Yellowstone Surgery Center provides outpatient services where you are not 'admitted' and you typically go home the same day that you visited the surgery center.

Review the checklist for Preparing Your Home and use as a guideline based on the procedure you are having done. These items do not apply to all procedures.

General Household

• Arrange to have someone help you at home full time for a couple of days, until you are used to being back home and are comfortable.
• Setup accessible, "nesting" space with furnishings such as:
  • comfortable recliner with arms
  • day bed
  • mini fridge to keep drinks and ice
  • electronics and chargers
  • grabbing reacher
• Cut the grass, tend to the garden and finish any other yard work.
• Arrange to have someone collect your mail.
• Arrange to have someone take care of your pets.
• Place any household needs at a level that is easy to reach, so you will not have to bend over to pick an item off the ground.

Bathroom

• Install comfort height toilet or raised toilet seat.
• Install horizontal and/or vertical grab bar on the walls beside toilet.
• Get a shower seat or bathroom commode chair for the shower.
• Install horizontal and/or vertical grab bar on the walls for the shower.
• Put adhesive slip strips in the bottom of the tub.
• Install night-light to illuminate the floor and toilet where necessary.

Clear Pathways/Stairs

Applicable to procedures that require walking aides as part of the recovery

• Remove electrical cords and tripping hazards from walkways.
• Move furniture and obstructions wide enough for mobility equipment to pass through.
• Install night-light to illuminate hallways and floor where necessary.
• Check railings to make sure they are not loose. Think about installing some railings if you do not have them already, especially on stairs.

Bedroom

Applicable to procedures that require walking aides as part of the recovery

• Install night-lights to illuminate the bed and floor where necessary.
• Remove rugs, slippery carpets and tack down any loose carpeting.
• Put clean linens on the bed.
• Clean, and put away laundry.

Kitchen/Food

• Prepare meals and freeze them in single serving containers.
• Bring dishes, utensils, and containers down for easy access.