Pre-Admission Testing

What to Expect

Pre-Admission Testing is staffed with a team of medical professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses. Our staff also provide education to patients prior to surgery.

Your surgeon will determine if you need to be seen in the PAT Clinic.

How can I prepare for my appointment?

There is no need to skip meals or your usual medications for this appointment unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon’s office for other tests scheduled the same day. Be sure to bring the following information:

• Written or typed list of medications—with names, doses and frequency. These should include inhalers, over the counter medications, herbal medications, vitamins and alternative medications
• Names and contact telephone numbers of your physicians—primary care or family physician and specialists (such as a cardiologist) providing your care

Once you are scheduled for a PAT appointment, please have the following information faxed to the clinic.

• Any clearances already completed by your heart, lung, or family doctors.
• EKG tracings completed in the last year.
• Chest X-ray reports completed in the last six months.
• Cardiac stress test results completed in the last three years.
• Cardiac ECHO/sonogram results in the last three years.
• Heart catheterization results completed in the last five years.
• Specifics on implanted medical devises (e.g. heart stents or valves, pacemakers, defibrillators, etc.)

What should I expect during my appointment?

At your appointment, you may receive the following

• Medical history review
• Review of any pertinent information that could affect your surgery
• Blood tests
• EKG
• Chest X-ray
• Hospitalist physician or advanced provider examination assessment, as needed

Instructions will be provided for the following:

• Medications
• Diet changes
• Presurgery preparations

Additional testing may be necessary to ensure that it is safe to proceed with surgery. If so, we will help to arrange the tests at a location and time that is convenient for you.

Appointments vary from 30 minutes to two hours—depending on the complexity of your medical history. Please plan your day accordingly.

Important Information for All Patients

At your PAT appointment, the provider in clinic will give you specific instructions regarding how to manage your medications leading up to and on day of surgery. You will receive a paper with written instructions regarding your medications; please keep that paper in a convenient place until surgery.

• In general, you will need to hold all anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, celecoxib) for one week before surgery.
• In general, you will need to hold all herbals and supplements (examples: glucosamine, fish oil, turmeric) for two weeks prior to surgery.
• If you are on a blood thinner like Plavix or aspirin, do not discontinue these medications without instructions to do so. This will be written out for you on the instructions you will take home from PAT.
• If you do not follow the instructions regarding your medications, particularly on day of surgery, your procedure may be cancelled or delayed. If you have questions about your medications and instructions, please contact PAT during business hours for clarification.