Indiana Ambulatory Surgical Associates Inc. (IASA) is a free-standing surgery center owned by Indiana Regional Medical Center. At the surgery center, patients may come to our facility for outpatient procedures such as cataracts, oral surgery, urologic procedures, carpal tunnel, and a variety of other specialty procedures. As a member of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc., our goal is to provide you with a convenient, safe, and satisfying surgical experience.
What to Expect at IASA
We want your experience at IASA to be as seamless as possible. Having surgery is not easy. We can help you prepare.
- Take only the medications you are directed to take with a small sip of water, unless otherwise instructed by your physician. If diabetic, call your physician for special instructions concerning your medication. If you are on insulin, bring it with you to the Center.
- Please bathe/shower the morning of your surgery. This will minimize the chance of infection. You may brush your teeth and use mouthwash, but do not chew gum, use breath mints or cough drops.
- Do not drink or eat anything the morning of your surgery (including coffee).
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco before your surgery.
- Wear loose and comfortable clothing that can accommodate a bandage, cast, or other type of dressing where the procedure is being performed.
- Do not wear contact lenses. Should you need reading glasses to read or sign documents, please bring a case for them.
- Arrive at IASA at the specified time. Allow adequate time for travel. If you arrive late, it will cause delays in the surgery schedule for yourself and others.
- Leave all jewelry and valuables at home or with a family member.
During the pre-admission, a registered nurse will complete a physical assessment and prepare you for your procedure. You will be asked to sign a consent form which verifies that you and your doctor have discussed
the surgery to be performed along with any associated risks.
The staff will verify who you are, the type of procedure you are having, and the expected part of the body on which the surgery is being performed.
Depending on the type of surgery you are having, the person performing your procedure will mark the correct location on your body where the procedure is to be performed.
This is called "marking the site" and is a critical step to preventing errors, especially if you are having surgery on one of your arms, legs, hands, fingers, eyes or ears. For example, if you are having a cataract removed from your right eye, the surgeon will make a mark with a surgical marking pen above your right eye. This is to ensure that the correct eye is the one being operated on.
You may also be evaluated by an anesthesiologist in pre-op. They will review your medical history and discuss your anesthetic with you. You will be asked to sign a consent form for the anesthetic. The appropriate anesthetic will be determined by the anesthesiologist in consultation with your surgeon.
You will then be escorted to the surgical/procedural area by the surgical team for your procedure.
- Bring all insurance cards. It is important for us to have current and correct information.
- Bring a photo I.D. such as a driver's license. Minors do not need photo I.D. but the primary insured party does need theirs.
- Bring your form of payment if required.
- Bring any papers you have received from your physician.
- If you are having general anesthesia, you must have a responsible adult driver who can stay at the center during your procedure and sign your discharge instructions.
To ensure the safety, comfort and privacy of our patients, please limit visitors to two. No cameras are to be used at IASA. Turn cell phones off once in the pre-op area. If possible, make arrangements to leave small children at home.
If you are having orthopedic surgery on your leg or foot, bring crutches or a walker if you have them.
After your procedure/surgery you will be taken to the recovery area. You will be under close observation by the recovery room nurses and the anesthesiologist. The length of stay will depend upon the type of surgery and the anesthesia you received.
Upon awakening, you will progressively move to sitting up, drinking clear liquids and discharge. Your family/escort will be able to rejoin you at this time.
If you are uncomfortable, please tell your nurse so that if necessary, medication can be administered.
A nurse will give you instructions detailing what you should do during the days following your procedure/surgery, including your medications.
If you had general anesthesia, you should wait 24 hours before:
- Driving or operating equipment
- Making significant decisions
- Signing important papers
When you return home, do not hesitate to contact your surgeon immediately with any questions or difficulties. In case of an emergency, call your physician or go to the nearest emergency room.
Specific Information for Child Patient Responsibilities
A parent (or guardian with legal custody paperwork) must accompany minors and remain at the Surgery Center throughout the visit. Your child may be unsteady after sedation/anesthesia. Please plan to supervise all activities for 24 hours after their surgery. Specific activity limitations will be given to you at discharge.
Parents are permitted to remain with their child up to the time of the procedure/surgery and may rejoin them in the recovery room. Young children may want to bring a favorite toy/security object. Let your child know where you will be waiting, and assure him/her that you will see them after their procedure/surgery is over.
Our response to COVID-19
IASA follows the same COVID-19 policies as Indiana Regional Medical Center. At this time, masks are required while in our waiting areas.
Your rights as a patient
Choosing a facility for your surgical procedure is important. Here's how we protect your private information.
Good faith estimate and protection against surprise bills
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of their bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided. When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.