Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No fasting is required for this appointment. If you need to have lab work drawn, you still will not have to fast.
A family member or close friend is encouraged to attend with you, but this is not required.
Approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
The need for additional testing or lab work is determined on an individual basis. This is based on your medical history, the procedure you will be having, and anesthesia guidelines.
All medications can be taken as normal before your optimization visit. Medications to be taken on the day of your surgery will be reviewed at your optimization visit.
We participate with all major insurance companies. You may have a copay or deductible that would apply.
We assess and evaluate all your medical conditions including, diabetes, anemia, malnutrition, heart conditions, sleep apnea, smoking status, opioid addiction, high BMI, frailty, blood clotting disorders, and medication review.
Medically complicated patients whose medical issues are optimized prior to surgery have fewer complications and a better recovery from surgery. Medical issues, not surgical issues are the most common cause of complications that occur after surgery. For example, if a patient is has uncontrolled diabetes or is smoking prior to surgery, this puts the patient at a higher risk for non-healing wounds , pulmonary problems, and blood clots. Being optimized for surgery can also reduce the overall cost of care.
Perioperative medicine is a specialty that covers multiple areas including anesthesia, chronic disease management, medication management, and data organization. At the SOC we evaluate your specific risk for the procedure you are scheduled for. Often, primary care providers are not familiar with anesthesia guidelines and order tests that are inappropriate, expensive, and follow-up on these evaluations are often inadequate. Each patient assessment is reviewed by our medical director, Adam Edlund, MD, who is board certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine. Your optimization assessment will be shared with your surgeon and primary care provider.
Optimization is best performed for elective procedures and for those patients that are considered moderate to high risk. Some procedures are considered low risk and do not need to be optimized. For example, cataract surgery, EGD’s and colonoscopies. High risk procedures include, hip or knee procedures, vascular procedures, bariatric surgery, and cardiovascular procedures, would be best optimized.
At the SOC we are able to offer many services to optimize your health prior to your procedure. Many of these services we can assist you with in our office directly. This includes, smoking cessation, anemia services, medication instructions, and care management issues. Some services may require a referral to an outside provider. The goal is to ensure that you are optimized prior to your surgery to decrease your risk and enhance your recovery.