Welcome to The George Washington University Hospital.

Thank you for choosing GW Hospital as your surgical provider. Rest assured, the quality of your care is paramount, and each of us will work to make your stay here comfortable.

After your doctor has scheduled your surgery, the first step is to call the PASS Unit at (202) 715-4557 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ,Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment to speak with a registered nurse. The nurse will gather your medical history and provide you with information on special programs, instructions about any necessary medical testing and dietary restrictions (generally no eating, drinking, gum, mints or candy from midnight prior to the day of surgery). Please have a list of your current medications as well as the name(s) and phone number(s) of your primary physician and other physicians you visit.

The PASS Unit is located in the Main Lobby at the 23rd Street entrance to GW Hospital.

To preregister for surgery, call the Admissions Office at (202) 715-4907. Be ready to provide your name, address, next-of-kin, and insurance information. If interested, you may inquire about private room rates and availability at this point.

Please call your insurance company to see if there are any approvals needed before admission to the hospital. This will ensure maximum use of your health insurance benefits for your hospital stay and services.

Instructions and Forms
Each surgical patient folder contains an advance directive form and booklet (see below). Please read the material carefully. If you wish to complete an advance directive form, it must be witnessed by two people not appointed in the advance directive or anyone responsible for your care, including GW Hospital employees. We ask that you make a copy for yourself and bring the document with you on the day of surgery.

Download the Advance Directive form and booklet.

This form is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file which requires that you have the Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you don't, you can download it here: Adobe Acrobat.

Autologous Blood Donation
For some surgical procedures, your physician may recommend Autologous Blood Donation. This means you donate your own blood for potential use during your surgical procedure, should the need arise.

Directed Donor Donation
The surgeon might also prescribe Directed Donor Blood Donation. This means that another person donates their blood for potential use during your surgical procedure should the need arise. Of course, the blood types must match.

For either autologous or directed blood donation, you must first call the GW Hospital Transfusion Services Department. They will assist you in choosing a blood collection facility convenient to you. Please allow five days for the donated blood to be processed and sent to GW Hospital. Call the GW Hospital Transfusion Services Department at (202) 715-4398.

Check-In
On the day of surgery, please arrive at the hospital at least one hour and 15 minutes before your scheduled procedure or earlier if your surgeon has indicated. Everyone who enters the hospital is required to show photo ID.

If you have not preregistered, you will need to stop at the Admissions Office on the Main Lobby level before proceeding to the Surgical Reception Area.

Should you need wheelchair assistance, please stop by Concierge Services, located in the Main Lobby.

Surgical Reception
Check-in at the Surgical Reception Area on the First Floor, Room 1368 North. This is one floor above the Main Lobby, by the North Elevators. The Surgical Reception Area is on your left as you exit the elevator.

In this area you will be asked to sign required hospital documents, and provide the name of the responsible adult taking you home if you are leaving on the same day of your surgery.

We will not let you take a taxi home without a responsible adult to accompany you.

A staff member will help you change into a hospital gown, robe, and slippers. Do not wear your contact lenses, but you may wear your glasses. If you wear dentures, we may need to remove them before surgery. If you wear a hearing aid, you may do so throughout surgery, in most cases. Please leave your jewelry and valuables at home as GW Hospital will not be responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings.

On the day of your surgery, check in at the Surgical Reception Area on the First Floor, Room 1368 North.

Waiting Room
The person(s) accompanying you should wait in the Surgical Reception Area. Because space is limited, we encourage you to limit the number of visitors in this area and no children, if possible.

The person accompanying you should sign-in so your physician and staff members can locate him/her with updates on your progress.

Operating Room
From the Surgical Reception Area, you will be escorted to the Operating Room or the Pre-Op Room where you will be interviewed by an operating room nurse. An intravenous line will be placed in your vein to provide fluids.

You will have an opportunity to see your surgeon and anesthesiologist before your surgery begins. You will be interviewed and may be examined by the surgical team. Often, these questions may have been asked before. Please be patient with our process as we work together to ensure the safest and most thorough surgical course for you. A registered nurse will stay with you for your entire surgical procedure.

In the Operating Room, the staff will make you comfortable on the table. You will notice lights over your head and staff dressed in scrubs, hats, and masks.

Please remember: If you are scheduled for outpatient surgery and undergo general anesthesia or sedation of any kind, you must be accompanied home by a responsible adult.

Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Following surgery, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). You will be monitored until the major effects of anesthesia wear off. Patients require privacy and attention in the PACU. For this reason, visiting is not permitted. Visitors may see you as soon as you are settled in your hospital room or prepared for discharge if scheduled for the same day.

If you are scheduled to be discharged the same day of your operation, you can expect to stay in the Outpatient Recovery Area for at least one hour or longer depending on your needs. You will receive written and verbal discharge instructions, prescriptions if prescribed, a beverage, and assistance to the lobby.

The Main Recovery Area is for patients who will be staying in the Hospital. A nurse will monitor your recovery. After evaluation by an anesthesiologist, you will be transferred to your hospital bed. Your visitors may join you there.

A Registered Nurse will oversee your nursing care needs throughout your hospital stay.

During your stay, your attending physician has overall responsibility for your medical care. You may also be seen by consulting physicians called in by your attending physician. Fellows, residents, and medical students under the direction of your attending physician may assist in your care as well.

A registered nurse will oversee your nursing care needs on each shift. You may receive care by technicians and nursing students, who work under the direction of a registered nurse.

Visiting Hours
For most units visiting hours are from noon – 8:00 p.m. The Intensive Care Unit has 24-hour visiting access, at the discretion of the medical team. Coronary Care Unit visiting hours are noon – 8:00 p.m., with a limit of two people at a time. Visitors to any unit may be asked to step out at times for staff to provide care to the patient.

Your Room
You will stay in a private or semi-private room equipped with a telephone and television. Private rooms may be requested at the time of preregistration.

Discharge
All patients admitted to our facility will be discharged daily, no later than 1:00 p.m. Please be sure to make the necessary arrangements for your discharge (to be picked up from the hospital) prior to your hospital stay. All deductibles, co-pays and/or private room charges must be paid upon admission or at the time of discharge. Payments can be made by cash, check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Discover).