FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In many cases, yes, you do have anesthesia choices. Your anesthesia provider will offer choices, as appropriate, for the type of surgery you are going to have.
At Salem Professional Anesthesia Services, your anesthesia will be administered by an experienced staff of well trained professionals. These include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs-advanced practice registered nurse-specialists in anesthesia), and/or Anesthesiologists (medical doctor specialists in anesthesia.) All staff work together as a collaborative team to administer your anesthesia in a safe and comfortable manner.
No. Administering anesthesia is painless, and patients are unconscious. The entire process is monitored by a highly qualified anesthesia provider from the Anesthesia Department.
We try to make children and their parents as comfortable and as reassured as possible. Children will breathe through a mask, and fall asleep during a safe, gentle, and painless process. We encourage the child’s parent or guardian to be with the child to provide reassurance in the preoperative stage.
For adults, a nurse will prepare the patient in the preoperative area. The process is painless and involves a small intravenous catheter in the arm.
This is dependent on the length of your surgery. Your anesthesia will last as long as your surgery lasts.
Most times, no. We are, however, prepared to prevent nausea and vomiting. Should you become sick in the recovery room, we will treat you with the appropriate medication. If you have had a past experience with an anesthetic that made you sick, please let us know in advance. We can take steps to prevent discomfort.
There are three basic types of anesthesia: local, inhalation, and intravenous. Local anesthetics are administered in a single location; for example if you are receiving stitches due to a laceration. Inhalation and intravenous anesthetics are whole-body anesthetics. In other words, your whole body is prevented from feeling pain. As the names imply, inhalation anesthesia is inhaled, and intravenous anesthesia is injected into the bloodstream.
The administering of anesthesia is slowed gradually and/or halted completely. The lack of anesthesia causes you to awaken. While you may feel groggy, the anesthesia begins leaving your body once it is no longer administered and may take up to a week to dissipate completely. Usually, you will not feel the effects of anesthesia within 24 hours.
- Your health habits and medications. Include information pertaining to current medications and supplements. Sharing your health habits helps your service provider better understand your overall health.
- Your use of alcohol or recreational drugs. It is important to share this information. Your provider will be better informed and able to support you throughout the process.
- Your experience with anesthesia. If this is your first time with anesthesia or you have had issues with anesthesia let your care team know.
- Your fears. It is natural to have some fear. Your provider team can help you with medication, conversation and supportive care.
- Your questions are important. Questions are welcomed by your provider.
Some insurance carriers send payment for our services directly to you. You are responsible for remitting this payment to Salem Professional Anesthesia and can send payment to:
128 Peachtree Lane, Suite B
Advance, NC 27006
North Carolina law requires us to process your anesthesia service claim in-network. Salem Professional Anesthesia will process your claim based on your insurance carrier’s in-network benefits.
As a courtesy to you, our administrative office will send the claim to your insurance carrier. We file with all insurance carriers and will request your insurance information at check-in.
To determine the details of what services are and are not covered, please contact your insurance carrier.
The vast majority of health insurance plans cover the anesthesia service. If you have any further questions, please contact our office.
You will likely receive a separate bill for your anesthesia service. Your anesthesia clinicians are specialists like your surgeon or internist, and you will receive a bill for your anesthesia clinician’s professional service separate from your surgeon’s services.
