What To Expect with Anesthesia Care

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.

Recognized for Commitment to Racial Equity in Hospital-Based Breastfeeding Support

Plymouth, Mass. – In recognition of its commitment to racial equity in hospital-based breastfeeding support, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth (BID Plymouth) has been honored with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Breastfeeding Achievement Award. BID Plymouth was one of only 15 birthing facilities in the state to receive this recognition at the recent Breastfeeding in the Bay State virtual conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.

“Attaining excellent patient outcomes for new families, which includes optimum infant nutrition, is of the utmost importance,” said Linda Burke, MSN, director of The BirthPlace at BID Plymouth. “We are honored to be acknowledged by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the efforts we have made to support breastfeeding and foster equitable care for diverse patients and families we serve.”

To support families who do not speak English or who speak English as a second language, many of whom speak Portuguese, BID Plymouth provides interpreter services in person, over the phone, or via Video Remote Interpreter Services. The care team also has a dedicated iPad earmarked for interpreter-only use to support patient communications. The hospital also paid special attention to designing its breastfeeding education materials to ensure images used reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of its patients.

“We are grateful to our exceptional care team, which puts our new parents and their babies first, working so hard to set these families up for successful infant nutrition by providing accessible education support and materials,” said Kevin Coughlin, president of BID Plymouth. “Healthy nutrition is critical for newborns, and we are thankful to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for recognizing our team’s hard work and commitment to our patients.”

The DPH area of focus in 2021 was “Improving Racial Equity in Hospital-Based Breastfeeding Support.” Examples of best practices include:

• Increasing access to standardized maternity care practices that are supportive of breastfeeding for all individuals regardless of race and/or ethnicity.
• Examining breastfeeding-related data by race and ethnicity to inform planning and ensure equitable access to services.
• Hiring breastfeeding support staff (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants, Certified Lactation Counselors, Peer Counselors, etc.) who represent the community you serve in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, and language.
• Increasing access to breastfeeding education materials/classes in a variety of languages.
• Utilizing marketing and/or educational materials that feature families from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

BID Plymouth is also a Baby-Friendly Designated Hospital. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 to promote, support, and encourage breastfeeding.

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.