Barnes-Jewish Hospital
North Campus
216 S. Kingshighway Blvd.
Shoenberg Pavilion
St. Louis, MO 63110
For Appointments call:
(314) 362-4275
1-800-828-3783
Fax: 314-362-0434
For questions call:
(314) 454-8134
If you need surgery, a visit to the Center for Preoperative Assessment & Planning (C•PAP), is an important step you will take along this path of care.
Center for Preoperative Assessment & Planning is a unit of Barnes-Jewish Hospital where important information about your health can be gathered before surgery. The Center for Preoperative Assessment and Planning team includes a group of anesthesiologists, advanced practitioners, nurses, laboratory technicians and secretaries who are responsible for making sure you are medically ready for your scheduled operation.
We want your day of surgery to be safe, smooth and well-planned. To help ensure this, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University have developed this unit to complete a preoperative evaluation. Your visit will provide the C•PAP team with enough information to decide if you are medically ready for your scheduled surgery. Occasionally, we discover an undiagnosed medical problem or a current medical condition that is not under control. If the team at C•PAP finds that you are not medically ready for surgery, or that your medical condition is very complicated, we will discuss our evaluation with your surgeon and recommend the testing or treatment you should receive before and after your surgery. This information becomes part of your medical record.
During your appointment, the health care team at C•PAP will:
In most cases, surgery will not be delayed or cancelled. However if your medical condition worsens between your C•PAP visit and the day of surgery, your operation could be postponed or cancelled. Sometimes a simple cold or other infection could be reason enough for postponing your day of surgery.
Please call and make your appointment as soon as your surgeon schedules your operation to ensure a timely date. We advise you to make your appointment at C•PAP at least five to seven days before surgery especially if your medical history is complex. This is to allow for potential further testing.
You will be evaluated by an anesthesiologist immediately prior to your operation. In general, this is not a problem if you are healthy or have a medical condition that is well controlled. However, if the anesthesiologist determines that you are not medically ready for surgery, your operation may be delayed or cancelled.
Your C•PAP visit does not require you to be without food or drink. Be advised though, that sometimes your surgeon schedules other testing on the same day as your C•PAP appointment. Please verify those restrictions with your surgeon.