Preparing for Your Child’s Procedure
Welcome to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE). Thank you for trusting us with the care of your child. Our expert, compassionate providers are proud to offer the highest quality care to our patients and families. The following information will help you plan and prepare for your child’s procedure.
Our goal is to ensure that your family’s experience at Mount Sinai is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Please visit our Pediatric Surgery Resource Hub to read important information about what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
All patients have certain rights and protections guaranteed by state and federal laws. These laws help promote the quality and safety of your hospital care. Parents will be given a copy of the Patients' Bill of Rights and Parents' Bill of Rights, as required by New York State law. If you have not received one, please ask your doctor's office, nurse, or the registrar in Admitting for a copy. NYEE is compliant with all applicable rules, regulations, and laws regarding patients' rights.
Please be sure to complete any paperwork and testing that must be done before your procedure. This will help prevent delays on the day of your child’s procedure. If you have any questions, please ask any member of the care team. We encourage parents and guardians to take an active role in their child’s care.
For questions about how to prepare for your child’s procedure, please call the NYEE Ambulatory Surgery Center at 212-979-4360 or 212-979-4165, Monday through Friday from 7am to 8pm.
For questions regarding your insurance coverage, please call the Admitting Office at 212-979-4306.
Patient Rights, Parents Rights and Responsibilities
All patients have certain rights and protections guaranteed by state and federal laws. These laws help promote the quality and safety of your hospital care. Parents will be given a copy of the Patients' Bill of Rights and Parents' Bill of Rights, according to New York State law. If you have not received one, ask your physician's office, nurse, or the registrar in Admitting for a copy. NYEE is compliant with all applicable rules, regulations, and laws regarding patients' rights.
Advance Medical Directive
NYEE honors patients' advance directives to the full extent permitted by law. These include living wills, health care proxies, and oral statements. If you have an advance medical directive for your child, please bring it with you. At the time of admission, the child’s parent/guardian will receive a copy of the New York State health care proxy form.
Preparing for Your Child’s Procedure
Our goal is to make your experience with us as comfortable and stress-free as possible. If you would like to arrange a tour of our Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Unit, please email cpeloso@nyee.edu at least one week prior to surgery to make an appointment.
Please visit the Pediatric Surgery Resource Hub for information on presurgical guidelines, how to talk to your child about surgery, what to bring to your child’s procedure, and more.
Confirming Your Arrival Time
On the day before your child’s surgery, you will receive a call from our Admitting Department to confirm your arrival time. We will call between 2 pm and 7 pm. If you have not received a confirmation call by 6 pm the night before surgery, please contact the Admitting Office at 212-979-4306 before 9 pm to request your arrival time. Please make your travel arrangements in advance so that you can arrive on time.
Planning for the Day of Surgery
A parent or a legal guardian must accompany their child to the hospital. Bringing other relatives or siblings to the hospital can be difficult to manage and cause stress. We strongly recommend siblings stay at home and parents make appropriate childcare arrangements. If you bring another child (a minor) to the hospital, they must have another parent or legal guardian present to care for them. You will not be admitted for surgery if any additional children are unattended.
A parent or legal guardian must stay at the hospital during the child’s surgery. You will be allowed to remain with your child on the unit and in the operating room before anesthesia. During surgery, our team will keep you updated in our nearby, comfortable waiting room.
On the day of surgery, your child should bring a favorite toy or book to keep them occupied and help them relax.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Remember to contact your child’s insurance company 7-10 days prior to the date of surgery to advise them of your child’s scheduled surgery and to confirm coverage. Please make sure you are aware of any copays or deductibles that must be paid at the time of admission. Please bring your child’s insurance ID card on the day of the surgery. If you have any questions regarding insurance coverage, please call the Admitting Office at 212-979-4306.
Complete the Consent Form, Preadmission Form, and Presurgical Testing Requirements
Your child’s doctor will provide you with instructions and preadmission forms that must be completed and returned to them. The doctor’s office will coordinate with NYEE’s Admitting Office at least seven days prior to the scheduled surgery. If additional information is needed, the NYEE Admitting Office will contact you prior to the surgery.
Your child’s surgeon will provide you with instructions about presurgical testing requirements. They or your doctor will arrange for your child’s physical examination and any necessary tests. You must provide the results of a physical examination that has been completed within 30 days of the date of their surgery. You must also provide your child’s medical history.
You will meet with the surgeon to discuss the details of the operation before the surgery. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and make sure you have all the information you need to feel confident in your child’s care. You will be asked to sign a consent form for the procedure. Parents and guardians are entitled to a full explanation of their child’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis (the expected results), as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives associated with their care. We encourage you to please ask questions and tell your surgeon if you do not understand any part of the discussion.
Language Services and Accessibility
NYEE offers interpreter services using a combination of over-the-phone, video remote, and in-person interpretation. Services are free and available 24 hours a day.
If your child has never been here before, your child’s surgeon’s office can request interpreter services. During your stay, you can request interpreter services by speaking with hospital staff or calling 212-979-4093.
What to Tell Your Child’s Doctor Prior to Surgery
It is important for you to provide the following information prior to surgery. Please be sure to know the answers to the following questions:
- Does your child have any allergies to foods, medications, or dyes used in tests? If you are unsure, please ask for a list of possible allergies.
- Has your child ever had an allergic reaction to latex products, such as gloves, rubber balloons, or other items?
- Does your child take medications regularly? This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications (such as aspirin and ibuprofen), herbal remedies (such as St. John's wort), nutritional supplements, and any pain medication. Please write down the names and dosages of these medications to bring with you on the day of surgery, or please bring the medication bottles.
- Does your child use nicotine products, such as smoking cigarettes or using vape pens? Does your child drink alcohol? Does your child use recreational drugs of any kind?
- Does your child have other health problems, such as diabetes, heart problems, or high blood pressure?
- Has your child had surgery before? If so, when?
- Has your child had anesthesia before? How did they react?
- Has your child been treated with antibiotics within the last two months?
Preoperative Instructions
Your surgeon's office may call you before the surgery to review your child’s medical history and instructions. Please follow all instructions carefully. If these instructions are not followed, it could result in the cancellation of the surgery.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call your surgeon’s office.
Cancellations Due to Sickness or Other Reasons
If your child develops a cold, virus, sore throat, cough, fever, skin rash, or other illness the week before surgery, please contact your surgeon immediately. They will determine whether your child’s procedure should be rescheduled.
If you need to cancel the surgery for any reason, please call your doctor as soon as possible.
The Day of Your Child’s Surgery
Our goal is for your family to have the most positive experience possible on the day of your child’s procedure. Please review and follow all guidelines and instructions we share. This will help ensure you and your child are fully prepared for the day of the procedure.
For Checking In, Visitor Policy, and Information for During Your Child’s Procedure, please visit the Pediatric Surgery Resource Hub.
Pediatric Anesthesia
Our experienced Pediatric Anesthesia team will provide your child with expert, safe, and comfortable care. The anesthesiologist will perform a pre-operative evaluation and develop a plan of care that they will discuss with you and your child. We encourage parents to ask questions at any time during the meeting.
One parent/legal guardian is allowed in the operating room when anesthesia is given. Once your child is asleep, you will be escorted to a waiting area. A member of the pediatric anesthesia team will be with your child throughout the entire procedure.
Recovering From Surgery
After the surgery is over, parents are reunited with their child in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) or Ambulatory Surgery Unit. A nurse will be assigned to monitor your child’s recovery. Please note, only one parent or guardian is allowed at the bedside in the PACU at a time.
After the initial recovery process, you and your child will return to the ninth floor. If your child can go home the same day, one of our nurses will provide you with discharge instructions. If your child needs to stay in the hospital overnight, we will transfer you to a room.
Please visit the Pediatric Surgery Resource Hub for Post-Procedure information, including visiting your child, Pain Management, and Going Home.
Prescription Medications
After surgery, your doctor may prescribe medications for you to fill at your pharmacy. Please bring your prescription card the day of your child’s surgery.
Paying for Your Child’s Care
Please be aware that you will likely receive multiple bills for your child’s care. Other providers, such as your child’s surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and pathologist will submit claims to the insurance carrier for services provided to your child. Parents or guardians will be responsible for any outstanding balance not covered by the insurance provider. For more information, please refer to the Billing and Insurance section of our website.
Paying for Your Child’s Care
Parents or guardians are responsible for deductibles, co-payments, and any unpaid portion of the bill. It is the policy of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai to receive payment at the time of service. Parents or guardians will be required to pay for services in advance of their child’s surgery, unless they are fully covered by a commercial insurance carrier, Blue Cross, Medicaid, or Medicare.
Parents or guardians must pay in advance for any portion of the fee not covered by their insurance. Medicare pays 80 percent of the fee, and there is a deductible. The hospital will accept cash, certified checks, MasterCard, VISA, American Express, or Discover Card as payment for hospital services.
Please be advised, services received during surgery will result in multiple bills. Other providers (i.e. surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, and pathologist) will be submitting a claim to the insurance carrier for services provided to your child. Parents or guardians will be responsible for any outstanding balance not covered by the insurance provider. Please speak with Billing Services at 212-256-3777.
For more information please refer to the Billing and Insurance section of our website.
No Smoking Policy
The New York City Smoke-Free Air Act prohibits smoking on or around healthcare facility grounds. Smoking is prohibited by the staff, patients, and visitors in all areas of the hospital.