Referral Guidelines
Pre-Operative Care Clinic
The Pre-operative Care Clinic (POCC) is a dedicated team of health professionals that help prepare patients
for surgery at Children’s National. Our patients range from neonates to adult patients with congenital
diseases. Our care team includes pediatric anesthesiologists, hospitalist based pediatricians, nurse practitioners
and nurses.
For patients with complex medical histories, special needs, or having extensive surgery, we have found we can
best care for them with a visit to our POCC clinic several days to several weeks ahead of the planned surgery.
We work with these patients and families to create a thorough care plan to optimize their health before surgery,
and coordinate care between medical and surgical services. Although many of our patients do have significant
medical concerns, we also see patients who have family members with complications with anesthesia or those
who have concerns and questions, and would like to meet with an anesthesiologist ahead of the day of surgery
Guidelines:
Personal or Family history of anesthesia complications:
Referral When: Parents desire to meet with an anesthesiologist ahead of the day of surgery, or has family history suggestive of malignant hyperthermia (relative with cardiac arrest, high fever, muscle rigidity around the time of surgery) or other serious complication with anesthesia.
Data Needed: Good history – possibly anesthesia records from another hospital.
History of difficult intubation in the patient
Referral When: There is a patient history of difficult intubation with previous surgery.
Data Needed: Anesthesia
records from
past surgeries.
Patient follows with multiple
medical specialists
Initial Work-Up: Our nursing team
will acquire notes
from recent visits and
tests, if they can be
sent from your office
it can be helpful
Referral When: Often the surgeon performing the procedure may inform
the POCC, however you may be asked for authorization for
insurance purposes. Additionally you may recommend or
refer your patients to the POCC directly.
Data Needed: Note from your
last visit with child
(other records
can be helpful but
not necessary)
Patient scheduled for surgery or
procedure under anesthesia with
the following medical conditions:
heart disease, pulmonary
hypertension, cystic fibrosis,
home oxygen or ventilator,
muscular dystrophy, diabetes
mellitus, diabetes insipidus, renal
failure, hepatic failure or intestinal disorder, bleeding disorder,
metabolic disorder or any other
patient who you feel may benefit
Referral When:
- Surgery is planned in a child with a medically complex condition where they follow multiple specialists.
- Often the surgeon performing the procedure will inform the POCC, however you may be asked for authorization for insurance purposes. Additionally you may recommend or refer your patients to the POCC directly.
MRI:
Patients who require
sedation for a MRI will
receive a deep sedation
comparable to a general
anesthesia under the care of
an anesthesiologist.
Referral When:
- Patients who are to be scheduled for a MRI that will require sedation and have the following conditions:
- Complex or cyanotic cardiac disease
- Significant pulmonary disease including oxygen dependent
- Mitochondrial or metabolic disorder
- Muscular dystrophy
- Difficult airway or anesthesia difficulty – particularly at another institution
- Should be referred to the POCC clinic to be seen before MRI.
Pre-Operative Care Clinic - Referral Guidelines - Departments & Programs - Children's National Medical Center
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