What is Pre-Admission Testing and why do I need it?

Pre-Admission Testing, referred to as PAT, is the process of pre-screening to help achieve the optimal surgical outcome by ensuring you, as the patient, are prepared in every way you can be for the scheduled surgery and the recovery process that follows. It also offers an opportunity for patients of all ages to become familiar with the facility and staff ahead of time to help alleviate any stress typically associated with the experience. Having a sense of awareness of the place and where you will be helps calm the nerves. That is one of the reasons Eminent Medical Center provides tranquil pre- and post-operative areas, relaxing patient rooms and waiting areas appointed for comfort and luxury to encourage a sense of ease.

In addition, the center houses all the resources on site including laboratory, pharmacy, ER and operating suites to better expedite your treatment and to ensure prompt attention. Since a scheduled surgery cannot proceed without completing Pre-Admission Testing, the staff of nurses and nurse practitioners, physicians, anesthesiologists and any volunteers come together as a team to customize your care plans. A surgeon will only proceed with your scheduled surgery if you are physically ready for the procedure. The surgeon as well as the anesthesiologist rely on PAT to help decide if a surgery can be performed at this time.

What Pre-Admission Testing Consists Of

PAT occurs typically three weeks before the procedure is scheduled to take place. A member of the medical staff will contact you first to go over planning, questions about any medications you may be on, going over your medical history, discovering if you have any allergies, what previous surgeries you may have had and learning about your current state of well-being. This is also when you can have any questions or concerns about PAT addressed. You should also bring your insurance cards and identification.

Different procedures call for different testing but typically take no more than three hours to complete. While your physician may require testing specific to your situation, there are several tests that all patients will undergo, including:

– Blood work
– Chest X-ray
– Electrocardiogram
– Urinalysis

If you have had any of these tests performed in the past 30 days or had X-rays taken in the last six months, it is possible to obtain a copy to provide to your PAT team. Your PAT visit will include a physical exam that starts with taking your vital signs, which are pulse and respiration, body temperature, blood pressure and recording your height and weight. During PAT, you will also sign the consent for surgery form and learn what to expect during and after surgery including any instructions on how to prepare for and what to do after surgery.

It is important to complete your preoperative testing at least seven days but not less than three days before your scheduled surgery. Your anesthesiologist needs the results back in enough time to review and evaluate what is needed to administer the proper anesthesia for your type of procedure. The nursing staff, if ordered to, may need to administer intravenous drugs or antibiotics. This timing also allows for completing the check-in process, dealing with any concerns and answering any last-minute questions.