From clinic visit to surgery day: how scheduling works at KCH

At Kane County Hospital, our goal is to make your sur­gical experience as smooth, coordinated and stress-free as pos­sible. Many patients wonder what happens behind the scenes af­ter they meet with a surgeon at KCH Spe­cialty Group. Here’s a simple overview of how the scheduling process works - from your clinic visit to surgery day.

The process begins with an appointment at KCH Specialty Group, where you meet with your sur­geon. During this visit, your condition is evaluated and a de­cision is made about whether surgery is recommended. If sur­gery is the best option, a request to schedule the procedure is sent to our Prior Authori­zation Department.

Prior authoriza­tion is an important step in which your insurance coverage is reviewed, and ap­proval is obtained when required. Once authorization is com­plete, the information is forwarded to the Kane County Hospi­tal Financial Services Department. A repre­sentative will contact you to review any an­ticipated out-of-pocket costs and discuss avail­able payment options. After this discussion, the information is sent to the Surgery Depart­ment so scheduling can move forward. A member of our surgery team will then contact you directly to sched­ule your procedure. Following scheduling, Financial Services will reach out again to col­lect the agreed-upon amount discussed dur­ing your initial conver­sation.

As your surgery date approaches, a sur­gery nurse will review your medical informa­tion and contact you with important pre-operative instructions, such as which medica­tions may need to be stopped. Depending on your medical history, additional steps may be required to ensure your safety. If your surgeon or anesthesia provider determines it is necessary, you may be asked to see your primary care provider or a medical specialist - such as a cardiolo­gist or nephrologist - for pre-operative clearance. Most pa­tients will also need routine lab work prior to surgery, and those with a history of heart conditions will typi­cally require an EKG. These steps follow established medical guidelines designed to keep you safe.

Throughout the entire process, you are not alone. Our perioperative nursing team is available to answer questions and help guide you every step of the way. One of our nurses will also call you within three business days before surgery to review instructions, confirm details and ensure you feel prepared and confident for surgery day.

If you have ques­tions at any point, please contact us:

• KCH Specialty Group Clinic: 435- 644-4115

• Kane County Hos­pital Surgery Depart­ment: 435-644-4112 or 435-644-4133.