COVID-19 Testing Required for Some Surgery / Procedure Patients
All patients scheduled for a surgery/procedure that requires anesthesia will be tested for COVID-19 prior to their procedure, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status. (This includes women scheduled to have a C-section.) We encourage these patients to be tested at least 72 hours before their scheduled procedure, when possible. For more information about this requirement, please call our PAT team at 941-917-2425.
Click here to visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage for the latest information on hospital policies.
Surgery at Sarasota Memorial
When you need surgery, you want the best surgeons using the most advanced techniques and minimally invasive tools available. Sarasota Memorial has more than 300 general, trauma and specialty surgeons on staff. Collectively, they perform more than 23,000 surgeries and procedures each year in 34 operating rooms at Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and the adjacent Cape Outpatient Surgery Center.
At SMH-Sarasota, surgeons are available around the clock for patients suffering from traumatic accidents or other medical emergencies.
For physician referrals by specialty or location, call 941-917-7777 or browse our online physician directory.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
An increasing number of surgeries today are performed as minimally invasive procedures, in which our surgeons use the most advanced technologies available for laparoscopic, endoscopic and robotic surgery. For more information, click here: robotic and minimally invasive surgery options.
Same-day Surgery
Many routine, same-day surgeries can be performed at the Cape Outpatient Surgery Center, which is owned and operated by Sarasota Memorial. The center is accredited by the Joint Commission, and all of our registered nurses are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). The anesthesiology department provides the same high-quality care, experience, equipment and patient monitoring found in Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s operating suites. Call 941-917-1900 for more information.
Pre-surgery Testing
What to Bring to PAT
- Completed Anesthesia Questionnaire. (Click here for a printable PDF.)
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, if you've been vaccinated and choose to defer pre-procedure COVID-19 testing; a hard copy of the vaccination record is preferred.
- List of your current medications (including over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements); be sure to note the dosage for each and how often you take them.
- List of past surgical procedures, including the year and surgery site.
- Names of your doctor(s), their telephone number(s) and the date of your most recent visit to them.
Pre-admission testing (PAT), or pre-surgery testing, helps ensure patient safety and gives the surgical team information about any medical conditions that could impact the procedure or recovery.
All Sarasota Memorial surgery patients are required to complete pre-admission testing. When your surgery scheduler reaches out to schedule your surgical procedure, they will also make your appointment for PAT.
What to Expect: PAT appointments typically take 1 to 2 hours. Your vital signs, height and weight will be recorded, and a nurse will discuss your health history and ask what medications you're taking. The PAT might require having blood work drawn, a chest X-ray taken and/or an electrocardiogram.
Where to Go: For patients having surgery at our Sarasota campus, we offer pre-admission testing at the Sarasota hospital (report to Patient Registration in the first-floor lobby) and the Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center at Clark Road (report to Patient Registration in the Radiology and Laboratory lobby). Your surgeon's office will direct you to the appropriate location for your pre-surgery testing appointment.
For more information about PAT, call 941-917-2425.
What to Expect Before, During & After Surgery
Having surgery at Sarasota Memorial? Watch this video to learn what you can expect on the day of your surgery — from arrival and check-in, to the recovery room and discharge home or transitioning to your inpatient room. Being prepared and knowing what to expect can relieve anxiety and can help make you and your loved ones more comfortable with the experience.