Community Chat

[Shorty2U]

Does anyone here know if (I guess its called elective type) surgery at a surgery center is postponed if there is bad snow?

My husband is scheduled for his 2nd cornea surgery Wednesday I am not really to drive (due to my back/leg issues/meds) but I have to drive him home FROM surgery (he will drive us over TO surgery) as I did 2 years ago, (and I drive him back the next morning for his immediate check up!).

And Our weather people are saying its either going to be a bad plowable snow here Wed or some snow ( but more into New England). They don't know yet how much (and I hope they know soon!)

Well I dont drive in snow. I am one of those people that you would be glad does not drive in snow ,,,lol..because Ive tried when I was young and I panic and slid off the road, so I am better off not driving in it.

I'm just wondering if surgeries of this type are postponed in snow? 

PS Our back up plan is my daughter and her husband will "rescue us" after work if we are stuck there in bad snow and get us home by one following the other (with our car and their car) OR we might stay over at daughters till morning being he has a follow up then because they are MUCH closer to the surgery center than we are.

(I will never get used to living way out here in the country, I am used to public transportation having lived in the city until 11 years ago). lol..There is NO public transportation here (yes we could use uber but we dont really want to).

And I am finding out lately I have anxiety! I have myself psycho worrying about his surgery and now the weather! So I hope this all goes OK Wednesday if surgery will still be on. 

[151949]

Couldn't you 6ake a cab or an Uber?

[haddon9]

I would call your doctor's office tomorrow to express your concerns.  See what they say. If it's not emergency surgery maybe they can reschedule for you.  Surgery is stressful enough!

[Kachina624]

My guess would be if the staff can't get to work, they'd have to cancel.  At any rate call and ask what their policy is.  Sometimes these storms are a bust and don't materialize as predicted.  I imagine they'd call if they have to cancel.

[OKPrincess]

I’d call the office tomorrow and reschedule. You didn’t say how far you have to drive but could you spend the night by the hospital in case of bad weather?

[Shorty2U]

Thank you, they will call here Mon or Tues for "exact" set surgery time. (which is usually at dawn from our experience and then we go and wait and wait).

PS Why I dont think theyd postpone is, he first (a week ago) had holes lasered in his eye FOR the surgery. This had to be done ahead of time so I dont know if theyd postpone due to that?

So I guess will ask then when they call with the time. I just thought people might know what they do but I guess each place is different too.

(No wont  take a cab we live an hour away it would cost a fortune, I dont even think they come here unless the price is right we could beg? We live in the country) No buses hear and I never saw a cab here in 11 years. .Never used uber (would they drive in snow?).

I will see what they say when they call. (I really need to calm down my nerves are getting on my nerves lol. Im more worried than my husband and hes getting the surrgey!) 

[BirkiLady]

@Shorty2UCannot imagine anyone expecting to cancel a surgery at the last minute for snow. Think about all of the pre-planning and the many medical personnel involved in a surgical procedure (even a simple one). All those employees manage to make it to work on time in all weather 365 days of the year. No, surgeries are not postponed. People go to work in all kinds of weather if they expect to remain employed! Do you have any idea how that would throw off all the surgeries for the rest of the week or even month if a morning of surgeries were postponed? Schedules are made in advance for a reason. Lab work is completed and pre-op tests are run for each surgery. There is not an easy "fill in patient and procedure" for those employees scheduled to work on if you cancel.  Plan on being there early and ready for the procedure. It will happen. Best wishes.

Edited: Don't you have any friends or family members who could drive you into town before the snow hits? Spend the night in a motel or hotel and take a cab to the medical facility early that morning. Then spend another night at the motel; return for the follow-up appointment and call your friends or family members to pick you up. Hopefully, the snow will have hit and been cleared enough for them to drive into the City. Perhaps you should have thought about weather before scheduling an elective surgery in March.  

Umm, yes Uber drives in snow. Most drivers drive in snow. 

[Pook]

Unless it is a major storm I' m pretty sure nothing will be cancelled.  That rarely happens.  Most areas have medical transportation companies that can transport anyone to and from medical appointments or procedures but you will have to pay.  If you are that worried then I would find one in your area and it would be worth it to pay the cost.  But then if you have a backup plan with your daughter then it should be ok for you.

[CelticCrafter]

Can't you go to your daughter the night before? 

Maybe she or you son-in-law could drop you off in the AM on their way into work and pick you up on the way home.

It would be a long day sitting and waiting for them to come back for you but that's what I would do.

[qualitygal]

I understand.  I guess we will just be cautious drivers.  Oh and we were predicted to get up to 5" of snow the other day and got NONE.  The wind comes up and blows it (clouds) into another direction.  You can't change what the weather does.  Just plow on through it and get the surgery tended to, (it's a pain for everyone to reschedule) and then you're done with it.  Try not to be anxious, just drive carefully.  It's one way, that you'll drive, home, right?  I think at this age, we just have to "feel the fear, and do it anyway" as the saying goes.  Go luck, you can do it.