This information explains what you can expect during your surgery at Memorial Hospital, MSK’s main hospital. Read this before your surgery so that you know what to do and what to expect. Remember to review the educational resources your nurse gave you.
Before Your Surgery
Note the Time and Place of Your Surgery
A clerk from the Admitting Office will call you after the day before your surgery. If your surgery is scheduled for a Monday, they’ll call you on the Friday before.
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If you don’t get a call by , please call 212-639-5014.
The Day of Your Surgery
Where to park
MSK’s parking garage is on East 66th Street between York and 1st avenues. If you have questions about prices, call 212-639-2338.
To get to the garage, turn onto East 66th Street from York Avenue. The garage is about a quarter of a block in from York Avenue. It’s on the right (north) side of the street. There’s a tunnel you can walk through that connects the garage to the hospital.
There are other parking garages on:
- East 69th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues.
- East 67th Street between York and 1st avenues.
- East 65th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues.
What to Expect
Once You’re in the Hospital
You will be asked to state and spell your name and date of birth many times. This is for your safety. People with the same or similar names may be having surgery on the same day.
When it’s time to change for surgery, you will get a hospital gown, robe, and nonskid socks to wear.
Meet with Your Nurse
You will meet with your nurse before surgery. Your nurse will review all your medications (including patches and creams) with you.
Your nurse may place an intravenous (IV) line into one of your veins, usually in your arm or hand. If your nurse doesn’t place the IV, your anesthesiologist will do it later once you’re in the operating room.
Meet with Your Anesthesiologist
Your anesthesiologist will:
- Review your medical history with you.
- Ask you if you’ve had any problems with anesthesia in the past, including nausea or pain.
- Talk with you about your comfort and safety during your surgery.
- Talk with you about the kind of anesthesia (medication to make you sleep during surgery) you will receive.
- Answer questions you have about your anesthesia.
Information for Family and Friends
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For more information about what to expect on the day your friend or family member is having surgery, read our resource Information for Family and Friends for the Day of Surgery.
After Your Surgery
When you wake up after your surgery, you will be in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Depending on the type of surgery you had, you may spend the night in the PACU, be transferred to your hospital room, or go home.
Before you leave the hospital, your nurse will review your discharge instructions with you.
The day after you go home, a member of your healthcare team will call you to see how you’re feeling and answer any questions.