Patient Care

Questions to Ask Before Surgery

Like all qualified medical professionals, our  anesthesiologists welcome and encourage questions about surgical procedures and the anesthesia experience. In fact, studies show that well informed patients heal faster and report a better overall surgical experience. Here are some questions you may want to ask your surgeon and PA anesthesiologist about what to expect before, during and after surgery. Be sure that all of your questions are answered clearly and completely.

What are your qualifications? How many procedures like this have you done?    Who else might be involved with my anesthesia care?   Will I meet with an anesthesiologist before surgery? Do you monitor my heart and breathing? What else? Do you have a 24-hour recovery room? If not, where will I recover?   What are the qualifications of the personnel in the recovery room, and is an anesthesiologist on call to respond to the recovery room?   Who will manage my pain control needs after surgery?

One of the most informative healthcare websites is found at: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/. 
You can key in any word or phrase the best suits your question regarding your anesthesia care, and the site will take you to a discussion on that topic.  There are also many helpful tips and important things to know about your anesthesia care, including what to expect before, during and after your anesthesia.