What To Expect

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.

New Clinical Space Designed To Decrease Wait Times in the Emergency Department

Plymouth, Mass. – As part of its mission to advance extraordinary care in the community, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth (BID Plymouth) has broken ground on a new observation unit building — a 7,000 square foot, single-story, modular addition that will include 25 bays for incoming, non-acute patients who can be admitted for observation and testing before they are provided care in the emergency department.

“Emergency medicine is a critical, frontline service that we are proud to provide to Plymouth and the surrounding communities,” said Tenny Thomas, MD, chief medical officer, BID Plymouth. “This new clinical space will further enhance our patients’ and caregivers’ experiences, providing a comfortable space for patients to have medical tests performed before they are seen by an emergency department physician — and will further support our mission to provide the very best, evidence-based emergency care.”

This ambitious $14 million capital project will be located adjacent to the main entrance of the hospital, and will be accessible through the ground floor, 280 feet from the emergency department. The unit’s close proximity to the emergency department will streamline patient flow, leading to reduced wait times, and the expanded space will improve patient comfort with larger rooms.

In addition to significant investment by the hospital, BID Plymouth is actively raising philanthropic funds to support this critical project. The observation unit will be named in recognition of long-time supporters of BID Plymouth and lead donors to this capital project, Malcolm and Luli MacNaught and their family.

“We are very grateful to our supporters in the community who are helping us make this observation unit possible,” said Kevin Coughlin, president of BID Plymouth. “Like so many in healthcare organizations, we have experienced record numbers of visits to our emergency department. The new unit will expand our capabilities and allow patients to wait comfortably in a designated space, saving time and increasing our patients’ satisfaction when they entrust us with their care.”

The hospital anticipates to have the new observation unit open for patients by October 2023.

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.

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.