Cost: Patients should first look into their financial obligation of having the procedure.  While patients are given a general estimate at the time of scheduling, patients can expect to receive an approximate estimate 3-7 business days prior to their procedure for both facility and professional services.  Patients can also contact their insurance carrier with the information provided at scheduling to get an approximate cost if needed sooner.  Patients are encouraged to ask about payment plans prior to canceling any procedure due to financial hardship.  We understand the importance of procedures in your pain management treatment and will work with you to arrange a payment plan affordable to you.

Driver: Patients undergoing conscious sedation will need a driver on the day of the procedure. The driver must be an adult, 18 years or older. The driver is expected to check-in with you, remain at the facility during the procedure and drive you home after discharge.  If you are not receiving sedation, you may drive yourself home.

Children should not be brought to the facility.

Food/Drink: If you are receiving sedation you cannot eat anything 8 hours prior to the procedure and can only have clear liquids until 4 hours prior to the procedure.  Do not drink anything for 4 hours prior to your procedure (example: if your procedure time is 11:00 am, nothing to eat from 3:00 am and nothing to drink from 7:00 am on).

If you are not receiving sedation you do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours prior to your procedure (example: if your procedure time is 11:00 am, nothing to eat or drink from 9:00 am on).

Alcohol should not be consumed 3 days before your procedure.

Medication: You should take your regular medications (except aspirin or blood thinners).  If you are diabetic, take 1/3 of your insulin dose in the morning on the day of your procedure.  Please check your blood sugar prior to arrival.  Your blood sugar will be rechecked in pre-op.

Blood thinners, aspirin, and anti-inflammatories can increase the risk of bleeding with your procedure. You must STOP taking the following medications at the provided intervals unless noted by your physician or by your scheduler.

1. Aspirin products (except Aspirin 81 mg). Stop 7 days before your procedure.
2. Coumadin, Pradaxa, Xerelto, Eliquis. Stop 5 days before your procedure after being cleared by your primary care physician.  If you are on Coumadin, you will need to obtain a PT/INR on Day 5.
3. Trental, Plavix, Effient, Brilinta, and Pletal: Stop 7 days before your procedure after being cleared from your primary care physician.
4. Ticlid: Stop 14 days before your procedure after being cleared from your primary care physician.
5. Notify your physician if you are on any blood thinners.

If your primary care physician, cardiologist, or prescribing physician has medical concerns with you stopping these medications, please contact Procedure Scheduling immediately at (850) 484-4080 option 3.

Depending on the sickness the patient will still be eligible to receive their procedure.  Patients with contagious sicknesses such as the flu should notify the facility within 3 days prior to their procedure.

Patients who accidently consumed food or drink inside their fasting hours may have to reschedule their procedure or may have the procedure without sedation.  This will be up to the facility’s guidelines and provider.  Always notify the staff in these instances for protection of your health and wellbeing.

It is a facility requirement that a driver be present at all times during a patient’s procedure. If a driver cannot accompany the patient to the facility, the patient may undergo a procedure without sedation (if applicable with the procedure) or reschedule their procedure.  This policy is for the safety of the patient.