During and After Your Surgery at UM SJMC

The Day of Your Operation

Enter through the Main Entrance and report to the Information Desk. The hospital front doors open at 5:30 a.m. and wheelchairs are available at the entrance.

A staff member from the Information Desk will escort you to Central Registration. Or you may use “Express-In,” our touch-screen registration kiosk for patients having outpatient scheduled services, such as surgery or diagnostic testing. Registration representatives are on hand to assist you with the kiosks, which are located in the front lobby by the main door and the information desk.

Arrive two hours prior to your scheduled procedure. Your surgeon will advise you as to arrival time. If you are delayed for any reason on the day of surgery, please contact us at 410-337-1058.

There are a number of parking options. Valet Parking is available from 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Garage and open lot parking are also available. Learn more about parking options.

Family Support and Communication

The waiting area of UM St. Joseph’s Surgical Services provides televisions and WiFi access for guests. There are vending machines in the waiting area and a cafeteria and Subway on the 1st floor.

A monitor is available to track patient progress during each step of their procedure. The system uses each patient’s ID bracelet, coded with a private number, to communicate to a tracking device in the ceiling. Families can trace a patient's progress using this private number, following their movement from Surgical Prep, to the Operating Rooms, and then to the PACU (post anesthesia care unit, also called the recovery room). The monitor also displays a room number once the patient is ready to be transferred and reunite with family member. In addition to easing anxiety and providing privacy for families in the waiting area, the system is also used by hospital staff to increase efficiency.

A Surgical Services Family Liaison is available to answer any questions that may arise. The surgeon will meet with the family in the Waiting Room after the surgery, unless special arrangements have been made.

The Hackerman-Patz House can provide overnight accommodations for patients traveling a long distance to the hospital for surgery. This service is available to families who may wish to stay on campus near their loved one after surgery.

UM St. Joseph is a faith based institution and we believe in a holistic approach to care for persons of all faiths and spiritual practices. For those patients and families who wish to take advantage of it, our Spiritual Care department provides a presence, prayer, support, dialogue and sacramental ministry.

Recovery After Surgery

Recovery after surgery is individual and time intervals may vary. The Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACU) closely monitor the patient after surgery and attend to comfort and safety needs.

Families and patients are reunited once the recovery is complete. Families will be directed to the patient's room if he or she is admitted to the hospital. If the patient is returning home after surgery, the family will meet the patient and learn together how to best provide care in the home environment. Special visiting arrangements will be made if the patient has a prolonged recovery in PACU.

Patient safety and comfort are foremost after surgery. Each patient is assessed and treated individually and must meet defined criteria before being moved to their patient care unit or being released to return home. The patient care staff understands that each patient may have his or her own concerns, and that each situation and procedure is different. The staff will assess each patient continually to ensure safety and to manage any post-operative discomfort. The anesthesiologist, surgeon and nursing staff work together to develop an individualized pain management regimen for each patient.