SECTION I: Be Involved in Your Healthcare

Help your healthcare professional help you. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about your healthcare.
What Can You Do?

  The following tips help make your care safe and lead to the results you want.  
Words written in blue are links to additional resources
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What Should I Do If I Need Surgery?

Before the Surgery - Review with your healthcare givers:
- You, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree on exactly what will be done.
- How the site is marked to make sure that surgery is done on the correct area.
- The type of anesthesia that will be used.
- Any allergies you may have.
- Get information on how you can expect to feel after the surgery is performed.

After the Surgery:
- It would be helpful to have a family member or friend stay with you--they can do things like
answer the telephone so you can sleep
- Ask for written instructions, from your doctor and/or nurse, that you can read when you go home
- Talk with your doctor or nurse to make sure you understand what you need to do
- Find out when you are to follow up or make an appointment with the doctor after a hospital stay

Resources and links for more information
- Questions to ask your doctor or surgeon
- Tips for planning your surgery

Source: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Ask questions - Asking questions will help you understand your care

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