Procedure Preparation

General Pre-Procedure Information for Patients:

  • All patients who are coming to VIVA for a procedure must have an order from their referring provider for the service requested. If you have insurance that requires an insurance referral, it is the patient's responsibility to obtain one from your primary care physician. This applies to HMO insurances. A list of medications and allergies will also be needed. If you would like, you may download the New Patient Paperwork from this link (PDF, 60KB) and fill out the Health History Form that will list medications, allergies and medical conditions.
  • We ask that all patients arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
  • We recommend that you wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing if possible but we have gowns that you may change into if you prefer.
  • There are no dietary restrictions prior to your procedure.
  • You should hold all blood thinners for 5 days prior to your procedure. (Aspirin, Coumadin, Warfarin, Plavix, Aggrenox, and/or Ticlid) If you are on Lovenox, please don't take this for 12 hours prior to your procedure. Please inform the VIVA staff that you are on a blood thinner and the date that you stopped taking it.

Procedure Specific Information for Patients:

  • All Procedures
    • We will need any diagnostic imaging studies that show the area of interest. If these were done within the Mary Washington Hospital System or the Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg System, we have access to these and you don’t need to bring them with you. If they were done at Pratt imaging or at another hospital, please bring your images with you the day of your injection.
  • Biopsies
    • It is recommended that you have a ride home but not required.
  • Joint Injections/Aspirations
    • It is recommended that you have a ride home but not required.
  • Nerve Root Blocks
    • You must have a ride home following the procedure.
    • You will need to recover with us following the procedure. This may be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
    • We do not schedule this procedure after 1 p.m.
  • Epidural Injections
    • You must have a ride home following the procedure.
    • You will need to recover with us for approximately 1 hour following the procedure.
    • We do not schedule this procedure after 1 p.m.
  • PICC Placement
    • It is recommended that you have a ride home but not required.
    • Your referring provider needs to arrange for a home health agency to care for your PICC line while it is in place and to provide you with the supplies you will need.
    • We do not do the medication infusions in our office. The infusions will be scheduled by your referring provider.
  • Endovenous Laser Therapy/Sclerotherapy/Ambulatory Phlebectomy
    • It is recommended that you have a ride home but not required.
    • If you are taking a medication to relax you for the procedure, you must have a ride home. This medication should have been prescribed at your previous appointment and you must bring this with you to take prior to the procedure. We do not dispense/administer any medications for relaxation purposes the day of the procedure.
    • You must bring your thigh high or pantyhose style compression hose the day of the procedure. If you don’t have them, we will not be able to do the procedure.
  • Paracentesis/Thoracentesis
    • It is strongly recommended that you have a ride home but not required.