Pre-Surgery Care Clinic
The Pre-Surgery Clinic helps patients prepare for their surgeries before the actual day of the surgery. Our goal here is to help assure a satisfying surgical experience for the patient, patient family, surgeon and nursing staff. The staff meets with each patient to obtain and compile all of the required pre-surgery tests and documentation.
Contact the pre-surgery staff at the hospital where your surgery is scheduled to get more information.
If you plan to have surgery at any of our hospitals in Oregon, you can pre-register online. Using online preregistration allows you to complete the forms in the comfort of your own home, reducing time and stress when you arrive for admission.
When you meet with someone from the Pre-Surgery Clinic, that person will help you understand the operative experience. Your appointment will include pre-operative teaching, diagnostic testing, nursing history and care planning. This appointment may be done over the telephone or during a visit to the clinic.
Kaiser patients who come to a Providence facility are cared for by NW Permanente Physicians (surgeons & anesthesiologists). The NW Permanente anesthesiologist will contact you about preparations for surgery and the type of anesthesia to be used.
To ensure you get the best care, we ask you to print and bring these forms below to your first appointment. These provide information to your care team about your health and medical history.
Forms include:
Take steps to ensure a good surgery experience:
Generally speaking, if you are staying overnight in the hospital after your surgery or if your doctor has told you that you need blood tests, X-rays or other diagnostic tests before having surgery, you will need to visit the clinic a few days before your surgery. If no one from the clinic has contacted you for an appointment, please call and schedule an appointment to speak with a nurse.
Each Providence hospital has a Pre-Surgery Clinic. You need to be seen in the clinic at the same hospital where your surgery is scheduled.
Each patient is different and, depending on your procedure, the anesthesiologist may call the night before your surgery to ask questions about your medical history, especially if you have never had surgery at one of our facilities if you have had other medical problems.
If you have questions, write them down ahead of time so you will remember to ask them when you talk with the anesthesiologist.
The surgeon may or may not see you before going to the operating room. This varies with each surgeon, the type of procedure, and the time of day that the procedure is scheduled to take place. We suggest you ask your surgeon before the day of your surgery.
Although we have a safe place to store your valuables, we strongly encourage you to leave valuable items at home.
We strive to keep the surgery schedule on time, but sometimes situations arise that we can’t control. If your procedure gets delayed, your nurse will inform you.
Yes, you may have your family stay with you in the pre-op area before you go to surgery. The number of visitors you can have will depend on the amount of space available, how busy the unit is, and the specific visitor policy at your hospital. The pre-op staff will inform you and your family when you arrive how many visitors you can have in the pre-op area.
Your doctor will give you after-care instructions, and your recovery nurse will review them with you before you go home. If you spend the night in the hospital, the in-house nursing staff will take care of your discharge instructions.
Pain control is very important to us during your stay. Every patient has a different reaction to pain; therefore, pain control is individualized for each patient. You will be taught how to use the "Pain Rating Scale", and your nurse will ask you several times after your surgery to tell us what type and level of pain you are experiencing. This will allow us to work with you to keep your discomfort under control.
The Pain Rating Scale describes how much pain you are feeling. This will help the nurses know if you are receiving appropriate pain relief. Throughout your hospital stay, your doctor and nurse will ask you to rate your pain.
The Pain Rating Scale ranges from 0-10. A score of "0" means you feel no pain. A score of "5" means moderate pain. A score of "10" means you feel the worst pain possible.
Pain means different things to different people. It can include many types of discomfort, and it can be felt in any part of the body. Tightness, burning, stabbing, pulling and tugging are common terms used to describe pain.
When asked, please rate your pain using this 0-10 scale. After you receive pain medication, your nurse will ask you again to rate your pain. This will help her know if the medication is working effectively for you.
Your nurse will review the scale with you at the hospital. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
You are always welcome to fill your prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy; however, your insurance company may not pay for the medication. We recommend you contact your insurance company and inquire about locations of pharmacies on your insurance plan.
Your surgeon may order specific tests to be done within 30 days before your surgery. If your tests are done somewhere other than at the Providence hospital where you will have surgery or in your surgeon’s office, please have the results faxed to Pre-Surgery Clinic. If you don't know whether you need any tests, please contact the Pre-Surgery Clinic.
It is important that you talk to a surgical services nurse before the day of your surgery. Depending on your situation, this may be a phone conversation or a visit to our office. Please contact the Pre-Surgery Clinic to schedule this essential visit or phone call.
Pre-register for a hospital visit
Please refer to the hospital map to make sure you know exactly how to get to the hospital, where to park and where to check in for Surgical Services.
You won't be able to drive after surgery. Before the day of your surgery, you will need to identify someone who can drive you home from the hospital and who can help you for about the next 24 hours.
Contact your surgeon before the day of your surgery if:
- You take aspirin, anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications. They may need to be discontinued before surgery.
- You have any unexpected medical problems before your scheduled surgery, such as a fever, cold, cough or flu. Your surgery may have to be rescheduled.
- You have diabetes. Your doctor should give you specific instructions on what to do the day of surgery.
- You regularly take any herbal supplement. They may need to be discontinued before surgery.
Unless your doctor tells you differently, please follow these instructions:
- Take your morning prescription medications for blood pressure, heart, lung, kidney or liver conditions, pain medication, or antibiotics with a small amount of water. Follow your surgeon's instructions regarding any diabetes medications, blood thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and/or herbal supplements that you currently take.
- Bring with you a list of the names and doses of all medications you currently take.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. EXCEPTION: If your surgery is scheduled for the afternoon, you may drink clear liquids (water, black coffee, tea, clear juice) or eat light foods (dry toast or crackers) up until six hours before arriving at the hospital.
- Please shower or bathe using an antiseptic cleanser, if recommended by your doctor.
- Wear loose, non-binding, comfortable clothing. Remember, you may receive a bandage or cast during surgery, and the clothing needs to fit comfortably over it.
- If you wear contact lenses, please bring your case and solution. You may be asked to remove your lenses before you go to surgery.
- Bring any reading glasses, hearing aids and mobility devices, such as canes and walkers, that you may need to stand or move short distances. Wheelchairs are available for your use while you are in the hospital.
- Bring any special medical devices you may need, such as inhalers or sleep apnea machines.
- Bring your insurance information with you.
Bring some money or a credit card if you do not get your post-operative prescriptions filled before you come to the hospital. - Please do NOT bring valuables, jewelry or watches.
You will need to arrive at the hospital well before your scheduled surgery time. This allows the nursing staff, your anesthesiologist and your surgeon to better prepare you for your surgical experience.
When you arrive, please check in at the Admitting desk.
Once you are registered at the Admitting desk, the nursing staff will begin preparing you for surgery. You may be given additional paperwork to complete and/or tests at this time.
Your anesthesiologist will meet with you before surgery. He or she will answer your questions, review your options for anesthesia and, working together with you and your surgeon, plan your anesthesia care.
A family member or friend may stay with you until it is time for you to go to surgery.
Your family can wait for you in the surgery waiting area. They may be given a pager so that the waiting area staff can notify them when your surgery is finished.
If your family plans to leave the hospital while you are in surgery, please have them tell your nurse and leave a number where they can be reached.
You may go to the recovery room (PACU – Post Anesthesia Care Unit) directly from the operating room. Your surgeon may contact your family at this time and talk with them about your surgery.
Our physicians and nurses will work closely with you to assure that your surgery pain is managed.
If you will be going home on the same day that you had your procedure, you will be taken back to the unit to which you were first admitted. Your family may meet you there. You will be discharged from this unit.
If you do not go home that day, your surgeon will arrange for you to be admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay.
If a hospital admission is planned, you will be taken from the surgery area to your assigned hospital room. Your personal belongings will be transferred with you to this room.
Your surgeon will give you discharge instructions before you leave the hospital. If you have any questions or problems after you leave the hospital, please contact your physician immediately.
We randomly sample our outpatient surgery patients by sending out surveys and asking for their input. We look forward to your feedback, and we appreciate the time you take to share your thoughts and suggestions with us.