A PACE consultation determines whether your body’s health condition can withstand the stress of a surgery. You will obtain information on the benefit of the surgery and its associated risk to help you make an informed decision regarding the anaesthetic and the operation.
We will then schedule a date for the surgery and give you pre-operative instructions and payment options.
Who will make the appointment for me at the PACE clinic?
Your Surgical Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) will make the PACE appointment for you. It may be scheduled on the same day as your SOC visit, or on another day.
When do I have to go to the PACE clinic?
You will be advised to go to the PACE Clinic 2 days to 2 months (usually 1 month) before your surgery.
What should I take with me?
- You should bring :
- Authorisation form for Admission
- Specialist Outpatient Appointment card
- Identity Card.
- You should bring your medical reports and current medications.
- If you are a foreign worker covered by your company's insurance policy, you are requested to give us your company's Letter of Guarantee before the surgery, by hand, mail or fax. If you intend to ask your insurance company to pay, you are advised to contact your insurance company for the level of coverage provided in your policy.
What will happen in the PACE clinic?
We will take your medical history, conduct a physical examination and trace your old health records. You may need to undergo blood tests and radiographic imaging (X-Rays). There is no need to wait for the test results but we may need to recall you if abnormal results are detected and further tests are required.
If your medical condition is poorly controlled, a consultation with our specialists in the Medical SOC may have to be arranged on another day for further investigation.
You will be given verbal and written advice on anaesthetic and medical risk as part of the informed consent for surgery. Please feel free ask us more about anaesthesia and post-operative pain management.
We will give you a date of surgery and pre-operative instructions. You will get an early date if your surgical condition is life-threatening and your medical conditions are well controlled. A day or two before the surgery, you will receive a call from us, reiterating the pre-operative instructions.
We will present you with the payment options based on the level of subsidy desired, and the amount claimable from your Medisave and personal health insurance.
How long will it take?
The PACE visit takes 2 hours on average. If you have opted for an appointment, your waiting time will be shorter than if you have opted to walk in.
The 1st hour (on average) is for scheduling surgery date and financial counseling.
The 2nd hour (on average) is for clinical consultation. Major surgery and poorly controlled medical problems result in a longer consult.
Who will see me? Will I get to see the Anesthesiologist who will anesthetise me for my operation?
You will be attended to by a trained clinician who is guided by our hospital’s strict protocols for pre-operative assessment and management. Poorly controlled medical problems and planned major surgery will be attended to by a doctor.
You will only see your anaesthesiologist when you are admitted for surgery. You may make your enquiries on anaesthesia in PACE or when you see your anaesthesiologist in the operation room.
You will be attended to by a trained staff for scheduling, pre-operative instructions and financial counselling.
Can I request for a particular anesthesiologist?
Yes. You may make the request and we will try to accede. However we cannot quarantee that your request will be acceded to.
What are the fees for this PACE consultation?
It is $25 (plus GST) for non-subsidised patients and $15 for subsidised patients. Subsidised patients may enjoy further reduction depending on the level of subsidy.
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