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PREOPERATIVE SERVICES

The Preop Department at Fletcher Allen Health Care consists of two primary functions; The Preop Evaluation and Surgical Admissions.

The Preop Evaluation

Prior to your surgery, it is necessary to complete a preoperative evaluation with one of our nurses to be sure that you are optimally prepared for your anesthesia.  This evaluation allows our skilled RN's to gather information about your health history while providing you with the education you'll need to make your journey through the surgical process as smooth as possible.  There are two kinds of evaluations, those completed over the telephone and those that are completed onsite at the Medical Center Campus.  Your surgeon will let you know which is right for you.

Telephone Preop Evaluation

When you are scheduled for a preop evaluation phone call, a nurse will call you at a date and time scheduled by your surgeon's office to review your health history and discharge instructions.  It takes about thirty minutes to complete the telephone evaluation, but that time may vary according to your needs.  This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions related to what you can expect at Fletcher Allen Health Care on the day of your surgery.  For your scheduled telephone appointment, please try to have the following information regarding your health history readily available:

• Medication list and dosages.
• Surgical history.
• Pacemaker ID card.

 

 

Onsite Preop Evaluation

This type of evaluation takes place at the Medical Center Campus at Fletcher Allen. After checking into registration, you will be directed to the Surgery and Outpatient Services area on Level 3.  (see Medical Center Campus map for details).  You can expect this appointment to last up to two hours depending on the type of testing ordered by your physician.  

 

Surgical Admissions

The Surgical Admissions area of Preop is where you will be prepared on the day of your surgery.  Here, you will meet with a Preop RN who will update your health history and start an IV (Intravenous fluid). If an IV is needed on a child, it will usually be started in the operating room after the child is asleep.  You will also meet with a member of the Anesthesia staff who will finalize your plan for anesthesia.  Please visit our Preop Patient Resources page for more information about what to expect on the day of your surgery.