This information will help you on the day of your family member’s surgery. Our surgery team is happy to help you throughout the surgical process. If you have any questions, please ask us.
Waiting during surgery
Please check-in with the receptionist at Desk J1-2 after the patient goes to surgery. Desk J1-2 is on the first floor of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Pavilion (J Building). If you need help with directions, please ask a Red Coat (Cleveland Clinic employee wearing a red blazer) or any Cleveland Clinic employee wearing a badge.
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Nurse Coordinators
The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) Nurse Coordinators will work with you on the day of surgery and until the patient leaves the CVICU. They are specially trained to answer questions about cardiovascular surgery and the patient’s early recovery.
Family information session
Depending on the surgery time, you will attend either a group family information session or meet privately with a CVICU Nurse Coordinator. You will learn what to expect while the patient is in surgery and during their time in the CVICU. Please write down any questions or concerns you have, and share them with the Nurse Coordinator.
Please stay in J1-2 until you attend a session or meet with the Nurse Coordinator.
Family spokesperson
Please choose one family spokesperson. This person will be responsible for getting updates about the patient and sharing it with others in your group. Having a single contact provides the best flow of information and helps protect patient confidentiality.
Patient updates
We will give you a pager and use it to send you updates during surgery. If you have questions at any time, please call the Nurse Coordinator at 216.636.3272 or 63272 on any beige hospital phone.
Sharing patient information online
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is a convenient way to keep family and friends updated on the patient’s condition. But, it is important to check your privacy settings so the information is shared only with those you want to see the information. You may want to use Caring Bridge, a tool to help you create a free, personal website.
For more information, visit:
my.clevelandclinic.org/patients-visitors/support-therapy/caring-bridge.aspx
Wait time
The time the patient reports for surgery is the check-in time, not the actual surgery time.
Please be prepared to wait. We are committed to providing the best care possible to every patient. Each surgery is based on the patient’s individual needs, and surgery times vary.
We suggest you bring reading/writing materials, games, puzzles, your laptop, etc. to help pass the time. We also invite you to take advantage of the amenities at Cleveland Clinic.
Talking to the surgeon
Please write down your questions for the surgeon while you wait.
The surgeon will talk to you in person or by phone after the surgery is done. Please listen carefully and take notes. The surgeon should tell you which room the patient is in. If not, please ask.
What happens after I talk to the surgeon?
We will let you know as soon as you can visit the patient. It takes about 1 to 3 hours to get the patient settled in the CVICU after surgery.
Advice for your first CVICU visit
- Make eye contact with the patient.
- Talk to the patient. Share good wishes and encouragement. The patient can hear more than you may think.
- Be calm and supportive.
- It is OK to touch the patient, but ask the staff before you do, just to be sure.
- Tell the nurse if you have any questions or concerns about the patient or medical equipment.
Your first CVICU visit
- Check-in and tell the receptionist that it’s your first visit.
- If the receptionist is not at the desk, use the beige wall phone to call the unit.
- The family spokesperson should have contact information ready for the CVICU nurse.
- Before and after every visit: Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use the antibacterial foam by the patient’s bed. Clean hands prevent infection!
- To protect patients’ safety and privacy, the following are not allowed in the CVICU:
- Food and drinks.
- Flowers, balloons and other small gifts.
- Taking pictures or recording videos.
- Cell phones must be turned off.
- The patient may have a tube in his/her throat. The tube is connected to a ventilator to help the patient breathe. While the tube is in place, the patient cannot talk or swallow. It is best to ask yes-no questions the patient can answer by nodding or shaking his/her head. The tube will be removed when the patient is fully awake and can breathe on his/her own. After the tube is removed, the patient will be able to talk, but may be too groggy to communicate.
- A patient’s condition can quickly change in the CVICU. While visiting, we may ask you to wait in the Family Lounge during patient care procedures or other situations that require extra room or privacy.
- The alarms on the medical equipment used to keep track of the patient’s condition are sensitive. An alarm does not always mean there is not a problem. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to the patient’s nursing team or Nurse Coordinator.
- Take care of yourself. We know it is difficult to have a loved one in the hospital. During these times, you may ignore your own needs and may even be afraid to leave the hospital. But it is very important to take care of yourself. Eat properly, rest and take care of your personal needs. We encourage you to talk to our healthcare team about your feelings — we will do our best to help.
- The surgical team will determine when the patient will move from the CVICU to a step-down nursing unit.
CVICU phone extensions
- J3-3: 66546.
- J5-4: 66658.
- J5-5: 66673.
- J5-6: 66690.
- J6-4: 66786.
- J6-5: 66801.
- J6-6: 66818.
- CVICU Nurse Coordinator: 63272.
Visitation policies are subject to change to protect the health and safety of patients and visitors. If you have questions or concerns about visitation, please talk to the Nurse Coordinator. We strongly encourage family members to rest whenever possible. There are no age restrictions for visitation, but visits during early recovery may be difficult for children.
