How do I understand instructions before a surgery or procedure?
Get your clinic's plan clear before a test or surgery.
The steps before a test or surgery depend on your health and the care you need. Check the rules for food, drinks, drugs, and when to arrive.
Use the current plan from your care team. Do not use AI to set a fast or decide which drugs to stop.
If two sets of instructions differ, call the team. Keep the original plan and any confirmed changes together.
- Read the whole plan ahead of time.
- Mark unclear steps about food, drink, drugs, travel, or arrival.
- Call the care team with those questions.
- Ask them to confirm the plan in writing.
- Tell them if you feel unwell or could not follow a step.
Make a blank question list for my care team before a procedure. Cover food, drink, drugs, arrival time, travel home, and whom to call. Do not choose fasting times or drug changes.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
Keep doses and times in the plan you discuss with your care team. Keep private papers out of a practice chat.
Sources and more help
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