd Patient Financial Services representative at 706-509-6000 or 866-874-2772 (toll-free).
Contact
For more information, call Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Perioperative Care at 706-509-6439 or email us.