About Your Insurance

Your physician's Surgical Coordinator will contact your insurance company to verify your coverage and to obtain authorization/pre-certification as necessary for your physician's services. Authorization for surgery by your insurance company does not guarantee payment of benefits. Please make sure you have given the office staff complete up to date insurance information when you first arrive for your consultation and continue to update the staff and/or surgical coordinator of any changes to your coverage.

We strongly recommend that you contact your insurance carrier as well to obtain an understanding of your coverage as it pertains to the entire surgical package. This office is only responsible for obtaining authorization and coverage information for your surgeon. Insurance coverage verification for all hospital charges and anesthesia charges are not the responsibility of our office.

Please contact our business office to receive assistance with any and all payment issues.

Pre-Operative Instructions

The physical examination form (white) needs to be completed by your physician within 30 days prior to your scheduled surgery date. Please be certain the physician returns this form to you so that you can bring it with you on the day of surgery. This physical examination is required by the hospital and without it you will not have surgery. The surgery consent form (pink) and the anesthesia form (yellow) need to be completed and brought back to the hospital that day of surgery.

The Day Before Your Surgery

Anesthesia will direct you in what you should do prior to surgery. It is important not to eat or drink after midnight prior to your surgery. Consult with your doctor about your taking your regular medication, herbal remedies or aspirin before your surgery. If you are advised to continue taking medication by your physician remember to take it with only a sip of water.

Make transportation arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you to the hospital prior to surgery, to drive you home following the release from surgery and to be available to you after surgery. HOSPITAL REGULATIONS PREVENT YOU FROM DRIVING OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOLLOWING YOUR DISCHARGE FROM SURGERY.

The Day of Your Surgery

You will be asked to arrive at the hospital well ahead of your scheduled surgery. The hospital will contact you the business day before your surgery. You will leave the hospital after surgery with a very large bulky dressing which will completely cover the hand and forearm. Plan your clothes accordingly. If not already scheduled, a staff member will call to schedule an appointment to change the dressing (and begin therapy if appropriate).

Surgical Assistants
Your physician may elect to have an assistant surgeon present at the time of your surgery. One or more of these trained physicians may take your history, answer your questions, assist during surgery, write your prescriptions, and be available for your needs before and after surgery. The surgical assistants are fully qualified surgeons.

After Your Surgery

Hand Therapists
Following surgery, you may be referred for Hand Therapy. Our therapists are Certified Hand Therapists, in addition to being licensed Physical or Occupational Therapists.

Dressing Change
(2-7 days following surgery) Depending on your surgery, your dressing will be removed by one of the assistant surgeons or therapists, and a light dressing, splint or cast will be applied. In general, if you can start therapy at this time, your dressing will be removed in conjunction with a Hand Therapy appointment. Additional therapy visits will be scheduled as needed by the therapy office in Hartford (860-251-7048) or Glastonbury (860-652-3370). Most regular therapy appointments are scheduled in Glastonbury, however patients may be seen in the Hartford office if needed.

Suture Removal
12-14 days post surgery or after cast/splint removal your sutures will be removed. Additional splinting or casting may be necessary, depending on your surgery.

Peak Reaction
(6 weeks following surgery) The surgical scar will gradually thicken until 6-8 weeks following surgery. The area of the surgery may appear swollen and red. You may also feel lumps under the scar and soreness. This is NORMAL. The tissue will then gradually quite down over the next several months.

Returning to Work
Increased soreness after returning to work should be anticipated, but will not cause damage to your surgery once we have released you for work.