When you’re scheduled for surgery—whether it’s a routine hernia repair, cataract surgery, or a joint replacement—your surgeon will likely request a pre-operative (pre-op) medical clearance exam. This exam isn’t just a formality; it’s a safety checkpoint designed to reduce risk, optimize your health, and help your care team plan anesthesia and post-op recovery tailored to you.
At Express Urgent Care in Diamond Bar, we provide streamlined, same-day pre-operative evaluations with on-site testing to help you (and your surgeon) move forward confidently.
What is a pre-operative clearance exam?
A pre-op clearance exam is a medical evaluation—usually performed by a primary care or urgent care clinician—that confirms you’re medically prepared for anesthesia and surgery. It assesses:
- Your overall health and fitness for the planned procedure
- Your risk for surgical and anesthesia-related complications
- Which medications to adjust or pause before surgery
- Any additional tests or specialist consults needed to proceed safely
The final product is typically a clearance note and a set of completed forms sent to your surgeon and anesthesia team.
Why is pre-op clearance required?
Surgery and anesthesia put temporary stress on the heart, lungs, and metabolic systems. Clearance exams are required to:
- Identify and reduce risk (e.g., heart, lung, bleeding, infection).
- Optimize chronic conditions (e.g., blood pressure, diabetes, asthma/COPD).
- Plan anesthesia and recovery based on your unique health profile.
- Prevent last-minute cancellations by ensuring all labs and paperwork are complete.
What’s included in a pre-operative exam at Express Urgent Care?
While details vary by surgery type and your health history, your visit commonly includes:
- Medical history & risk review: Prior surgeries, anesthesia reactions, allergies, heart/lung issues, bleeding/clotting history, sleep apnea screening, lifestyle factors, and current symptoms.
- Medication & supplement review: Especially blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, apixaban), antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel), diabetes meds (insulin, GLP-1s), blood pressure meds, and herbal supplements.
- Physical exam: Heart, lungs, airway, vitals, and focused findings relevant to your procedure.
- Testing (as indicated or requested by your surgeon):
- EKG
- Basic labs (CBC, CMP, glucose, kidney function, electrolytes)
- Coagulation studies (PT/INR, aPTT) for patients on blood thinners or when requested
- Urinalysis
- Pregnancy test when appropriate
- Chest X-ray (less common; typically for specific indications)
- Immunization & infection screening as needed for certain procedures.
- Plan & documentation: We complete your surgeon’s forms, summarize findings, list medication instructions, and transmit everything securely to your surgical team.
On-site convenience: Many required tests can be completed during the same visit, helping you avoid delays and extra trips.
When should I schedule my pre-op clearance?
For elective surgeries, schedule your exam 1–4 weeks before the procedure (or sooner if your surgeon requests specific timing). This allows time to address any abnormal results, update medications, or obtain specialist input without rescheduling your surgery.
For urgent procedures, we can often accommodate same-day evaluations—call us and we’ll guide you.
Who might need additional testing or specialist clearance?
- Cardiac history (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, valve disease)
- Pulmonary conditions (e.g., COPD, severe asthma, untreated sleep apnea)
- Diabetes (especially if insulin-treated or poorly controlled)
- Kidney or liver disease
- Bleeding/clotting disorders or blood thinner use
- Recent infections or active symptoms (fever, cough, chest pain)
If needed, we’ll coordinate referrals and communicate directly with your surgeon.
How to prepare for your appointment
Bring the following to streamline your visit:
- Surgeon’s pre-op forms and any testing requirements
- Medication list (dose and schedule), including vitamins and herbal supplements
- Allergies (medications, latex, iodine/contrast)
- Past surgery/anesthesia history (any reactions or complications)
- Recent test results (EKG, labs, imaging), if already completed
- Specialist notes (cardiology, pulmonology, etc.) if applicable
- Photo ID & insurance card
Tip: Don’t stop or change any medications unless your surgeon or a clinician instructs you to do so.
Medication guidance (general principles)
Every case is unique, but common pre-op guidance includes:
- Blood thinners & antiplatelets: Timing of pausing or bridging is individualized; we’ll coordinate with your surgeon and prescribing doctor.
- Diabetes medications: Adjustments may be needed to avoid low blood sugar during fasting.
- Blood pressure meds: Many are continued; some (like certain diuretics or ACE inhibitors) may be adjusted depending on anesthesia and your surgeon’s protocol.
- Supplements/herbals: Some (e.g., ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, St. John’s wort) can affect bleeding/anesthesia and are often stopped 7–10 days before surgery.
- GLP-1 medications: For patients using weekly injections, timing may be modified prior to anesthesia based on current guidance and your surgeon’s policy.
We’ll give you written instructions so you’re clear on what to take—and what to hold—before surgery.
Why choose Express Urgent Care for pre-op clearance?
- Fast, convenient scheduling—often same-day
- On-site EKG and labs (when indicated), with rapid turnaround
- Clear communication with your surgeon and anesthesia team
- Practical, patient-friendly instructions to reduce stress and delays
- Evening/weekend availability (call for current hours)
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Q: Do I really need a pre-op exam for minor procedures?
A: Many outpatient procedures still require clearance, especially if you have chronic conditions or the facility’s policy requires medical review. Your surgeon sets the requirements; we help fulfill them.
Q: How long does the appointment take?
A: Most clearances take 30–60 minutes, longer if extensive testing or forms are required.
Q: Will I need fasting blood work?
A: Sometimes. If fasting labs are requested, we’ll let you know when scheduling. Otherwise, you can usually eat and drink normally.
Q: Can you complete my surgeon’s custom forms?
A: Yes. Bring all pages with any patient sections filled out; we’ll complete the clinician sections and submit them directly.
Q: What if my results aren’t “perfect”?
A: Many variances are manageable. We’ll interpret in context, optimize what we can (e.g., BP or glucose), and coordinate with your surgeon about next steps.
Q: I’m on a blood thinner. Will my surgery be canceled?
A: Not necessarily. We’ll collaborate with your surgeon and prescribing clinician on a safe plan, which may include temporary holds or bridging—tailored to your procedure and risk profile.
Q: I have sleep apnea. Is that a problem?
A: It increases anesthesia risk, but it’s usually manageable—especially if you use your CPAP consistently. Bring your CPAP settings and tell your surgical team.
Q: How far in advance should I schedule?
A: Ideally 1–4 weeks before surgery (earlier if you have heart/lung disease or need specialist input).
Q: Can Express Urgent Care clear children for surgery?
A: Yes, for many routine pediatric procedures. Some cases may require pediatric specialty review; we’ll advise case-by-case.
Q: Do you accept my insurance?
A: We accept many plans and also offer self-pay options. Call us with your insurance information and procedure date; we’ll verify benefits.
Q: Can you send results directly to my surgeon?
A: Absolutely. We securely transmit your clearance note, EKG, labs, and forms.
Ready to schedule your pre-op clearance?
Express Urgent Care
750 N Diamond Bar Blvd, Suite 102
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Call: (909) 718-2455
Website: https://expressurgentcareinc.com/
Walk-ins are welcome, but calling ahead ensures we’re ready with any surgeon-specific forms or tests you need.