General Surgery
FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a general surgeon do?
General surgeons perform surgical procedures to remove disease (cancer, non-cancerous growths), repair injury and promote healing and health. They provide guidance on the needs for surgery and may perform diagnostic tests, such as removing specimens for biopsies.
What can I expect at my consultation visit?
At the clinic consultation visit, you will be evaluated by your surgeon. This involves going over your health history, performing a physical exam, reviewing any diagnostic studies that support your diagnosis, and discussing a plan of care. Surgery is not performed at the consultation visit, but if were referred for an office procedure, they may offer to do it the same day as consultation. For office procedures, fasting is not necessary.
Where are the surgeries performed?
Majority of surgeries are performed at Hilo Medical Center operating room. Your surgeon will determine if you will be admitted or be discharged the same day as your surgery.
How do I find out what my cost will be for surgery?
The price estimator and standard charges tool can assist in providing an estimate of your financial responsibility. Keep in mind, this is only an estimate and cost fluctuates with supplies used in surgery, time spent in surgery, length of admission, and medications administered. Please visit the Price Estimator and Standard Charges tool at Price Estimator and Standard Charges – Hilo Medical Center
Do I require a referral to be seen?
Yes, a referral is required by your primary care provider to be seen for non-urgent matters. If seen in the emergency room, you may be referred directly from the ER physician. Although your insurance may not require a referral to specialty care, the East Hawaii Health clinics require it in order to obtain appropriate medical records regarding your health history, diagnostic studies supporting your diagnosis, and if needed, a preoperative clearance prior to surgery.
After a referral is received, how quickly can I expect to be scheduled?
When the referral is received, it is forwarded to our medical providers for triage. They will screen the referral to determine the urgency of the referral. This will determine how quickly patients will be scheduled. If it is an urgent diagnosis, you can expect to be scheduled within a week. If it a non-urgent diagnosis, scheduling usually occurs between 2-3 weeks, depending on the availability of the surgeon that is requested.