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Stanford Health Care

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic

Experts in Preoperative Anesthesia Assessment

If you are scheduled for surgery, you may have questions about anesthesia and pain control. Our goal at the Stanford Preoperative Anesthesia Evaluation Clinic is to give you all the information you need to set your mind at ease about the safety of anesthesia and relief of post-surgical discomfort.

As national leaders in preoperative anesthesia evaluation, our doctors work with medically complex and/or frail patients that other providers may decline to treat. We work with thousands of patients each year including many who travel to us from around the country and the world.

We go far beyond the usual history and physical to thoroughly evaluate your medical history and conditions before you have surgery. You can access our services at multiple convenient locations in the Bay Area.

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic at Stanford Hospital
900 Blake Wilbur Dr
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: 650-498-5332 Getting Here
Additional Locations (3)
Contact Us
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Stanford School of Medicine Dept of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine

Care and Treatment

Preoperative Assessment for Anesthesia

At Stanford, we take preoperative anesthesia evaluation to a high level of thoroughness. Our Stanford medical director literally wrote the book on this topic; his chapter on preoperative evaluation appears in the leading anesthesia textbook used by medical schools around the country.

When you visit us, we will obtain a detailed medical history and review your past and current test results and medications to create an anesthesia care plain tailored to your unique health needs. We thoroughly review your records from other doctors, and we will pick up the telephone and call your other providers to get clarification on any confusing information in your chart.  

Learn more about what to expect.

Leaders in Anesthesia at Stanford

Stanford anesthesiologists have pioneered many advances in the field. The pulse oximeter device that goes on your finger to measure your oxygen levels was developed right here at Stanford as a tool for anesthesiologists in the operating room. Our legacy of innovation continues today with clinical trials seeking to understand pain and the effects of anesthesia.

Our anesthesiologists work with thousands of patients each, including those who have traveled from across the country to obtain our expertise. Because of this deep experience, we are able to work with even the most medically complex patients.

Five Anesthesia Clinics

You can obtain the expertise of Stanford anesthesiologists at one of our multiple preoperative evaluation locations in the Bay Area, depending on your specific surgery. When you set your surgery appointment, your surgeon’s scheduler will let you know which clinic location will do your evaluation.. Your surgeon’s office will schedule your preoperative evaluation appointment for you.

Personalized Anesthesia Care at Stanford

We genuinely put you at the center of your anesthesia experience. We tailor every aspect of our services to meet your needs as best we can. We strive to provide you with personalized and coordinated anesthetic care.

If you would feel better listening to music through earbuds as you go to the operating room, it is certainly a possibility. If you experience chronic neck or back pain and would like extra pillows or different positioning to relieve your discomfort prior to receiving anesthesia, we will do everything we can to promote your comfort. We accommodate as many of your reasonable requests as possible.

If you have experienced issues with anesthesia in the past, we take the time to really listen to your concerns. We aim to partner with you to achieve the best possible outcome when you receive anesthesia. Meet your anesthesia team for surgery at Stanford.

For Patients

Stanford Health Care is known worldwide for the advanced patient care provided by its doctors and staff. We also provide a wide range of guest services and amenities to our patients and visitors. Learn more about preparing for a hospital stay, billing and financial services, and our other support programs in Patients & Visitors.  

We plan to perform a very thorough assessment of your readiness for anesthesia. You can help us in this process by obtaining past and current medical records, test results and films. When we have access to all of this information, we may be able to avoid sending you for additional testing.

Anesthesia Evaluation: What to Bring

Please bring the following to your anesthesia evaluation appointment, if you have them:

  • Medical records
  • Laboratory test results
  • Cardiac test results, including ECG and stress test results
  • Contact information for your physician(s)

If you have questions about whether or not you should bring a particular document or test result, please do bring it with you.

You may hand carry these items to your appointment to the clinic where you will have your preoperative evaluation or fax them in advance.

Contact Us

650-724-1429

RESOURCES

For Health Care Professionals

At Stanford, we work with medically complex and frail patients other anesthesia providers decline to treat. While many anesthesia providers won’t evaluate a patient until a surgery date is set, we will see high-risk patients for a consult-only appointment in advance to determine if they meet the necessary criteria to receive anesthesia.

HOW TO REFER

Fax a referral form with supporting documentation to 650-320-9443.

PHYSICIAN HELPLINE

Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.

You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.

 

High-Risk Patients: Anesthesia Readiness Evaluation

At Stanford we understand sometimes even the sickest patients require non-emergent surgery to extend their life or improve their quality of life. If you have questions about your patient’s readiness for anesthesia, or if another provider has declined to treat your patient, the Stanford Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic will evaluate your high-risk patients and make recommendations regarding how to prepare them for anesthesia

Schedule a High-Risk Consult-only Appointment

Surgeons and other providers may make an appointment directly with any of the four Stanford Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic locations. Please advise your patients about what to expect and what to bring with them to their appointment.

What if My Patient Does Not Meet the Criteria for Anesthesia?

If we find your patient is not a candidate for anesthesia, we will work with them to optimize their health to prepare them for anesthesia. We offer:

  • In-patient optimization for patients that need intensive support
  • Nutrition counseling when baseline health needs a boost
  • Other supportive services as required on a per-case basis
  • Frequent communication with the patient’s surgeon and other medical clinicians to keep everyone informed of the individual’s progress
  • Send referrals online
  • Place radiology and lab orders
  • View referral status
  • Access medical records

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Contact Us

For general inquires or questions about anesthesiology or perioperative care, call:

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic at Stanford Hospital:
650-724-1429

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic at Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center:
650-721-7852

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic at Stanford Cancer Center South Bay:
408-426-4900

Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic at Byers Eye Institute:
650-723-6995