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Perioperative Medicine

Perioperative Medicine

Welcome to the Perioperative Medicine Clinic (POM)

We created this page to make your path to surgery simple and easy. You may want to bookmark or save this page as a favorite so that you can return to it later.

The POM department of the East Bay Service Area is responsible for the evaluation and preparation of all patients scheduled for surgery at the Oakland and Richmond Medical Centers.

Once your surgery date has been scheduled, your surgeon’s office will schedule your appointment with the POM clinic. Depending on the complexity of your procedure and your medical condition, you may be scheduled for a formal office visit or an evaluation by telephone. Your surgeon will help decide which is best for you.

Your POM Clinic Appointment

During your POM appointment your medical record will be reviewed. This will include a review of any preoperative tests that you have completed, along with your current medications and other important preoperative screening questions. This evaluation will ensure your readiness for surgery. At the conclusion of this visit, you will be provided with important information to help you prepare for your surgery.

It is important to keep this appointment to prevent any issues that may cause a delay or postponement of your surgery. The date and time of your appointment will have been sent to you in an email or given to you by one of our surgical schedulers.

Learning About Anesthesia

  • If you are active on kp.org you can expect to receive an email from your anesthesia provider a few days before your surgery.
  • A Patient’s Guide to Blood Transfusion
    Learn more about blood transfusions and blood products
  • Prepare for Anesthesia
    Watch a video that will help you better understand the anesthesia you will receive before your procedure

Preparing for Your Procedure

Next, we would like you to preview each step of your procedure online with the “Prepare for Your Procedure (Emmi®)” program. This short, easy to understand video will provide you with a clear sense of what to expect before, during and after your procedure. Patients who watch these find them very helpful and feel reassured about their experience having surgery.

The program can also be viewed at home, a Kaiser Permanente Health Education Center, or anywhere with internet access. Many can also be watched on an Apple iPad. Please watch the program as many times as you would like and share it with family and friends.

PLEASE NOTE: NOT EVERY PROCEDURE WILL BE LISTED. IF YOU DO NOT FIND THE PROCEDURE YOU ARE SCHEDULED FOR, YOU MAY STILL FIND IT HELPFUL TO VIEW THE ANESTHESIA PROGRAM.

The Day of Your Surgery

SURGERY ARRIVAL TIME:

If your surgery is at the Oakland or Richmond Medical Center:

  • Surgery times are finalized 3 days in advance. Your surgery scheduler has scheduled you an appointment with our Preoperative Education Services Department (PES). During your PES appointment a nurse will contact you to review final surgery instructions and give your arrival time for day of surgery. If you do not receive a call at the appointment time, please call (510) 752-7379, Monday through Friday 7am to 6pm, your voice message will be answered on the same business day.
  • If your surgery is at the Oakland Medical Center on the day of surgery, please report to the Ambulatory Surgery Department located on the Second Floor, Main Hospital Building.
  • If your surgery is at the Richmond Medical Center on the day of surgery, please report to the Admitting Surgical Center Registration-Station #21 located on the Second Floor, Hospital Building.

Your surgery is usually two hours after you arrive. During these 2 hours, a nurse will be preparing you for surgery.

IMPORTANT SURGERY REMINDERS:

  • Regular foods (solid foods, nutritional shakes, soups, gum or candies) are allowed up to 8 hours before your scheduled arrival time.
  • Clear liquids (water, clear apple juice, plain tea without milk or milk substitute, black coffee without milk or milk substitute) are encouraged up until 2 hours before your scheduled arrival time.
  • MEDICATIONS: The Doctor or Nurse Practitioner in the Perioperative Medicine Department will tell you which of your current medications you should take on the day of your surgery. Please take these medications on the day of surgery with a sip of water.
  • Remove all jewelry and body piercings.
  • BRING your KAISER CARD and a PHOTO I.D. for your check-in registration.
  • If you have not paid your co-pay, please bring payment (cash, check or credit card) with you. Otherwise, DO NOT BRING VALUABLES with you.
  • If you have an ADVANCE DIRECTIVE, please bring a copy.
  • You must have a ride home or your surgery may be cancelled. You will be asked by the surgery staff to provide contact information for your ride and how they can be reached.

Finally, it is our pleasure here at Kaiser Permanente to care for you during your surgery. If you have any further questions or needs, please contact your surgeon, anesthesiologist or primary care physician.