Surgical Guide

Pre-Operative

Our surgical scheduling team coordinates, schedules, and prepares you for your surgery. We work directly with your surgeon and are available to assist you throughout your surgical process. Please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Phone: (301) 770-GYNS (4967), Option 3
Fax: (844) 251-4625

Our Surgical Team

Albert J. Steren, MD, FACOG

James F. Barter, MD, FACOG

Nadine Thompson, PA-C

Your team will also include hospital staff, resident or fellow, and the anesthesiologist.

Post-Operative (After Surgery)

Our nurses are available to assist you at any time regarding medication issues, results, emergencies, or clinical problems that may arise either before or after surgery. Please call:

Phone: (301) 770-GYNS (4967), Option 2

A physician is also on call 24 hours a day.

After visiting with your surgeon, your care plan is reviewed and surgical orders are provided to our pre-operative surgical team who will coordinate with the hospital, your insurance company, and the other affiliates to plan your surgery. It is our goal to accommodate your schedule as much as possible when planning your surgery.

It is important to plan your surgery date carefully!

We do understand that the unexpected can arise and changes may need to be made. Please remember that these changes affect every procedure scheduled for that day.

PLEASE NOTE: A $200 administrative fee will be assessed for each date change or cancellation after your surgery has been scheduled.

To make any changes, please contact our office as soon as possible. The hospital cannot reschedule or cancel your surgery.

After your surgery date is selected, you will receive a packet containing your confirmation, pre-operative instructions, and post-operative instructions. It is very important to read and follow these instructions carefully prior to surgery.

You will be contacted the day before surgery with your arrival time for your surgery.

If your company requests a leave of absence form, Women’s Health Specialists will provide you with a letter from your physician confirming the date of your surgery, the hospital, and the approximate date you may return to work. Any specific forms from your company may be faxed or mailed to:

Women’s Health Specialists
ATTN: Disability
6301 Executive Blvd
Rockville, MD 20852
Fax: (301) 468-0368

Please include the following information with your request:

• Dates and amount of time you are requesting off
• Where to return the completed forms

Your signature is required for permission to release your medical information. Disability forms are very specific and require us to provide your diagnosis and surgical procedure. Please allow 2-3 weeks to complete the forms. Some of the requested information is available only after surgery is completed.

There is a $50 administrative fee for completing disability forms, which covers administrative expenses and providing medical records when indicated.

You have the right as a patient to be informed about your condition and the recommended surgical, medical, or diagnostic procedure your physician plans to perform. This allows you to make the decision whether or not to undergo the procedure after knowing the potential risks involved. At the time of surgery, you will be asked to sign a consent form disclosing some of those risks.

Your pre-operative team will contact your insurance company to obtain verification and authorization for your procedure. It is imperative that we have your accurate insurance information. Please notify us if you change your policy or coverage. We will be contacting your insurance company to determine co-pays, co-insurances, or deductibles that you may have associated with your procedure. You will be required to pay these fees prior to your surgery.

Most procedures require pre-authorization before surgery which can take several days. If we are unable to obtain authorization prior to surgery, we may need to reschedule your surgery to avoid you receiving costly medical bills.

Voicemail

Because the surgical team spends a majority of their time on the phone, we have provided you with a voicemail system allowing access 24 hours a day. We know there are times when you are unable to talk discreetly, so please feel free to leave a private, detailed message any time of the day or night. Providing us with a detailed message allows us to start, or in some cases, complete the scheduling and pre-certification of your procedure. Make sure we have your current home and cellphone numbers.

Email

You can also send us secure email using the Patient Portal. This is often the easiest way to contact us.

Occasionally a patient will have to go home with a catheter in the bladder to allow the bladder to rest.  Removing the catheter is very straightforward.  The hospital nurses will also provide you teaching on how to do this before going home.