Daniel E. Cooper, M.D.

Surgery Scheduling Information

Once you have decided to have surgery, it is best to call Whitney at (214) 220-2468 Ext. 1357. All calls are returned within 24h. Due to high volume, email is not good for surgery scheduling requests. Her email is [email protected] for other less time-sensitive matters that can wait a few days. If you have a specific day in mind, please allow at least 2-3 weeks advance notice to help us meet your request. All aspects of your surgery scheduling will be handled by our office including the precertification of your surgery with the insurance company. If you are scheduling your surgery in person, you will be given a packet with instructions for your surgery, as well as a map to the hospital where you will be having your operation. If you are scheduling your surgery by phone or via email you can have your surgery packet either mailed or emailed to you.

All surgeries are performed by Dr. Cooper himself. Dr. Cooper’s Orthopaedic Physician’s Assistant, Paul Ziemba, OPA-C, assists him in surgery along with an experienced team of operating room technicians and nurses who work exclusively with Dr. Cooper on his cases. After your surgery, Dr. Cooper will speak with both you and your family. Someone from our office (usually Paul Ziemba, OPA-C) will call you at home the following day to see how you are progressing. You will be given written instructions regarding postoperative guidelines to follow and return appointments. Paul assists in all surgeries and can review with you what was found and done. Please reread your postoperative instructions (in the white folder) the day after surgery. Often, patients forget things that they were told verbally. So it is all written for you as well.

Allie Withers, FNP-C or Paul Ziemba, OPA-C will give you instructions regarding physical therapy (if applicable) prior to your discharge from the hospital along with a written prescription that needs to be presented to your physical therapist at your first visit. In general, you will be given physical therapy exercises to begin prior to your discharge from the hospital by either the nurses or the hospital’s physical therapist. If you have an idea of where you would like to do your outpatient physical therapy (ideally close to your home or work) you can schedule an appointment to begin the therapy 3-5 days after your surgery. In certain circumstances based on the surgical procedure you have performed we will recommend a specific therapist (hopefully in your area) that we are familiar with and whom has worked with Dr. Cooper’s patients in the past and is very familiar with his therapy protocols. If at anytime you or your therapist have questions regarding your therapy please direct them to Paul Ziemba, OPA-C by phone at (214) 220-2468 or email: [email protected].

Allie Withers, FNP-C will call you 2-3 days after your surgery to check on you. Allie assists in postoperative pain management as well as the first postop visit for a wound check. Please direct all questions regarding pain medications, dressings or wound care, and initial appointment after surgery to Allie ([email protected]) during office hours (Weekdays 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM).

We realize you have a choice in your orthopaedic care. We thank you for your interest in Dr. Cooper’s practice.