To help you be prepared for your surgery, we have put together some helpful information. If you have any questions not covered below, please talk with your doctor or health care team.
What to Expect at Your Preoperative Visit
Your doctor might ask you to come to The Ohio State Preoperative Assessment Center (OPAC) for the testing needed before your surgery. Your visit may include the following:
- Medical history and physical exam
- Blood tests
- Chest x-ray
- EKG
- Review of your medicines
- Referrals for other diagnostic testing
Your care team at OPAC may include medical assistants, nurses, advanced practice providers, general medicine doctors and anesthesiologists. The team will help coordinate your preoperative care needs and give you information about your upcoming surgery.
Preparing for Your Preoperative Visit
- You should bring the following items to your appointment:
- Any medicines, vitamins and supplements that you take in the original bottles.
- Do not bring medicines that must be refrigerated. If you have medicines that must stay cold, it is okay to bring a list of these medicines to share with the care team.
- If you use oxygen, please make sure you have enough oxygen to last for your appointment and to get back home.
- Write down any questions you may have and bring them with you to your appointment.
- You should plan to be at this appointment for about 2 hours.
- If you have any questions about your appointment with OPAC, you may call 614-366-7500.
At Your Preoperative Visit
- When you arrive at the Martha Morehouse Pavilion (2050 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43221), go to the registration desk on the first floor to check in for your appointment.
- Once you have registered, you will be directed to the OPAC Center located on the second floor. The center is on the right-hand side of the hall, past the stairs. Please let the person at the reception desk know that you are here for your appointment.
- You will be given written instructions about what you need to do before your surgery, including any new medicines you may need to take, or if you need to adjust any of your current medicines.•If you are told that you need to wash your skin with a special soap before surgery, we will give you the soap and directions for how to use it.
- The OPAC care team will update your surgeon about your visit and the information you were given to prepare for your surgery.
Preparing for Surgery
Our admitting office will call you before your surgery. They will verify your insurance, arrival and surgery times. Follow the instructions below before coming to the hospital:
- Your doctor or nurse will tell you when and what you can eat before your surgery. Only take the medicines your surgeon or anesthesiologist told you to take by mouth the morning of your surgery. You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow the water. It is important to have an empty stomach before surgery.
- Do not smoke after 6 p.m. the night before your surgery.
- You may take a bath or shower the morning of your surgery.
- Wear casual, loose-fitting clothing.
- Do not wear makeup, nail polish or hair pins.
- Please leave jewelry and other valuables at home.
- Bring a case for contact lenses or glasses.
- If you take medicines on a routine basis, please bring all medicine bottles to the hospital with you.
- Adult patients should be escorted by an adult.
- Arrive at the hospital, two hours before your surgery, or as directed by your surgeon’s office, to allow time to get you ready for surgery.
- If you have a living will or durable power of attorney, please bring a copy of the documents with you.
Parking Information
Valet Pick-Up/Drop-Off Point
University Hospital and The James
Mon-Fri: 5 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
Sat-Sun: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ross Heart Hospital and Brain and Spine Hospital
Mon-Fri: 5 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
After hours, please call 614-292-4955 to speak directly with the valet office.
Patients and visitors can also park at:
- *North and South Cannon Garages (1640 Cannon Drive)
- SAFEAUTO Hospitals Garage (1585 Westpark Street)
- 9th Avenue East Garage (345 W. 9th Avenue)
- *12th Avenue Garage (340 W. 12th Avenue)
*These garages are Pay-on Foot Garages. When entering the garage, you will pull a ticket. Be sure to keep the ticket with you throughout your visit. Pay “on foot” when you come back to the garage and pay at one of the terminals located in the elevator lobbies of the garages.
The Day of Your Surgery
On the day of your surgery, check in at the ground floor of The James (460 W. 10th Ave.) patient registration.
James Patient Registration: (614) 293-2378