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. You must complete all steps of the process to be sure that you are registered. This should take about 15 minutes. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you begin.

By Phone
If you are pre-registering for a test or procedure, or are having surgery and do not wish to pre-register online, please call (415) 600-2500 to speak with an admitting representative. Call us as soon as your test, procedure or surgery is scheduled. The admitting staff will help you complete all necessary forms. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you begin.

* All patients are required to complete Step 2 *

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Step 2 - Health History

Step 2 involves speaking with a nurse who will take your health history and explain what testing is necessary before your surgery / procedure and answer your questions.

Please note:

  • If you complete Step 1 online, a nurse will call you at the time you requested on the online form.
  • 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 an appointment for you to complete any required testing before your surgery, test or procedure. This appointment should take 15-30 minutes. The nurse will tell you where to go for your test(s).

If a pre-procedure appointment is scheduled, please bring the following information with you. If you pre-register by phone, bring this information with you 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.
* Pre-Registration is Complete *

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Prepare For Your Surgery, Test or Procedure

  • Ask your regular (primary) doctor if you need a physical exam before your surgery, test or procedure.

  • Call your surgeon's/doctor's office the day before to confirm the time of your scheduled 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.

  • If you have had something to eat or drink, please tell your surgeon.

  • Drink plenty of fluids before midnight the night before to make sure you are hydrated.

  • Do not shave before surgery. This helps prevent infection at the site of surgery.

  • You are strongly encouraged not to smoke or drink alcohol for 24 hours before your surgery, test or procedure.

  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, test or procedure. Note: You may not go home alone in a taxi or on public transportation.

  • 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 fever or cold.
  • you have had an infection recently.
  • you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

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Your Medications

  • Check with Your Doctor About the Medicines You Are Taking

    • Ask your surgeon/primary doctor if and when you should stop taking any of your regular medicines including vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and herbal preparations 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.

  • Write Down a List of Your Current Medicines to Review with the Nurse
    • The nurse will speak with you about the medicines you may need to take with a sip of water on the day of your surgery, test or procedure.
    • 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 before your surgery, test or procedure. 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 before your surgery, test or procedure.
    • 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, before your surgery, test or procedure.
  • Your surgeon/primary doctor may ask you to bring all of your current medicines in their properly labeled 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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At the Hospital

On the Day of Your Surgery, Test or Procedure

  • Patients are generally asked to arrive 1– 2 hours before the scheduled surgery, test, or procedure. Please confirm the arrival time with your surgeon's office.

  • Your care, comfort and privacy are our main concerns. Our goal is to make sure that your surgery, test or procedure is on time (within 30 minutes of the scheduled time). Sometimes there are delays. We will keep you informed if delays occur.

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

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

  • Do not wear or bring wedding bands, other jewelry or body piercings, or valuables like cash, credit cards, or checkbooks. Pack a small overnight bag with your personal items, if needed.

  • 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.

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.
  • Tell your nurses and doctors if you have pain.
  • 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


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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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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 medical 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, please call 415-600-0711.

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

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More Ways to Learn

Visit our Ambulatory Surgery page.

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: 1/08

© 2005-2008 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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