Frequently Asked Questions

Your first visit to McColgan Surgical Clinic will be to discuss your potential surgical needs. Surgery will not be performed on the same day as your office visit unless it is an emergency. You should plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow ample time for the check in process. You will need to bring your insurance card(s), photo identification, medication list with dosage, and any new patient paperwork the office may have mailed to you for this appointment.

A certain amount of discomfort is expected following any surgery. There is a difference between discomfort and emergency symptoms. Should you experience any difficulty breathing or swallowing, chest pain, abnormal bleeding, or other emergency symptoms, please call 911.

If you need to return to the hospital for an emergent condition, the ER physician will notify Dr. McColgan or the surgeon on call if necessary. McColgan Surgical Clinic has staff at the office during business hours that can provide assistance and answer any questions for re-assurance and help you understand whether your symptoms are normal. If the office is closed, you can call the Conway Regional Medical Exchange at (501) 329-1199 to reach Dr. McColgan or the surgeon on call. Please contact the office before going to the emergency room for non-emergent symptoms.

Tips for your recovery:

• Follow your directions about taking care of your wounds.
• Return to your normal diet as your surgeon recommends.
• If you have been told not to lift over a certain amount, follow these instructions until you are released to do so.
• Return to your regular activities as you are released to do so. You do not want to rush things, but you do not want to linger.
• We expect you to be up and walking the day of surgery.
• Take any prescriptions medications as directed.
• You may contact our office for any prescription refills after your surgery, but they may be limited based on the requirements set by the Arkansas Prescription Monitoring Program.

We want you to be able to return to work/school, and normal activities as quickly as possible. Our office will be able to give you an average time frame for your recovery, but everyone is different, and your recovery could take less time or may be longer. You should discuss your work requirements with Dr. McColgan, prior to surgery, so that you can better understand any limitations you may have in returning to work or school. We can provide work notes as requested.

If you have any outside forms you need filled out for your work such as Family Leave Medical Act (FMLA) or Short-Term Disability, we are able to do so. There is a fee for each form filled out that is due when the forms are picked up or before we fax them back to your employer. Please make sure to fill out any employee section of the forms before they are sent to us.