Surgery FAQ's
Within 3 business days, you will be hearing from our surgery scheduler. They will go through available dates and find one that works with your schedule and Dr. Rodriguez’s. During the phone call with the surgery scheduler, you will be scheduled for a pre-operative appointment (around 2-3 weeks prior to surgery), your surgery date, and your first follow up appointment (usually 2 weeks after surgery).
All patients scheduled for surgery at Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center are required to complete pre-registration paperwork before surgery. You can follow the link below for direct access:
*Worker’s Compensation has a different chain of events. See the Worker’s Compensation FAQ below for more information
DO NOT take aspirin, fish oil, or NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs such as advil, ibuprofen, meloxicam, diclofenac, etc) the week before surgery.
The surgery center will go over all of your current medications and supplements and advise on when or if you will need to discontinue before surgery and when you can resume post surgery.
If you are on any form of blood thinner (i.e. aspirin, coumadin, warfarin, xarelto, plavix) please let Dr. Rodriguez and the team know at the time of decision for surgery or scheduling.
If you have a history of heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, or are on blood thinners, you may need medical clearance with a specific provider prior to surgery. This will be discussed with you during your conversation with the surgery scheduler.
On the day of surgery, you will be given a packet of paperwork with lots of important information to take home with you.
Within this paperwork will be specifics regarding when you can remove your dressing and shower, what exercises you should be doing at home and other information.
Most procedures require Physical Therapy post-operatively. If you have a preference on a location (either at Texas Orthopedics or elsewhere), please discuss this with the surgery scheduler at the time of this phone call. We will send a referral via fax to that location as well as schedule your first appointment if you decide to go to a TO location.
It may be recommended that you have physical therapy prior to surgery. It is recommended that you continue at the same location after surgery.
You will be sent a prescription prior to surgery for post-operative pain. If you need a refill, please let us know 3 days prior to running out of the medication. If you need more than 1 refill, you may be referred to pain management.
If you see a pain management provider, they will be responsible for your post-operative pain medications. Please provide us with your provider’s information as we will need to discuss with them a plan to ensure your pain is controlled after surgery.
There are usually three separate costs involved with surgery. You will have a bill from Dr. Rodriguez, the surgery center or hospital, and Anesthesia. Estimates are not available at the time of scheduling. Orders are submitted with the date scheduled to establish a time line for authorization and estimates.
For Dr. Rodriguez’s portion of the cost, you will hear from our financial counselor closer to the time of surgery. They will be speaking with your insurance to verify authorization and cost based on your benefits and deductible. This can take several weeks.
You may have a brace or sling that is another cost based on your benefits and deductible. This may be discussed during your phone call with the financial counselor or at your pre-operative appointment.
2-3 business days prior to surgery, you will hear from the surgery center or hospital where you are having surgery. They will discuss cost, the time of your procedure, when to arrive, and other important information.
The Anesthesia team will call you to discuss cost and other important information 2-3 business days prior to your procedure.
We will send all the information necessary to Work Comp. They will review it and provide an approval for the procedure. We cannot proceed with scheduling your surgery until we receive the approval. This can take several weeks.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. You can reach us via phone at (512) 485-0530 or via the patient portal.
