What to Expect for Your Procedure

Your health and safety is our number one priority. As you prepare for a procedure, we want to reassure you that we have special precautions in place for your safety.

COVID-19 Testing

If you're having an elective procedure in our medical centers, you may be asked by your surgeon/doctor to have a COVID-19 test 5 days prior to your scheduled procedure.

• This will likely be scheduled at a Bryan location in Lincoln or an outpatient testing location in your community.
• The doctor performing your procedure will order this for you.
• If your doctor orders a COVID-19 test, you will need to self-isolate at home immediately after your COVID-19 test, until the time you come to the medical center for your procedure. This includes isolating yourself from other people in your home and using a separate bathroom if possible.
• Your COVID-19 results must be received by 5 p.m. the day before your procedure. If your result is not received by 5 p.m., we will reschedule your case.
• If you are positive for COVID-19, your procedure will be rescheduled for a later date so you can recover.

If you do not need to be COVID-19 tested prior to your surgery/procedure, we recommend self-isolation at home for 14 days prior to your scheduled procedure to reduce the risk of exposure to anyone in the community that may be COVID-19 positive.

What to do if you develop symptoms prior to your procedure

If you develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-like illness:

• Fever
• New onset cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

once your procedure has been scheduled, call the doctor performing your procedure to report and determine next steps. If you experience symptoms the morning of your scheduled procedure, please call the location of your procedure to determine next steps:

Bryan Medical Center 402-481-8043
Crete Area Medical Center 402-826-2102
Merrick Medical Center 308-946-3015

Screening Questions for COVID-19

Staff may ask Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended COVID-19 screening questions during your pre-admission call, on arrival at the medical center and in the pre-op area on the day of the procedure. Screenings are to make sure you remain healthy before your procedure. Upon entry into the building your temperature will also be checked.

Keeping you Safe

Our teams are ensuring your safety in several ways while you are in our care:

• Everyone will be wearing masks and performing frequent hand hygiene.
• We will distance ourselves a minimum of 6 feet whenever possible.
• You will be instructed to wear a face covering upon entering the building.
• If you have a cloth mask, you should wear it while in our facility.
• If you do not have a face covering, we will provide a face covering for you.
• The team will provide instructions on when to wear your face covering or mask and how to store it.

Visitation Policy

Due to heightened concerns about the spread of COVID-19, NO visitors are allowed in our facilities and clinics, but one healthy, adult support person is allowed from 5 a.m.-noon, daily. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

In limited circumstances, a healthy adult support person may be present for the following:

• Patient presenting to the emergency department (one support person, if needed)
• Labor/Delivery patient (one labor partner)
• NICU and postpartum infant (two parents/guardians)
• Pediatric/Minor patient, 19 years or younger (one parent/guardian)
• Dependent adult needing special assistance from a support person (as determined by the care team)
• Patient care partner needing teaching and instructions prior to discharge (as determined by the care team)
• Outpatient and clinic patient needing a support person and/or transportation assistance (one support person)
• Patient receiving end-of-life care (number to be determined by the care team)
• Special circumstances (as identified by the care team)

The purpose of support persons is to assist with specific needs of the patient, as identified by the patient’s care team. All support persons must:

• Enter through designated entrances to check in and be screened for risk of illness.
• Follow all infection prevention and other Bryan Health guidelines. Anyone violating these guidelines will be required to leave.

Your loved ones can stay connected with you by:

• Using your personal phone or video conferencing (FaceTime, Zoom, etc.)
  Remember to bring along a charge cord
• Sending a message to a hospitalized patient using our patient eGreeting service
• Calling the hospital to check on your status or connect to a patient’s room
• Utilizing Nobl Friends and Family portal to check in on your activities for the day
• If you do not have any personal devices to help you stay connected with your loved ones, please ask the nurse if one of our loaner devices may be available for your use

During your Operation

• If you are having surgery, your support person will receive an hourly phone call with a progress report.

After your Procedure

Following your procedure:

• You will recover for approximately 1-2 hours. Your doctor should be able to tell you whether he/she expects you to discharge after recovery or if you will be admitted to the hospital for care.
• The doctor performing your procedure or surgery will call your identified support person and provide him/her an update.
• If admitted, your designated caregiver will be called and provided the inpatient unit’s telephone number.
• If you are discharging home, we will coordinate the pick-up time and location with your designated caregiver during your recovery.
• Detailed instructions will be given to your designated caregiver over the phone, as appropriate/requested. Specific instructions for COVID-19 safety will be provided at this time as well.
• At discharge, the care team will transport you in a wheelchair and wait with you for your ride.
• Your designated caregiver will be asked to wait and meet you in at the entrance for pick-up. Our team member will assist you into the vehicle and ensure your caregiver receives copies of discharge instructions previously reviewed with them over the phone.

We are grateful you have chosen to receive your care with us and will do everything we can to support you and your loved ones through this visit.

Patient Pick-Up Parking Information

Bryan Medical Center, Bryan East Campus 
Located at 40th & Cotner Blvd. 
1600 S. 48th St., Lincoln, NE 68506
402-481-1111

Reserved: Patient & Visitor Parking Only 
Look for this parking sign in the Plaza surface lot. 

Bryan Medical Center, Bryan West Campus 
Located at 16th & South Streets
2300 S. 16th St., Lincoln, NE 68502
402-481-1111

Reserved: Patient & Visitor Parking Only 
Look for this parking sign in the West surface lot.