The Department of Anesthesiology opened the comprehensive UW Health Pre-Anesthesia Clinic on Oct 3, 2023. The clinic expands our reach to better evaluate and prepare patients for surgery. Additionally, the Pre-Anesthesia Clinic results in improved patient and health system outcomes, and increased provider, patient, and family satisfaction. The clinic is directed by Dr. William Hartman, who brings his expertise and experience in augmenting pre-anesthesia care systems. Dr. Hartman and the anesthesia faculty are the primary staff, supported by our APPs Anne Barnett, Robyn Brown, Erika Prell, our current PASS Clinic RNs, and our rotating residents.
PROVIDING PATIENT-CENTRIC CARE
Timely preparation of surgical patients decreases their risk of complications and reduces costs related to longer hospital stays and readmissions. The new clinic, located in East Madison Hospital, dramatically increases the number of surgical patients we consult each year — from approximately 6,000 to more than 22,000.
Historically, our pre-anesthesia surgical service (PASS) clinic nurses performed chart reviews and screened phone calls to risk-stratify patients that surgical clinics had identified as high-risk. In contrast, our new, comprehensive pre-anesthesia clinic risk-stratifies patients based on comorbidities and/or surgical risk and allows for both in-person and virtual patient consults.
FUTURE FOCUSED
Over time, we expect the new clinic to become a perioperative service, with a greater focus on optimization of patients, and an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach to many service lines. Eventually, it also will provide pre-habilitation for patients in need of baseline health improvements prior to surgery.
