At Salem Health, your safety is our top priority and to ensure the safest surgery experience possible, we have created the Preanesthesia Testing Clinic. The purpose of this clinic is to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery and make sure you have a safe and efficient surgical experience from start to finish.
Have you ever heard the term “cleared” for surgery? That simply means you are medically healthy enough for both anesthesia and your surgical procedure. That’s where the PAT clinic comes in. We thoroughly evaluate your health before you go into the operating room and that lays the foundation for the best possible outcomes.
Our purpose is to evaluate your health in detail so that our entire surgical care team can minimize complications and provide the safest surgical experience possible. Based upon your medical history and the type of surgery you need, your surgeon may refer you to our PAT clinic for further evaluation.
PAT visits can be in-person (fifth floor of Salem Hospital Building C) or a video visit. In-office visits include a physical examination, a review of your blood work and EKG, and a possible order for additional testing. Most patients will only need one PAT visit to be cleared for surgery.
The PAT team consists of registered nurses and advanced practice providers under the guidance of an anesthesiologist. Depending on your overall health and type of upcoming surgery or procedure, your visit will be with an advanced practice provider or a registered nurse.
A scheduled meeting with your surgeon will take place at their office. In most cases, you will not meet with your anesthesiologist until the day of your surgery.