Appointments: (206) 292-6488

Surgery FAQs

Steps to Scheduling Surgery:

1. You must first discuss any surgery in consultation with your doctor.
2. Come up with some dates and times you might prefer.  It is helpful if you give us a couple of date preferences as it is necessary to coordinate your surgery with the hospital and your doctor’s schedule.
3. Contact the surgery scheduler.  Please understand that orders must be completed by your doctor in order for me to set up your surgery.  If you doctor has not yet filled out orders I will contact him with your surgery request.
4. The surgery scheduler will contact the hospital and coordinate a time for your case.
5. We will contact you and let you know you check in time/date information. 
6. A package including your date, time, and location of surgery, dietary restrictions, preparations, consent forms, and health information forms will be mailed or faxed to you.  The consent form must be sent back to the office and the health information forms sent back to the hospital. 

It is imperative that we receive your consent form here in the office prior to your scheduled surgery date. Please read and follow ALL instructions in your surgery package.

What days can I schedule surgery?

Dr. Gasparich’s surgery days vary.
Dr. Lilly does surgery on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Dr. Mullen’s surgery days vary.
Dr Han surgery days vary.

Longer cases (3+) hours or AM Admit procedures are usually scheduled for the first three days of the week ( Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). This helps to ensure that the doctor will be in town immediately after your surgery should you need him. Kidney stone surgeries are usually on Mondays and Thursdays as that is when the equipment is available at the hospital. Smaller cases may be scheduled on the doctor’s surgery days or throughout the week. The doctor’s usually prefer not to schedule surgeries on a Friday. If you need your surgery on a Friday you must first get clearance from your doctor.

Where do I send my consent?
Please mail or fax your consent form back to the office prior to your surgery date.

Where do I check in?
If you are scheduled for surgery at Swedish Hospital your check in is on the main floor of Swedish, 747 Broadway. Just as you enter the main doors of the hospital to the left is an area called “Patient Registration”. If you are scheduled at Seattle Surgery Center, please check in for your surgery on the third floor of the Columbia Pavilion.

When do I check in?
For Swedish Hospital you will need to check in two hours before your scheduled surgery start time. You are required to check in this far in advance. If you are late, your surgery may start late or you may be rescheduled. For Seattle Surgery Center please check in one hour prior to your scheduled surgery start time.

How do I schedule my autologous blood donation?
Once your surgery date is set, the surgery scheduler will fax your information to Puget Sound Blood Center. They will contact you to schedule an appointment. If you need to contact them for any reason such as rescheduling your donation appointment, you can reach them at (206) 292-6588.

What if I wish to donate blood somewhere other than Seattle?
The Puget Sound Blood Center has locations all over Western Washington and they are happy to schedule your donation at the most convenient location for you. However, if you do not live in an area that has a Puget Sound Blood Center and you wish to donate locally this still may be possible. Contact the surgery scheduler with the information for the location at which you wish to donate. Your information will be sent to the facility of your choice. Please be aware, however, that since you are going outside the local area for donation your insurance may not cover your donation. Please contact your insurance company for questions regarding coverage.

How do you define a “clear liquid”?
If you are having a major surgery you may be required to do a bowel prep followed by a clear liquid diet prior to your surgery. A clear liquid can be defined as any liquid that you can hold up to the light and still see through it. Some examples of clear liquid might be chicken or vegetable broth, apple juice, or Sprite. You may continue to drink coffee or tea while on a clear liquid diet, just do not add dairy products or non-dairy creamers to your beverage.

What type of anesthesia will be used?
Anesthesia is your choice in some cases. In others, only certain types of anesthesia are appropriate. You will have an opportunity to consult with the anesthesiologist assigned to your case when you check in on the day of your surgery. They will discuss your options and help you to select the anesthesia best for you.

How long will I likely be in the hospital? (This varies tremendously based on the type of surgery performed)

• In Patient Stay
  The typical length of stay for In Patient surgery is two days. However, some surgeries do require stays of up to 10 days. Certain health issues may also lengthen your hospital stay. Please talk to your doctor about how long they think your hospital stay might be.
• Out Patient Stay
  When you are scheduled for an Out Patient surgery, you should be able to go home the same day. Your length of stay cannot be predicted exactly beforehand. It is a good idea to allow for four to five hours in the hospital if your surgery is scheduled for one hour. Increase this allotment if your surgery is scheduled for longer than one hour.

We cannot guarantee your release time, as it will be dependent on your health after surgery.

Can I drive myself home after surgery?
No. It is the policy of the hospital and surgery center that all patients must have a ride home after surgery. If you do not have a ride, they will not release you. If you are taking a taxi, you must have someone you know escort you.

What is the expected recovery time for my surgery?
Recovery time is based on your personal health. Please discuss any questions regarding your recovery time with your doctor.

How much will my surgery cost?
This will depend on your specific insurance coverage. If you are self-pay, or you need the current surgeon fee for your particular procedure please contact the billing office at 206-267-2191. In order for them to answer questions you will need to get your procedure and diagnosis codes from your doctor first. Please be aware that the billing office will not be able to give you the total cost of the procedure. The facility will also bill you for the room, anesthesiologist, and any other services you may use during your stay. You will need to contact the facility you are scheduled with for these costs.

How do I get approval from my insurance?
The surgery scheduler will contact your insurance company prior to your procedure to make sure that you have coverage. If there is a problem with your coverage you will be contacted. If you need a referral please call your PCP and let them know so they can send that to your insurance company. Insurance coverage is based on medical necessity. You will be responsible for any amount not covered by your insurance company.

What types of surgeries do you do?
The following is a list of surgeries performed by the physicians at Seattle Urological Associates. This list does not contain every procedure performed and not all of our physicians do every procedure. If you are interested in a procedure not on this list, or to find out if the doctor you are interested in performs a specific procedure, please contact our office for more information.

Circumcision Cystectomy Cystolithalopaxy Cystoscopy with Stent Greenlight Laser TURP Lithotripsy or ESWL Lymphadenectomy Nephrectomy – Laparoscopic or Radical Penile Prosthesis Radical Orchiectomy

Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy Spermatocelectomy TURBT TURP TUMT Ureteroscopy Vaginal Sling Varicocelectomy Vasectomy Reversal

Please note: Our doctors do not perform penile enlargement or sex change procedures. If you are interested in these procedure we recommend you consult a plastic surgeon.

Steps to Scheduling a Scan:

1. Contact the scheduler with some times and dates you would like to schedule.
2. An order must be written by your doctor. If the order has not been received when you contact the scheduler, a request for orders will be sent to your doctor. We can schedule as soon as the orders are received.
3. Scans are not done in our office, but in an off site facility. We will contact the appropriate facility and schedule your scan.
4. You will be contacted with the time and date of your scan. At this time if a follow up appointment is required, the scan scheduler will be happy to set that up for you.
5. If you are seeing the doctor on the same day of your scan or shortly thereafter, please pick up a copy of your films to bring with you to your appointment.

When will my results be ready?
Results times are slightly different for each facility. However, you should be able to call one week after your scan to find out the results. Please call and ask for your doctor’s medical assistant when inquiring about scan results.

How much does a scan cost?
We do not bill in our office for scans. To find out the cost of your particular scan please contact the facility you are scheduled with.

What are my dietary restrictions?
Dietary restrictions vary per type of scan and location. Please contact the scan scheduler or the facility you are scheduled with for questions about your dietary restrictions.

What are the possible risks?
Risks vary per type of scan. One of the most common risks is a reaction to Contrast often used in a CT Scan. The risks of reaction are minimal but do increase if you experience an allergic reaction to shellfish or you have diabetes. For more information about possible risks of your particular scan, please contact the facility you are scheduled with.

Can I drive myself home?
Most scans do not require that you have someone to drive you. However, in the rare event that you experience an adverse reaction to anything during the scan you may need someone to drive you home.

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