Before-surgery care

Keeping you healthy and safe during surgery

Preoperative evaluations help to ensure your safety and health during surgery. They’re an important part of creating successful surgical outcomes.

Our perioperative care team includes nurse practitioners and an anesthesiologist. These specialists help you understand what to expect during surgery and discuss your risks.

They may offer resources to help you quit smoking, improve your nutrition or manage a chronic health condition before your procedure. The team also works closely with other specialists for referrals, medication management and financial counseling, when needed.

What to expect during a preoperative evaluation

Before surgery, you may have an in-person visit or phone call, ideally about one month before your operation. You’ll complete hospital preregistration and, if your appointment is in person, get a physical exam. Appointments typically last about 90 minutes.

During this evaluation, you may also discuss:

• Any questions you have
• Blood tests or other medical evaluations to complete
• Instructions for the day of surgery, including whether to take medications, what to bring, what not to bring, etc.
• What to expect during the procedure and afterward
• Your health history

We gather and review your medical records before your visit. You’ll need to sign a consent form to release these records to our team. Items you should bring to your preoperative evaluation include:

• Insurance card
• Medical history, including your family history
• Medications in their original containers
• Photo identification
• Physician’s order and consent forms, if not already provided
• Wallet card for heart stents, pacemakers or other implanted devices

Questions to ask before surgery

All surgeries have benefits and risks. It’s important to ask questions and express any concerns so you feel comfortable and safe.

In addition to the preoperative evaluation, you also have a presurgical appointment with your surgeon. You may ask your surgeon:

• Why do you recommend this surgery?
• How long will the benefits of this surgery last?
• What might happen if I don’t have surgery?
• What are the risks and possible complications?
• What techniques do you use during surgery?
• What is your experience in performing this procedure?
• What can I expect during recovery?

It often helps to take notes while communicating with your care team. You can also ask for written instructions or printed material about your medical condition and procedure. If your physician’s answers aren’t clear to you, don’t hesitate to continue asking questions.

Understanding surgery costs

Your surgeon may have specific fees and billing systems separate from the hospital. We recommend discussing these fees before your procedure.

Check with your insurance company to determine what portion of the costs are your responsibility. If you’re concerned about these anticipated costs, you can meet with our financial services team to discuss payment options. Learn more about billing.