A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the Medicine B inpatient unit. Visitors are restricted to the unit with exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Click here to learn more.
Preparing for Surgery/Pre-op Clinics
About This Program
Pre-Operative Clinic
The Pre-op Clinic is located in Wing A, on the left hand-side by the main elevators, when you enter the hospital through the main entrance.
Plan to arrive one hour before your appointment time for registration by the Preop registration clerk.
Bring your Health Card and any forms your Surgeon has given to you – you will need them.
At the Pre-op Clinic you will meet with a Registered Nurse who will go over your medical history, arrange for you to have any x-rays and bloodwork done as ordered by your surgeon or anesthesiologist, and also answer any questions you may have about your surgery and your hospital stay. Bring all your medications in their original packaging and a complete medication list from your pharmacy.
If you require assistance with language translation, please arrange to have someone attend the appointment with you.
If your surgeon recommends it, you may also meet with an anesthesiologist for anesthesia assessment or an Internal Medicine Consult several days prior to your surgery. It is important to us that you feel comfortable about your surgical experience and we are happy to answer all of your questions.
Not all patients who come for surgery are asked to attend the Pre-op Clinic. Your surgeon will make that decision based on your medical history and the type of surgery planned. Children who are booked for surgery also receive pre-op teaching or Pediatrics
Staff try to arrange the schedule so each patient coming for surgery only comes to the hospital once for all the pre-op interviews and testing. This, however, takes time so please be prepared to be with us for a few hours.
If you need to change the date or time of your pre-appointment visit, call us at 519.621.2333 ext. 2500 to speak with a clerk or leave a message.
What I Need to Know
Please bring any personal assistive devices that you require for your appointment. For example, any communication or mobility device you many need like a walker, hearing aid, etc.
Planning for Your Surgery
Fever/Colds/Illnesses
Please call your surgeon if your health changes or if you develop a cold or any other illness in the week before your surgery.
Food and Drink
Do not eat anything after midnight the night before surgery. Between midnight and 4 hours before your surgery you may drink 8 oz of clear fluid (i.e. water, apple juice, clear tea or black coffee). Absolutely no eating, drinking, sucking on candy or chewing gum should take place during the 4 hours before your surgery.
Medications
On the morning of your surgery, take the medications as listed on the information sheet given to you by your surgeon. You may take a sip of water with the medication.
Smoking
The hospital is a smoke free environment and smoking is not permitted. Smoking increases anesthetic difficulties and breathing problems. Decreasing your smoking as much as possible prior to your surgery is very important. Please start to decrease your smoking as soon as you are booked for surgery.
