The purpose of the pre-admission clinic (PAC) is to make sure that you are prepared for your surgery before you are admitted to hospital. This allows for you to stay at home until the day of your procedure.
The pre-admission clinic helps make sure that you:
- are medically fit for surgery,
- are aware of the instructions to follow to prepare for surgery,
- have made all the necessary plans for your recovery,
- and are informed about what to expect before and after surgery
How and when will I be told if I need a PAC appointment?
The hospital PAC staff will phone you before your surgery. This may be anywhere from 1 day to 4 weeks before your operation. Ideally, it will be within one week of your surgery. Some patients who are scheduled for day surgery are only contacted by PAC if they require anesthetic consultations or tests prior to their surgery.
What happens at a PAC appointment?
You may be given routine instructions over the phone or you may be asked to come in to PAC. In PAC, you may talk with a nurse, another medical professional and/or have a consultation with anesthesiologist. You may also need to have blood or other tests done. It is helpful to have all your tests done at the hospital where you are having surgery.
Where are the PACs located?
Pre-admission Clinics are located at most hospitals that offer surgery on Vancouver Island. The exceptions are VGH where the PAC is located at Eagle Creek Village, and NRGH, where the PAC is at the Colvile Medical Centre. The PAC staff will give you directions to the clinic when they contact you about your appointment.
