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Perioperative Medicine

What to expect at your POM visit

What to Expect at Your Preoperative Appointment

Now that you have decided on having surgery, we need to get you ready for the operating room. This process may include preoperative lab tests, an EKG, and an appointment with a Perioperative Medicine Provider.

BEFORE THE PREOPERATIVE APPOINTMENT

Preoperative Tests
Preoperative lab work, an EKG, and X-rays may be ordered by your surgeon. All tests are ordered through the Kaiser Permanente computer system and can be completed at any site including Oakland and Richmond Medical Centers. No paperwork is required. Please complete these tests one week before your appointment with the Perioperative Medicine Department. The results of your preoperative tests will be reviewed with you during your Preoperative appointment.

You will either be scheduled for a preoperative history and physical appointment in the Perioperative Medicine Department or for a preoperative telephone appointment.

Preoperative History and Physical Office Visit
At this appointment you will be seen by a provider who will review your medical history, including allergies, current medications, and previous surgeries. A physical exam will be performed and the results of your preoperative tests will be reviewed with you.

Preoperative Telephone Appointment
During this telephone call, a provider will review your preoperative test results, your medical history, including allergies, current medications, and previous surgeries.

During these appointments you will be provided with preoperative instructions regarding your medications, fasting guidelines, and any further medical evaluation needed prior to your day of surgery. If you need to change your appointment or have questions, please call your surgery clinic.

AFTER THE PREOPERATIVE APPOINTMENT

Prior to the day of surgery your chart will be reviewed in detail. If additional information is required you will receive a phone call. On the day of surgery, a provider will review your medical history and anesthesia plan with you.

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

  • For Adults: 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.
  • For Children: Clear liquids (water, clear juices, Pedialyte) are encouraged up until 2 hours before your child’s scheduled arrival time. Babies less than 6 months old should not have water or apple juice; Pedialyte (or its generic equivalent) is fine until 2 hours prior to 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.