In the Center for Peri-Operative Optimization (CPO) at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, we provide comprehensive pre-surgical evaluation to ensure that all our patients scheduled for surgery and anesthesia receive the highest level of care.

As part of the Department of Anesthesia, the pre-surgical screening clinic team includes expert pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, advanced registered nurse practitioners and registered nurses. Our team reviews patients’ history and medical records and works with the child’s specialists to ensure a smooth, comprehensive intake process and enhance the overall surgical experience, particularly for children with complex medical needs or who are undergoing complex surgical procedures. 

Meet Our Team

What to Expect

• Our registered nurses review the medical chart and history of patients who are scheduled for surgery. The RN reviews information such as medical background, infection history, allergies, medications, previous surgeries, personal and family anesthesia history, and other needs, to evaluate the complexity of the child’s condition and individual needs.
• Our pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists also review cases in which a patient’s cardiologist has indicated a need for specialized cardiac anesthesia.
• The RN will contact the family to schedule the patient for an appointment with our team, typically within 30 days of the patient’s scheduled procedure.
• Patients and families meet with one of our advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) for this appointment. The APRN will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes a comprehensive history and physical examination and order any needed laboratory tests or diagnostics.
• The APRN will review medical records, diagnostics and peri-operative recommendations from specialists with the family, and an anesthesiologist is available to meet with the family to address any concerns they may have.
• The APRNs conduct another comprehensive review of the child’s records two to three days before their surgery, contact the family for any additional information needed and consult with anesthesiologists, the surgical team or other specialists as needed on any concerns. The anesthesiologists, APRNs and CRNAs also review each case together the day before the patient’s surgery.
• On the day before the surgery, a member of our team also contacts the family to review important information such as guidelines on when to stop eating and drinking (“nothing by mouth” or NPO guidelines), arrival times, medication instructions, and address any additional questions the family may have.