What To Expect with Anesthesia Care
Safe, high-quality care close to home
Anesthesiology Care
Pre-Admission Testing
You deserve a surgery program designed with your comfort and convenience in mind. At Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth, we provide safe, high-quality care close to home.
During pre-admission testing, we will interview you to learn more about your medical history. Your doctor’s office will schedule this appointment one to two weeks before your surgery. Telephone interviews are an option for some patients. This appointment may take up to two hours. A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under 18 years.
Please bring the completed Anesthesia Questionnaire with you to your Pre-Admission Testing appointment. This appointment may include any of the following:
- Anesthesia interview
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Lab tests
- Physical therapy consults when needed
- Registration
- Surgical nurse interview
- X-rays
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to register.
What to Bring to Your Pre-Admission Testing Appointment
- One of the following forms of personal identification:
- A government-issued picture identification or current Massachusetts driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued I.D.
- All insurance information.
- Please complete the Health Care Proxy form and bring it to your Pre-Admission Testing visit and/or day of surgery. If you already have a Health Care Proxy, please bring a signed copy to your Pre-Admission Testing appointment.
Reviewing Your Medical History
It’s important to share your medical history with our team to receive the best care during your surgery.
Plymouth, Mass. – For the thirteenth time in a row, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth (BID Plymouth) has earned an “A” grade for its continued commitment to patient safety in the Fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. The ratings signify how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm, including medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital.
“At BID Plymouth, our first priority is in providing high quality care in a safe environment,” said Kevin Coughlin, president, BID Plymouth. “Our clinicians and staff go above and beyond for their patients, and we are honored to receive this national recognition for the thirteenth time in a row as a reflection of their continued commitment.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are determined with the guidance of an expert panel using 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data. Grades of A, B, C, D and F are assigned to more than 2,700 U.S. hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, of which this community should be extremely proud,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times.”
To see BID Plymouth’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit The Leapfrog Group website.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth (BID Plymouth) is a non-profit healthcare and hospice provider, serving 250,000 residents of 12 towns in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. BID Plymouth is a full-service, 170-bed acute care community hospital accredited by The Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and the American College of Radiology.
BID Plymouth is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,800 physicians and 36,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
Tell Your Anesthesiologist About:
Our anesthesiologists receive extensive training on managing chronic conditions that may need attention during surgery. If you have diabetes, asthma, heart problems, arthritis or other health issues, please let us know. This will help us best care for you before and after your surgery.
Tell your doctor if you have any food and drug allergies.
Cigarettes and alcohol affect the lungs, heart, liver and blood. They also change the way an anesthetic drug works during surgery. It is essential to let your surgeon and anesthesiologist know about past, recent and current use of these substances. Your surgery can be a motivator to quit smoking. Our doctors, nurses and other health professionals are here to give you support. Quitting will help you heal and recover faster. It also reduces your risk of heart disease and cancer.
Some commonly used herbal products may cause changes in your heart rate, blood pressure and may increase bleeding. Tell your care team if you take ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginger or ginseng. St. John's Wort and kava may increase the time a sedative stays in your body, making you sleep longer. It is best to stop taking all herbal supplements two to three weeks before surgery, but be sure to speak with your doctor prior to making herbal supplement changes.
Tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist about any prescription and over-the-counter medications you have recently taken. Your doctors need to know if you take aspirin daily or dietary supplements, since they can prolong bleeding and interfere with muscle relaxants used by anesthesiologists. You must stop some medicines, such as blood thinners, for a period before surgery. Speak with your doctor before stopping any medications.
All conversations between you and your doctors are confidential. Your doctors must know if you have taken drugs recently or in the past. This allows your doctor to provide you with the safest anesthesia possible.
Surgery Day
It is important to be prepared for your surgery. Follow the instructions from your doctors office.
Don't Eat After Midnight the Day Before Your Surgery
Your doctor will remind you not to eat or drink after midnight unless your surgeon has given other instructions; this includes gum and hard candy. If your surgery is after noon and you don't have a history of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes or obesity, you may have a small amount of clear liquids four hours before the scheduled procedure.
Water, black coffee (NO MILK OR CREAM), black tea, ginger ale, gatorade, apple juice, white grape juice and white cranberry juice are clear liquids. Be sure to discuss restrictions during your pre-admission testing visit.
What To Expect
- Don't wear jewelry to the hospital on the day of your surgery. If you forget, give your jewelry to the person who took you to the hospital.
- Before surgery, your anesthesiologist will meet with you again to review your medical history and discuss the results of any tests you may have had before surgery. By learning about your medical history and studying your medical tests, your anesthesiologist will clearly understand your needs. This keeps you safe during surgery.
- Because it is unsafe to drive after receiving anesthesia, you will need a responsible adult to take you home. You cannot take a bus or taxi.
- When you leave the hospital, an adult should stay with you for 24 hours after anesthesia. It takes that long for the anesthesia to wear off.
- If you feel you may have a medical emergency, call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room. If you aren't feeling well, but don't believe it is an emergency, contact your surgeon and/or primary care doctor. You can also contact BID Plymouth Pre-Admission Testing Department at 508-830-2903.
Get Started
Take the first step on your journey toward better health.
