What is Pre-Admission Testing in Hospital?

Pre-admission testing gives both the patient the opportunity to ask any questions about their forthcoming operation and it’s also necessary from a medical standpoint in order to make sure that the patient is in a fit and healthy state to undergo the surgery and to advise the patient about anything they should or should not be doing as well as outlining what’s going to happen before, during and after the surgery has been completed.

Pre-admission testing will follow a similar pattern more often than not but may vary and will be structured according to the type of procedure that is being carried out. The tests will usually be carried out a few days to a week before you’re due to go into surgery.

What Does Pre-Admission Testing Involve?

A routine pre-admission testing procedure will include things like a review of your medical history and a thorough physical examination. It can look at both your previous and current medical conditions as well as considering any previous treatment or surgery you’ve had performed and it will also be where any medications you are currently taking can be discussed as well as any allergies you might suffer from which might have an effect upon your time in the hospital.

Depending on the type of surgery you’re undertaking, it may also require you to have specific tests carried out which may involve drawing a blood sample or having an ECG etc.

Instructions

Once the tests have been administered, then based around the results of those in addition to general guidelines with regards to the procedure itself, you will be given instructions as to what is expected of you prior to the day you attend your operation. This is likely to include details of when you’re required to stop eating and drinking in the run up to the operation, information about continuing or temporarily discontinuing with any medications you are taking - in fact, your consultant might tell you to bring all the medications you are taking along to the pre-admission test with you.

You’ll be advised to stop smoking, if you haven’t already stopped and about any activities you might need to curtail just prior to the surgery. Additionally, you’ll be advised on what items to bring with you to the hospital and what items you’re not permitted to bring.

Your Questions

Once the test and all of the relevant information has been passed on to you by the consultant, this will probably be your final opportunity to have any of your questions or concerns answered in any great detail. Therefore, it’s always useful if you’ve prepared a list of questions you’ll want answering before you come for the test as you’ll often find that without a list, you’re likely to come away thinking that you’ve forgotten to ask the consultant something quite important. There is another useful article contained on this website which will give you more details on the kinds of questions you may care to ask.

It’s also a good idea to take a pen and notebook with you to jot down any useful information you’re given. However, even if you forget, your consultant will usually give you a handout with all the vital information regarding your preparations before the day of surgery.