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UCLA Health - Preparing for your procedure at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Thumbnail of the video “UCLA Health - Preparing for your procedure at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center”
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Author: UCLA Health
Categories: Health Real Estate
Tags: health, real-estate
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 15:02 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Arrive prepared by following your care team's pre-procedure instructions, leaving valuables at home, and arranging a responsible adult to take you home after surgery. The video walks viewers through what to expect from the pre-arrival call through check-in, pre-operative assessment, recovery, and discharge at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center or the Santa Monica Surgery Center.

Key Points

  • Expect a call from your care team the day before, typically the Friday before a Monday procedure, confirming arrival time, what to bring, fasting instructions, and which medications are safe to take.
  • UCLA Health is not responsible for lost valuables, so jewelry, watches, and money should be left at home.
  • Confirm your exact location, since the hospital and surgery center are separate sites with different check-in points.
  • Visitor limits apply: two healthy visitors at the hospital, or one at the surgery center, before and after the procedure.
  • Ride share services such as Uber or Lyft cannot be used to leave the hospital or surgery center.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions:
    • Before the procedure: Wait for the pre-arrival call and follow the instructions it gives on arrival time, what to bring, when to stop eating, and which medications to take.
    • Pack a small bag with a credit card, ID, insurance card, phone charger, personal hygiene items (deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, if staying overnight), and loose-fitting clothes for going home.
    • Leave jewelry, watches, and money at home.
    • Arrange transportation with a responsible adult before the day of surgery, since ride share is not allowed.
    • Plan for a family member or trusted friend to stay with you at home the first night after the procedure.
    • Parking: Valet is at the main hospital entrance, 1250 16th Street, Monday through Friday, and accepts cash or check only. Garages on 15th and 16th streets accept credit cards and are open 7 days a week. Detailed parking costs and directions are at transportation.ucla.edu.
    • On arrival: Check in with security, then go to the admissions office on the first floor. At the hospital, go to the third-floor surgical waiting area until called. At the surgery center, wait in admissions until called.
    • Visitors may bring cards, non-latex balloons, or personal photos. Fresh flowers and plants are not allowed.
  • Patients under 18 require two healthy, responsible adults to accompany them. For children riding in a car seat, two adults are required to bring the patient home.
  • Phones may be used in rooms or outside the unit, but cameras and photography are prohibited, and phones should not be used in hallways.
  • Pre-operative checks include name, date of birth, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, plus discussion of safety, infection prevention, pain, and nausea.
  • Procedure timing can shift due to emergencies, and staff will keep your contact person updated on recovery time.

Bottom Line

Preparation logistics, including transportation, valuables, visitors, and where to check in, matter as much as the procedure itself, so confirm the details with your care team early.