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The Pre-anesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PETC) will undergo a significant transformation at the end of the month, with a new name and location aimed at improving preoperative patient care and streamlining anesthesia evaluations. 

Currently located on the first floor of University Hospital, the clinic will relocate to Fontaine Research Park on Sept. 27 and will start seeing patients at its new facility on Sept. 30. The clinic will be renamed the Preoperative Anesthesia Clinic Fontaine, a name that more accurately reflects its specialized focus for both patients and staff. 

“Our mission remains unchanged: to perform thorough risk assessments for patients undergoing procedures with anesthesia,” explained Martha Coleman, MSN, Nurse Manager of the Preoperative Anesthesia Clinic Fontaine. “The new name clarifies that our focus is exclusively on anesthesia care, differentiating us from a routine testing facility.” 

The new Fontaine location will provide easier parking and improved wayfinding for patients. While the clinic’s square footage will remain similar, the proximity to the Pain Management Center offers an added benefit: the optimization of care for patients with pain concerns. 

“We’re strengthening collaboration between care teams by placing our anesthesia and pain management services side by side, both of which are led by anesthesia providers,” said Catherine Cash, MSHA, FACHE, Ambulatory Director, Surgical Specialties. “This integration allows us to more effectively address both anesthesia-related risks and postoperative pain challenges, resulting in a more comprehensive and seamless approach to patient care as we continue to refine our care delivery model.” 

On July 1, the clinic transitioned from Perioperative Services to Ambulatory Operations to improve collaboration with ambulatory surgery clinics. 

Exciting enhancements are also underway for preoperative anesthesia evaluations. Current efforts are focused on streamlining the risk assessment process through the introduction of a new Epic module. This upgrade will enhance communication between clinics and provide greater transparency into each patient’s progress through the evaluation process. More details on these optimization efforts will be shared later this fall.