For Referring Physicians

The Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine welcomes patient referrals in advance of anesthesia and surgery, for any of these concerns:

• Complex medical conditions that require advance anesthesia planning
• Consultation regarding readiness for anesthesia
• Consultation regarding “prehabilitation”: the goal of improving a patient’s overall health status prior to surgery
• Smoking cessation counseling
• Concern that a patient may not be a suitable candidate for a procedure at an outpatient venue
• Patients with concerns specific to anesthesia
• Patients with chronic pain and/or narcotic habituation
• Patients with a history of prior complications during anesthesia
• Patients with a family history of anesthesia-related problems, including malignant hyperthermia

Preoperative Evaluation and Planning Center (PEPC)

Medical Director:  Victor Duval, MD
Main telephone:  310-794-4494

Our Preoperative Evaluation and Planning Center (PEPC), located at 200 Medical Plaza in Westwood, is the primary location for any patient, pediatric or adult, who needs a full anesthesia consultation and physical examination.  We offer same-day appointments as well as scheduled visits, with the goal of making the experience as seamless as possible for your patients and their families.

In this section, you will find information about:

• An easy, quantitative way to assess medical and surgical preoperative risk
• How to request an in-person preoperative consultation at PEPC
• How to request a preoperative telephone screening interview
• Is my patient an appropriate candidate for a procedure in an outpatient venue?
• UCLA requirements for the preoperative history and physical examination
• Guidelines for preoperative laboratory testing
• Guidelines for preoperative cardiac and pulmonary testing
• NPO guidelines
• Advising patients about taking medications prior to surgery
• How to arrange a visit for pre-surgical pain medicine consultation
• How to refer a patient for chronic pain consultation and management at the UCLA Comprehensive Pain Center