Pre-Anesthesia Clinic
PRE-ANESTHESIA CLINICS: A SAFER PATH TO SURGERY
Bozeman Health Pre-Anesthesia Clinic (PAC) is one of the first steps in your surgical journey. The PAC is designed to optimize your health prior to your surgery to improve your surgery outcome, decrease your risk of being readmitted and get you back to the activities you love quicker.
Issues like unmanaged diabetes (high A1C), uncontrolled high blood pressure, or untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious complications such as poor wound healing, heart problems, breathing issues under anesthesia, and longer recovery times. At your pre-anesthesia visit, our team works with you to stabilize these conditions – helping ensure a safer surgery, smoother anesthesia experience, and faster recovery.
Who Are We?
Welcome to the Bozeman Health Pre-Anesthesia Clinic (PAC)
The Pre-Anesthesia Clinic was established to help prepare you for any surgery requiring anesthesia. We thoroughly review your health history, and along with what surgery you are having, to ensure you are safe and well prepared to undergo anesthesia and surgery. In 2024, our experienced team cared for more than 3,000 patients, reflecting our ongoing commitment to safe, comprehensive, and patient-centered care.
Our team works closely with your surgeon, primary care doctor, and any specialists to create a plan specific for you. We are here to answer your questions, manage any health concerns before surgery, and make sure you feel ready and confident
Meet Your Pre-Anesthesia Team
Amy Mouat-Hunter
MD
Pre-Anesthesia
James Wiley
PA-C
Pre-Anesthesia
Elizabeth Sherman
PA-C
Pre-Anesthesia
Kendall Parks
PA-C
Pre-Anesthesia
Megan Margeson
PA-C, BA
Pre-Anesthesia
Dinice L Scheihing
PA-C
Pre-Anesthesia
Who is Eligible for a PAC Appointment?
Eligibility Includes:
- Undergoing moderate to high-risk surgeries
- Complex medical conditions (such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiac diagnoses, obesity)
- High-alert medications (such as blood thinners, diabetes medications, selective infusions)
PAC Appointment Process
What to Expect if You’re Scheduled for a PAC Appointment
- 1) Medical History Review:
- 2) Scheduling Your Appointment:
- 3) Virtual Appointments:
We prefer in-person appointments for most patients. If you are a candidate, you may be able to have a virtual (telehealth) visit instead of coming in person. This will depend on your specific medical conditions and the type of surgery you’re planning.
What Happens During Your PAC Appointment
- Patient Care Technician (PCT)
- Will check you in for your appointment
- Take your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen, temperature, height, weight)
- Patients taking high-alert medications (such as blood thinners, diabetes medications)
- Physician Assistants (PA)
- Will review your medical history
- Review surgery screening questions, as indicated by your surgery type and medical history
- Decide if you need any additional tests or appointments before surgery
- Answer any medical questions you may have
- Sends medical note from visit to your surgeon, PCP and anesthesia team
- Registered Nurse Navigator (NN)
- Review how to prepare for surgery, including important evidence-based perioperative education
- Explain your next steps
- Provide instructions about your medications before surgery
- Help manage any follow up needs identified during your appointment (like additional testing or visits with a provider)
- Resource for any additional questions or concerns that arise after the appointment
You Need More Evaluation Before Surgery
If we find that you need more testing or appointments before your surgery, our team will help coordinate everything for you. It may include:
- Scheduling any follow-up appointments
- Sending referrals to specialists
- Ordering any necessary tests
Because of the current challenges in healthcare, like limited availability for time-sensitive appointments, there may be times when your surgery needs to be delayed until these evaluations are complete.
* We recommend waiting until after your Pre-Anesthesia Clinic (PAC) appointment before making any post-surgery arrangements. For example, please avoid purchasing plane tickets for a family member to assist you until we confirm that no additional testing or follow-up is required *
