The Preadmission Testing Clinic (PAT) with UF Health Anesthesiology – Jacksonville is a specialty unit for evaluation of elective and urgent surgical patients scheduled for surgery at UF Health. This includes, but is not limited to, GI, radiology and obstetrical C-sections. Evaluations are either in person or by telephone, with telemedicine access also forthcoming. Thorough evaluations (medical history, allergies, medications and labs/diagnostics), review for optimization, patient education and patient safety are the cornerstones.

The PAT unit features administrative and clinical staff. Patients are contacted by registered nurses who provide the baseline evaluation, including detailed histories. Complex or high-risk patients are referred for assessments and detailed evaluation by the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Extensive reviews, clinical evaluations and diagnostics are performed. Strong collaboration exists between the APRN and PAT anesthesiologist for patients with extensive issues. The goal is optimization of the surgical patient, simultaneously providing accurate and pertinent patient-care information for the anesthesia team.

As an essential component of their training, anesthesiology residents are involved in extensive reviews, clinical evaluations and diagnostics of PAT patients. Registered nurses refer complex patients and high-risk patients for assessments. They are instrumental in consultations on inpatients who have an emergent or urgent surgery. We are also key participants with the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol program. As a teaching facility, we are committed to educating medical students, residents and fellows, as well as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and other advanced practice nurses, AA’s and PA’s. Nursing students from a variety of programs are also provided high-quality educational opportunities.