Northwest Hospital Center is equipped to handle a wide range of surgical procedures, with a specific focus on general, vascular, plastic and orthopedic/neurosurgery, and endoscopy and gastrointestinal procedures. 

The surgical services area consists of seven separate departments:  scheduling/data collection; pre-admission testing; pre-operative; operating room (there are 12); the two PACUs (Post Anesthesia Care Units), which handle both inpatients and outpatients; ste rile processing; and anesthesiology.  The area is designed for optimal patient flow between departments to enable the staff to provide enhanced patient care and help patients move through the surgical process safely and efficiently. A special hospital entrance and parking area are designed for surgery patients.

State-of-the-art technologies provided through the Department of Surgery are balanced by the genuine care and consideration offered to patients and their families, who remain constantly informed regarding the condition of their loved ones. Staff maintain contact following surgery to assess the experience at Northwest and to solicit honest and open feedback.

What Patients Should Know Before Their Surgery

Posting/Scheduling and Preadmission
Your surgeon's office staff will coordinate with the Northwest Posting department to schedule your procedure. Once your procedure is on the schedule, the Pre-admission Testing department will contact you within a few weeks of your surgery to review your history, obtain a list of medications, and discuss additional tests needed prior to your surgery. You will also receive instructions for the day of surgery, including when to register that morning.

Pre-Operative
On the morning of surgery, registration usually takes place at least one hour prior to your procedure. Once you are registered, a nurse accompanies you to the pre-operative area, where you will meet your anesthesiologist and surgeon, and an intravenous line will be started if needed.

Anesthesia
A team of anesthesiologists works with anesthesia technicians and certified registered nurse anesthetists to ensure the safe and proper administration of anesthesia and to maintain the required equipment, instruments and materials.

Operating Room
You are escorted by the operating room nurse to the operating room, where a skilled surgical team ensures the highest level of care throughout your procedure. Each surgery team typically includes a surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical technologist, registered nurse and physician's assistant.

PACU
Once the procedure is complete, the patient is escorted by the anesthesiologist to the PACU, where staff help to manage pain and the effects of anesthesia and monitor patients' vital signs. Patients remain in the unit until vital signs are stable and they have fully recovered from the effects of anesthesia. Patients return to their unit or may be transferred to a more appropriate unit.

Department Head
Juan Juanteguy, M.D.
Department Chief
410-902-4450