COVID-19: Updated pre-operative testing for COVID for surgical patients

Last updated May 17, 2021:  Learn how UCSF is making surgery safe during COVID-19. Learn more.

Under San Francisco's current health order, all medical services, including routine and preventive care, are considered essential. Please contact us to make a telehealth visit  or an in-person visit. For in-person appointments, all clinical staff – doctors, physician assistants, clinical personnel -- will be wearing both face masks as well as eye shields or face shields for our patients' safety.

We are confident that it is very safe to come onto our premises and to receive care with us. Here is what we have done to ensure everyone’s safety: 

1. Daily Health Symptom Screenings: All of our employees, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors are screened before they are allowed to enter the building.

2. Visitor Restrictions: We have limited the number of visitors who can accompany a patient to “essential” visitors. Although we deeply regret the anxiety that these rules create for our patients, we know that keeping all of our patients safe from COVID-19 must be our first commitment.

3. Face Masking and Eye Shields/Face Shields: We require all employees, patients and visitors to wear a mask while they are with us. In addition, all clinical staff – doctors, physician assistants, clinical personnel -- will be wearing both face masks as well as eye shields or face shields for our patients' safety. 

4. Physical Distancing: We have rearranged our clinics and internal spaces so that patients, employees and faculty can maintain appropriate physical distance. Even when physical distancing is not possible, the use of masks still provides necessary protection.

5. COVID-19 Testing: We are asking patients to be tested for COVID-19 prior to arriving on campus for hospitalization or procedures that might put others at risk for spread of the virus.

6. Separate COVID-19 Screening Clinics: UCSF has set up three respiratory screening clinics, one pediatric screening clinic, and one mobile drive-through testing site. By keeping those clinics separated from our regular clinics, we avoid mixing patients who may be infected with COVID-19 with patients who are receiving other kinds of medical care.

7. Hospital-grade cleaning protocols: Our premises and all instruments are either disinfected or sterilized per a rigorous protocol. In exam rooms, this protocol includes cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces, including exam tables, chairs, keyboards, computers, chinrests, and handles.

Here is how we are measuring the safety of our environment:

- At UCSF, we have not had any transmissions from one patient to another patient.

- Of the testing we have done on patients without symptoms, 0.3% of patients have tested positive.

- Of the testing we have done on patients with symptoms, 3.33% of patients have tested positive.

- We will continue to monitor our data and will make any needed adjustments in our procedures.

Please feel free to contact your provider if you have concerns about your care.  We are updating our website daily. For the most updated information, please visit: https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/patients\

For those patients whose planned surgeries have been postponed and rescheduled, we would like to make you aware of our revised pre-operative guidelines and our visitor restrictions.

Step 1: Preparing for your surgery

To help minimize risk of asymptomatic spread of coronavirus during your procedure we ask that you:

• Continue to shelter in place to protect yourself from others in the community.
• Follow physical distancing and handwashing guidelines.  This applies to the person who will be bringing you to and from surgery as well. 
• Avoid contact with others or leaving the home as much as possible prior to surgery.
• Pre-surgery COVID-19 testing: We want to perform your surgery in the safest possible circumstances to give you the best chance of a smooth recovery. One of our healthcare members will reach out to ask you about symptoms and will schedule you for coronavirus testing even if you do not show symptoms consistent with the virus. We are doing this as a precautionary measure so that we have all of the information we need to provide you with the safe care.
• Check for the symptoms daily prior to surgery and notify us if you have any of the following :
  • Fever ≥ 38.0 C (100.5 F) last 24 hours    
  • New respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, respiratory distress, sore throat)

Step 2: Stay flexible

Your surgery is currently scheduled to proceed on the planned date and time, but we also have to be flexible to deal with any potential changes regarding the capacity of our hospital and providers.  We would appreciate your understanding if things change, and in return we promise to keep you informed with up to date information with what is happening here at UCSF, as well as keeping your best interests at the forefront. 

Step 3: Understand what to expect day of surgery

Under the authority of City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Health Order, we have some strict guidelines in place that you will see immediately upon arriving at our facility.

For patients with scheduled surgery at the UCSF Parnassus Hospital (505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco 94143)

• Please have your designated person drop you off two hours prior to your surgery start time at the circle drive main entrance
• We can have someone meet you at curbside to assist you if require additional help getting into our building.
• Upon entering our facility you will be health screened by one of our kind nurses in the lobby.
• As an extra layer of protection, you will notice our entire staff will be wearing surgical masks.  You will be offered a mask to wear for your safety.
• You will then be escorted to the Surgery Waiting Area to be checked in and sign appropriate paperwork.
• Please be sure to include the contact information of you designed point person.
• As soon as the surgical team is ready for you, they will come down to escort you up to our pre-op area.
• Our surgical staff will keep your designated point person informed of your progress.
• After you have recovered in our post anesthesia care unit (PACU), you will be moved to your hospital room where they will take excellent care of you until you are ready to go home.
• We are happy to assist you with options on how to stay connected to your loved ones throughout your stay.  If necessary, we can schedule a separate call to go over digital connectivity options (Zoom/Skype/Facetime) so that you will be all prepared the day of your surgery.

For surgery scheduled at the Orthopaedic Institute (1500 Owens Street, San Francisco 94158)

• Please have your designated person drop you off at the entrance at the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute. 
• Upon entering our facility you will be screened by one of our staff in the lobby.
• As an extra layer of protection, you will notice our entire staff will be wearing surgical masks.  You will be offered a mask to wear for your safety.
• Please proceed to the 2^nd floor where you will check in with the front desk/registration and then escorted to the Pre-Operative Area to be checked in and sign appropriate paperwork.
• Please be sure to include the contact information of your designated point person/adult accompanying you home after surgery.
• Our surgical staff will keep your designated point person informed of your surgery progress.
• As soon as you are ready to go home, we will coordinate teaching instructions and pick-up with your designated person.

Please know we genuinely care about you, and will do everything we can to provide you with the safest and best possible care experience.   If you have any questions or concerns prior to that day, please don’t hesitate to contact us.   You can also visit: https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/patients.

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