Patient Information

Before Your Procedure

1. Please read this important information and follow the instructions that are provided to keep you safe and comfortable.
2. For your safety, your stomach must be empty before receiving anesthesia. It is very important that you follow these eating and drinking instructions closely. If you do not, your procedure may be delayed to a later time of day or canceled and rescheduled. If you are having a:

Colonoscopy: Follow the prep instructions provided by your doctor’s office including when to stop eating solid foods before your prep. Stop drinking clear liquids 4 hours before your scheduled procedure time. No gum, candy, or mints the day of your procedure.

Upper Endoscopy: NO SOLID FOODS after midnight on the night before your procedure. Stop drinking clear liquids 4 hours before your scheduled procedure time. No gum, candy, or mints he day of your procedure.

3. Please take any heart, seizure, lung or hypertension medication with a few sips of water on the morning of your procedure up to 2 hours before your scheduled procedure time.
4. If you use any lung inhalers, please use them as directed by your physician. Please bring your inhaler(s) with you on the day of your procedure.
5. If you use any blood thinning medication, please notify your physician’s office so special instructions may be given to you, if not already done.
6. If you take any weight loss medication, please notify your physician’s office so special instructions may be given to you, if not already done.
7. Diabetic patients should hold all their diabetic medication the morning of their procedure or notify their prescribing physician so special instructions may be given to you, if not already done.
8. Please bring a list of your current medications, driver’s license/photo I.D. and your insurance card.
9. Please arrange to have someone stay or come back to the center to pick you up. You will not be able to drive yourself home. You can expect your visit with us to be approximately 2 hours.

Online Pre-Surgical Instructions

To start the pre-surgical assessment process, Clearwater Endoscopy Center requests that you fill out your medical history online using One Medical Passport. We recommend that you enter your medical history online as soon as your procedure has been scheduled. Once you do this, our pre-procedure nurse will be able to access the information you entered online. This information will assist the nurse in organizing and documenting your complete medical history to prepare you for your procedure.

Begin your online Pre-Procedure Assessment by clicking here. Be sure to have the following information available before starting:

– Your health insurance information

– The names, addresses and phone numbers of your physicians

– List of medications you are taking, their dosage and frequency

– List of all surgical procedures you have ever had and their approximate dates

– If you are having problems completing the online assessment, please call our pre-procedure nurse as soon as possible at (727) 443-0100

When You Arrive

1. Please notify the receptionist of your arrival. Your driver’s license/photo I.D. and your insurance card will be photocopied. The receptionist will also collect your co-payment at this time.
2. You will be given a name band and, if indicated, an allergy band. You will be greeted by a member of the nursing staff who will direct you to the pre-procedure area to prepare you for your procedure.
3. You will need to change into one of our gowns, so remember to wear comfortable clothing that is easy to take off and put on. You may bring socks to wear to keep your feet warm.
4. A nurse will speak with you, review your health history, record your vital signs, and discuss other patient information.
5. An I.V. will be started so that we may give you intravenous fluids and the medication to make you comfortable for your procedure.
6. If you are having an upper endoscopy, you will have to remove any dentures, partial plates and/or oral body jewelry prior to your procedure.
7. You will be seen by a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and then transferred to a private room for your procedure.

After Your Procedure

1. Once your procedure is complete your family member and/or driver will be able to join you at the bedside if you so desire.
2. You will rest for a short time in our recovery room until the effects of the medication wear off and your vital signs are stable.
3. After your physician speaks to you, you will be given verbal and written discharge instructions.