Before Your Stay at UPMC Altoona

You may need to have lab work or other tests done before your surgery or treatment at UPMC Altoona. Your doctor will let you know when you should get any tests done and give you any other special instructions that you will need to follow.

Patients may be referred for pre-surgery bloodwork, which you may have done at any of our UPMC Altoona laboratory locations, or you may be referred to the surgical pre-testing department for an anesthesia consult. Patients who require an anesthesia consult can have any other pre-surgical bloodwork and testing completed at the hospital at the same time as their anesthesia appointment.

Surgical Pre-Testing

If your health history indicates the need for a pre-surgical anesthesia consult, your doctor will set one up for you or will provide instructions on how to schedule one.

UPMC Altoona’s surgical pre-testing department is conveniently located at Station Medical Center and can be reached at 814-889-7603. Parking is free and patients can use the main entrance, located closer to the 17th Street side of the building, for easiest access. View map (PDF). 

During your visit, an anesthesia provider will:

• Examine you
• Ask questions about your health
• Complete any tests required by your surgeon

Tests will vary, based on your health and type of surgery, but may include:

• Vital signs
• Blood or urine tests
• EKGs
• Chest x-rays

A nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or an anesthesiologist will review your medical records and discuss any recommendations for further testing, if needed. This appointment may take about an hour.

A nurse will call you at least one day before surgery. Please have your list of medicines and medical history ready to discuss with the nurse.

Allow 20 minutes for the phone assessment.

The nurse will provide:

• Dietary instructions
• Instructions about what medicines to take the day of surgery
• Any other information you need before your surgery

Do not drink any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours prior to surgery.

Advance Directives

If you have not already done so, you may want to consider drafting an advance directive before your surgery or admission to the hospital.

An advance directive is a written document that expresses your wishes for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. These include:

• Living wills
• Health care agents
• Medical powers of attorney

Learn more about Advance Care Planning from UPMC.

Please review the following guidelines for your day of surgery at UPMC Altoona:

1. If your doctor instructed you to take a medicine, do so with a small sip of water.
2. Do not apply hair spray, scented body lotion, or perfume.
3. Do not wear nail polish or makeup.
4. Remove all body piercings.
5. Wear loose comfortable clothing; button-down shirts are best.
6. Avoid candy or chewing gum the day of surgery.
7. Leave all valuables and jewelry — including watches, wedding rings, necklaces, and earrings — at home.
8. If you have sleep apnea, bring your CPAP machine with you.
9. If you wear dentures or a hearing aid, bring storage cases for them.

Please arrange for a responsible adult, over the age of 18, to:

• Drive you home after surgery.
• Assist you at home for the first 24 hours after surgery.

What to Bring

Please bring only a few personal items for your stay: toiletries (such as toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant), nightclothes, sweater, robe, and non-skid footwear. If you wear eyeglasses, please bring a protective case.

Your doctor will prescribe the medications you will need during your hospital stay. If you are already taking medicine, please bring it with you to the hospital. If you use an inhaler, please bring it as well.

What to Leave at Home

UPMC Altoona cannot be responsible for money or other valuables kept in the room. Please leave them at home — or send them home with family members.