Surgery FAQ's
Within 3 business days, you will be hearing from our surgery scheduler. They will go through available dates and find one that works with your schedule and Dr. Rodriguez’s. During this time, you will be scheduled for a pre-operative appointment (within 1-2 weeks prior to surgery), your surgery date, and your first follow-up appointment (usually 15-16 days after surgery).
Only a surgery day will be provided when scheduling; the time of arrival for surgery will be given to you by the nursing staff at the surgery facility the business day before the procedure.
You will receive multiple phone calls leading up to your surgery. Please make sure your phone is set up to receive calls from unknown callers and that your voicemail box is set up and/or not full. Any party that cannot reach you should leave a voicemail for you to call them back.
All patients scheduled for surgery at Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center are required to complete pre-registration paperwork before surgery. You can follow the link below for direct access:
https://www.onemedicalpassport.com/
*Worker’s Compensation has a different chain of events. See the Worker’s Compensation FAQ below for more information
DO NOT take aspirin, fish oil, or NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs such as advil, ibuprofen, meloxicam, diclofenac, etc) the week before surgery.
The surgery center will go over all of your current medications and supplements and advise on when or if you will need to discontinue before surgery and when you can resume post surgery.
If you are on any form of blood thinner (i.e. aspirin, coumadin, warfarin, xarelto, plavix) please let Dr. Rodriguez and the team know at the time of decision for surgery or scheduling.
If you have a history of heart disease or surgery, diabetes, lung disease, liver disease, are on blood thinners, or any other recent major medical issues, you may need medical clearance with a specific provider prior to surgery. This will be discussed with you during your conversation with the surgery scheduler.
If surgery is going to be performed at TOSC or a Seton facility, we will refer you to Seton perioperative surgical home (otherwise known as “PSH clinic”) for your clearance. If surgery is being performed at St. David’s Surgical Hospital, we will refer. You to Dr. Sarah Smiley who holds a clinic at that facility. Once either office receives your referral, they will call you to schedule an appointment. Your medical clearance will need to be done before your pre-op appointment with Dr. Rodriguez.
On the day of surgery, you will be given a packet of paperwork with lots of important information to take home with you. You will also receive a text message with additional information from Dr. Rodriguez’s team the evening after surgery regarding their specific post-op protocol.
Within this paperwork will be specifics regarding when you can remove your dressing and shower, what exercises you should be doing at home and other information.
Reminder: Please do not take NSAIDs for 12 days post op.
Most procedures require Physical Therapy post-operatively. If you have a preference on a location, please discuss this with the surgery scheduler at the time of this phone call. We will send a referral via fax to that location as well as schedule your first appointment if you decide to go to a TO location. If you are referred to an outside clinic, we will send the referral over to that facility and they will call you to schedule the first appointment for after surgery.
It may be recommended that you have physical therapy prior to surgery. It is recommended that you continue at the same location after surgery.
Your physical therapy clinic is responsible for running insurance benefits, obtaining authorization (if needed), and keep track of number of visits allowed by your insurance company (if applicable). Dr. Rodriguez’s team does not have any part in this process.
You will be sent a prescription prior to surgery for post-operative pain. If you need a refill, please let us know 3 days prior to running out of the medication. If you need more than 1 refill, you may be referred to pain management.
If you see a pain management provider, they will be responsible for your post-operative pain medications. Please provide us with your provider’s information as we will need to discuss with them a plan to ensure your pain is controlled after surgery.
There are usually three separate costs involved with surgery. You will have a bill from Dr. Rodriguez, the surgery center or hospital, and Anesthesia. Estimates are not available at the time of scheduling. Orders are submitted with the date scheduled to establish a time line for authorization and estimates.
You may have a brace or sling that is another cost based on your benefits and deductible. This may be discussed during your phone call with the financial counselor or at your pre-operative appointment.
Each party will verify insurance eligibility and benefits, then call you with an estimated cost for their portion of the surgery within 1 –2 weeks before surgery day. Please keep in mind this is only an estimate, the final cost is not determined until your insurance company receives the claim after surgery. Each party will tell you when the estimate is due.
As of July 1, 2025, Kirstin Harrell, PA-C will be out of network with all insurance plans. This will be explained more in depth at your pre operative appointment.
1-3 business days prior to surgery, you will hear from the surgery center or hospital where you are having surgery. They will discuss cost, the time of your procedure, when to arrive, and other important information.
The Anesthesia team will call you to discuss cost and other important information 1-3 business days prior to your procedure.
We will send all the information necessary to Work Comp. They will review it and provide an approval for the procedure. We cannot proceed with scheduling your surgery until we receive the approval. This can take several weeks.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. You can reach us via phone at (512) 485-0530 or via the patient portal.
