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Patients and Visitors

Additional Resources for Peace of Mind

We have put together patient information and resources so that you can feel well-informed and prepared for your appointment with our doctors. We also have helpful info, policies, advice and more for post-surgery care. Explore some of the information we have below or call our specialists if you have questions or need help.

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Information to Know Before Undergoing Surgery

Working with Your Surgery Scheduling Specialists

Did you leave the doctor's office without scheduling your surgery? We can help! Our professional schedulers are available to get your procedure on the calendar. We will be working with your insurance company to acquire prior authorization if needed. Then, we’ll set up a time and date for when the surgery can be performed. If you need to contact us, please call (319) 833-5381 and ask for the surgery scheduler.

You should receive a phone call from the facility where your surgery is scheduled. Please note that this may not be until the afternoon/early evening of the day prior to surgery. This is normal as surgery scheduling can change quite frequently.

What to Expect Before Surgery:
  • Work/Insurance Papers - If your employer or short or long-term insurance carrier requires paperwork to be completed, we can help with this. In many instances, it is difficult to know how much time away you may need. We will work with you to determine some of these factors based on your surgery and type of work. See Insurance Forms/FMLA section for more details.
  • Not Taking Pain Medication - Most of the time it is important to be taking the least amount of pain medication possible to help with pain control following surgery. There are extenuating circumstances to this guideline. If you can limit that amount of pain medication (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs and opiates) this will typically be recommended for you. Surgery schedulers and providers will discuss with you specifically what needs to be limited for safety purposes during surgery.
  • Pre-habilitation – “Pre-hab” is a personalized exercise and therapy program that typically occurs at least six weeks before surgery. This therapy program makes a significant difference in patients’ lives. It can provide them with improved strength and quicker recovery times. Talk to your doctor/provider about how this could benefit you! We make pre-hab more convenient as it can be done through Cedar Valley Orthopedic Surgery right here in our facility - the same place as your surgery! No need to go to another building for this.
What to Expect After Surgery:
  • Bandages - Different types of bandages or dressings are utilized and specific to your surgeon and type of surgery. Dressing care recommendations will be discussed with you upon discharge at the surgery facility. Please refer to your discharge instructions for further details. If there are further questions after referring to this, please call our office and ask to speak to a nurse regarding your specific questions at (319) 833-5381.
  • Showering - Showering will be determined by your surgeon or provider and based on the type of surgery. These recommendations are important to follow and help reduce the risk of infection following surgery. These guidelines should be provided to you on your discharge paperwork from your surgery facility. Our staff is happy to discuss when it is appropriate to shower and is best communicated using the patient portal.
  • Follow-up - Follow-up will be determined by your surgeon or provider and based on the type of surgery. You should be able to locate your follow-up on your discharge paperwork from your surgery facility. Our staff is happy to confirm an appointment or reschedule an appointment if there is a conflict with the time given to you. Call us at (319) 833-5381.
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Preparing for Your Visit

We care about your convenience, which is why we have our patient forms available online for download. You can print these forms, fill them out and bring them to your visit so you are prepared ahead of schedule. This could mean your check-in process run faster and smoother than ever. We ask you bring your insurance cards, ID, and list of medications that they take and co-pay.

Office Information

Rehab

When being treated for an injury, rehab may be indicated for your injury or ailment. If you’re interested in at-home exercises, we can provide you with information through the Patient Portal.

Insurance Forms/FMLA

All forms needed are subject to a $10 servicing fee. Please note that forms may take up to 1 week for completion. It is recommended that you communicate with the staff of what you want done with the form after completion (fax, mail, pick up, etc.). This will allow for quicker turnaround time.

Communicating via Patient Portal

The best way to communicate with our office and your care team is to active your Patient Portal account! The patient portal can be used to request medications, appointments, to have a nurse call you or request communication to your provider. Patient education and exercises can be provided to you as well! Please ask our staff or call our administrative office at (319) 235-5390 for assistance.

Outside Referrals

Your provider may have recommended a referral to a subspecialist within orthopedics or other specialties, that will better help treat your condition. Expect about two weeks for the referral to be processed. We’ll let you know if you need to do anything further. In most cases, there’s the time needed for the office to receive your records and have them reviewed. We may need you to sign a release of records for this process. If you are unsure if you have done this, please contact us.

Work Notes/Excuses

Work notes and excuses should be provided to you at the time of your appointment. If you have extenuating circumstances, we may be able to provide a duplicate. Please note that absences outside of what was discussed with your provider during your treatment plan will only be approved per provider discretion. If you foresee needing time off in addition to what was discussed, it is always advised to communicate this ahead of time, not after the fact.

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