Learning About Your Health

Pre-Registration for a Surgery, Test or Procedure

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Pre-Registration and Learning Center

Tel # (415) 600-2500
1825 Sacramento Street at Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
Free Valet Parking

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What is Pre-Registration?

Pre-registration is a two-step process that you must complete before having a surgery, test or procedure at California Pacific Medical Center.

Note: We encourage those who do not speak English to have an English-speaking family member or friend help them with this process.

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Step 1 - Pre-Registration

Online (only for patients having surgery)
Complete the Surgery Pre-Registration form for the campus where your surgery is scheduled. Your registration will be processed within one business day of receipt. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you begin.

By Phone
If you do not wish to pre-register online, please call (415) 600-2500 to speak with an admitting representative. (Call us 1 – 2 weeks before your scheduled surgery or procedure if you wish to complete both steps by telephone.) The admitting staff will help you complete all necessary forms. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you begin.

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Step 2 - Health History

A nurse will take your health history, answer your questions and explain what testing is necessary before your surgery, test or procedure.

Please note:

  • If you complete Step 1 online, a nurse will call you at the time you requested on the online form about 1 – 2 weeks before your surgery, test or procedure.
  • If you complete Step 1 by phone, the nurse may take your health history during this call.
Based on your health status, the nurse may schedule a pre-procedure appointment for you to complete any required testing before you come to the hospital. This appointment should take 15 – 30 minutes. The nurse will tell you where to go for your test(s).

Please bring the following information with you to your pre-procedure appointment (if needed) and to your surgery, test or procedure.
  • Any paperwork from your doctor.
  • Your insurance card.
  • A list of medications that you are currently taking.
  • Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Advance Healthcare Directive).
  • Guardians/Conservators: Guardians of a child under the age of 18 or Conservators acting as the legal representative of an adult patient who is unable to consent on his/her own behalf must bring documentation that establishes them as the person authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.
Map to Pre-Registration and Learning Center at 1825 Sacramento Street

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At the Hospital

On the Day of Your Surgery, Test or Procedure

Arrival Time: Adults are generally asked to arrive 90 minutes before the scheduled surgery, test, or procedure. Pediatric patients are asked to arrive one hour before the scheduled surgery or procedure. Please confirm the arrival time with your surgeon's office on the working day before surgery.

Delays: Your care, comfort and privacy are our main concerns. Our goal is to make sure that your surgery, test or procedure starts within 30 minutes of the scheduled time. Please know that we will take the time needed to safely and thoroughly care for you, which can sometimes cause delays. We will keep you informed if delays occur.

Medicines: Take only the medicines that you were told to by the nurse or surgeon/primary doctor - with a sip of water.

Clothing: Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Bring cases for glasses, contact lenses, and dentures. You will need to remove them before your surgery, test or procedure.

Your Valuables: Do not wear or bring wedding bands, body piercings, other jewelry, cash, credit cards, or checkbooks. Pack a small overnight bag with your personal items if your surgeon has told you that you will be staying overnight.

Staying Overnight: If you are staying overnight after your surgery, our standard discharge time is 11:00 a.m. Arrange for someone to drive you home. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if there is a medical reason for you to stay longer.

Surgical Waiting Area

During your surgery, test or procedure, your family and friends may wait in the waiting area. The staff will keep your family and friends well informed.

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For Children Having a Surgery, Test or Procedure


Admitting a child to the hospital is a stressful time for the whole family. Our Child Life Specialist can help you and your child become more familiar and comfortable with the hospital environment before admission. This program can help children understand and deal with any procedure, and also helps create a “home like” environment. Playroom activities help siblings understand and be involved with the family’s hospital experience, as well as the transition back to normal routines.

To schedule an appointment with our Child Life Specialist before the procedure, please call (415) 600-0711.

Parents of a child admitted for a surgery, test or procedure must watch their child closely to be sure that all pre-surgical instructions are followed, especially fasting before the procedure.

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Prepare For Your Surgery, Test or Procedure

  • Call your surgeon's/doctor's office the day before to confirm your arrival time.
  • Check with Your Doctor About the Medicines You Are Taking. Ask your surgeon or primary doctor if and when you should stop taking any of your regular medicines (such as blood thinners and diabetes medicines) or vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements.
  • Your nurse will tell you which medicines to take, with a sip of water, on the day of your surgery, test or procedure.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight (12:00 a.m.) the night before your surgery, test or procedure. This includes coffee, water, hard candy, and chewing gum, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. You need to have an empty stomach in order to be sedated safely.
  • Tell your surgeon if you have had something to eat or drink.
  • Drink plenty of fluids before midnight the night before to make sure you are hydrated.
  • Do not shave before surgery. We care about your safety and this helps prevent infection at the site of surgery.
  • You are strongly encouraged not to smoke or drink alcohol for 24 hours before your hospital stay.
  • Arrange for someone to take you home after your hospital stay. Note: You may not go home alone in a taxi or on public transportation. You must have a responsible adult with you when you leave the hospital. If you do not, your surgery may be canceled.
  • Arrange for someone to stay with you at home on the night of your surgery, test or procedure. If you have children in your care, arrange babysitting for at least 24 hours after your return home.
Call your surgeon/primary doctor immediately if:
  • there are any changes in your health condition, such as a cold, flu or fever.
  • you have recently had an infection.
  • you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

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Your Medications

  • Bring a Medication List to the Hospital
    • If you are taking blood-thinning medicines or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory medicines, call your surgeon/primary doctor and ask if and/or when you should stop taking them. Blood-thinning medicines include Aspirin, Coumadin (Warfarin), and Plavix (Clopidogrel). Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory medicines include Naprosyn (Naproxen), Advil (Ibuprofen), and Motrin (Ibuprofen).
    • If you are taking medicines for diabetes, such as Glucophage (Metformin), Micronase (Glyburide), or Glucotrol (Glipizide), call your surgeon/primary doctor and ask when you should stop taking these medicines.
    • If you are taking insulin, ask your surgeon/primary doctor about the dosage (amount) and type of insulin you should take, or whether NOT to take your insulin beforehand.
    • If you are taking vitamins or herbal supplements, call your surgeon/primary doctor and ask if you should stop taking these before your surgery, test or procedure.
  • Fill New Prescriptions
    Ask if you should fill new prescriptions, including pain medicine, before your surgery, test or procedure.
  • Your surgeon/primary doctor may ask you to bring all of your current medicines in their original containers to the hospital. Bring only the medicines you are asked to bring.

    Note: For patient safety, please give any and all medicines from home to the nursing staff.     Medicine brought from home will not be used during your stay in the hospital unless it is not available from the hospital pharmacy. Your medicines will be returned to you when you are ready to go home.

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Our Concern for Your Comfort

Although there may be some discomfort after a surgery, test or procedure, keeping your pain under control speeds your recovery. When you are comfortable, you are better able to walk, breathe deeply, and cough.

  • Your doctors and nurses will frequently ask you to tell them your pain level.

  • Do not wait until the pain is severe (very bad) before you ask for pain medicine.

  • You can help your doctors and nurses "rate" your pain using the pain scale below. A 0 on the scale means no pain, and a 10 on the scale means the worst pain you can imagine.
0-10 Numeric Pain Intensity Scale

Pain Intensity Scale. Choose a number between 0 to 10 that best describes your pain.

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When You Go Home


You will receive instructions for your home care before leaving the hospital. Be sure that you understand these instructions and follow them carefully. Check with your doctors if you have questions or concerns.

To plan for your care at home, ask your doctor or nurse about:

  • any new medicines you will be taking
  • warning signs for when to call your doctor
  • your follow-up care
  • what kinds of activities are safe to do (climb stairs, exercise, lifting weight, etc.)
  • any special equipment needs

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More Ways to Learn

Go to our Ambulatory Surgery page for more information on your procedure, including guided imagery sessions, lodging, and CPMC shuttle services

Note: Our goal is to provide very good (level 5) service throughout your visit. Please let us know at anytime if we did not meet this expectation. In order to continually improve our service, you may receive a written satisfaction survey in the mail shortly after your visit. Please complete the survey and let us know why any score is less than very good (level 5) so we can address any issues or concerns.


Produced by the Center for Patient and Community Education in association with the staff and physicians at California Pacific Medical Center. Last updated: 8/09

© 2005-2009 California Pacific Medical Center

Funded by: A generous donation from the Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Ciocca Foundation.

Note: This information is not meant to replace any information or personal medical advice which you get directly from your doctor(s). If you have any questions about this information, such as the risks or benefits of the treatment listed, please ask your doctor(s).

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