AS WE APPROACH SICK SEASON, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF REASONS YOUR CHILD'S SURGERY MIGHT BE CANCELED OR DELAYED. PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME REASONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONLY THOSE LISTED.
Dr. Shirley performs surgery at three locations within Children's of Alabama.
1. Children's South outpatient surgery center located on I-459 and Acton Rd.
For directions to Childrens South outpatient Surgery Center please follow this link:
http://www.childrensal.org/Childrenssouth
2. Children's Lowder Surgery Center located downtown within the old Childrens Hospital.
For Directions to Lowder Surgery Center follow this link, and on the destination drop down menu select Lowder building:
https://www.childrensal.org/MapsDirections
You will want to park in the 7th avenue parking deck, walk across the 2nd floor parking bridge, stay on the 2nd floor, head to the right, and proceed to Lowder one day surgery check in.
3. Children's of Alabama Main hospita l located downtown within the Russell building of the new Childrens Hospital.
For Directions to the Main Downtown Surgery, follow this link, and on the destination drop down menu select Russell building.
https://www.childrensal.org/MapsDirections
You will want to park in the 5th avenue parking deck, walk across the 2nd floor parking bridge and proceed to the third floor Surgery check in.
Preoperative Information:
***Things you MUST do, bring, or know:***
DO:
- Call the Surgeon's Office if you have not heard from someone by 3:00PM the day before the surgery about the arrival time and the time your child should stop eating or drinking.
- Does my child have a cold or fever? If so, call the surgeon's office, the surgery might have to be rescheduled.
- If required, make sure you have received authorization from your insurance company for the operation.
- Remove all makeup, nail polish, artificial nails, piercings of any kind (ears, nose, lips, tongues, naval, etc), or metal hair accessories from your child.
BRING:
- Your child's insurance card and any co-pays my insurance requires (please check with your insurance provider for this amount, facility co-pays can be different from surgery co-pays).
- Government issued photo ID card (Ex: driver's license, passport, military ID).
- Proof of legal guardianship (foster parent papers, court orders, etc) if you are not the parent of the patient. If the child is in DHR custody, please bring your caseworker or their contact information.
- A patient must be 19 years of age, or an emancipated minor, to consent for their own surgical procedure at Children's of Alabama.
KNOW:
-You need to know which facility you are supposed to go to (Lowder, Benjamin Russell, or Children's South) and which parking deck you are supposed to use (Please see the top of this page for directions and parking deck information).
-You need to keep your parking ticket with you, to receive FREE PARKING your ticket will have to be validated by the One Day Surgery staff. If the ticket is not validated, you will have to pay to leave the parking deck.
-If my child gets sick or wheezes within 7 days of the procedure, call the surgeon's office. The procedure may need to be rescheduled. If my child gets sick and it's after 5pm on the night before the surgery, You will need to call One Day Surgery/Outpatient Surgery. If no one answers, please leave a message. Don't forget to notify your child's surgeon as well.
**Things You SHOULD do, bring, or know:**
Do:
- Bring your child's home medical equipment, including CPAP, BiPAP, Home Vent, Home Oxygen, diapers, special bottles or nipples, Sippy cups, "go bags" for trach patients (including any special trachs), even if they only use it while sleeping.
- Arrange for someone to take care of your other children (including picking them up from school/daycare & extracurricular activities).
Bring:
- Your child's medications or a list of all the medicines your child is taking
- For female patients, urine (or blood) pregnancy test may be done on arrival starting at 12 years old or younger if the patient has started their cycle.
**Things You Should NOT do or bring:**
- Eat or drink in the waiting area or in front of your child at any time before they have gone to surgery.
- Leave the room without checking with the nurse and giving them a cell phone number where you can be reached.
- Bring other children or siblings or more than two (2) adults. (Per One Day Surgery policy, only two visitors are allowed with the patient in the room at a time).
**Things that are good to do, bring, or know:**
- My child's comfort items (pacifier, blanket, pillow, favorite toy, book, iPad or other hand held devices)
- Something for me to do while my child is in surgery (like crossword puzzles, a book to read). Free Wi-Fi is available for our guests.
- Money or change for the vending machines
- Chargers and adapters for cell phones and computers
- A small trash can and towels in your car. Some anesthesia medicines may cause your child to get car sick on the way home.
- Have clear liquids to give to your child when you get home (water, popsicles, Gatorade, Jell-O, apple juice).
- Have enough Ibuprofen and/or Acetaminophen at home, if needed.
- Ask your surgeon about any medical equipment you may need after the surgery.
Important Phone Numbers: