Average Pre-Op Assessment Time

The average pre-op assessment time lands between 45 minutes and 2 hours according to our most recent study. With virtual assessments, the average time is between 30 and 60 minutes.

In this article, we evaluated the time spent during a pre-op assessment for traditional offices compared to a virtual pre-op appointment. We looked at scheduling, pre-assessment preparation, communication and follow-up, system processing time, patient journey time, post-assessment coordination, and time from assessment to surgery clearance.

Wait Time During a Pre-op Assessment

A pre-op assessment includes all the steps it takes to clear an individual for surgery. This includes paperwork, labs/tests ordering, and doctor evaluation. The chart below shows each step and the approximate amount of time it will take to complete each.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Waiting Room	15-30 minutes	0
Medical History Questionnaire	15-30 minutes (completed in-person during appointment)	15-20 minutes (completed online before appointment)
Vital Signs & Physical Measurements	5-15 minutes	0 (can be patient provided)
Doctor Consultation	10-20 minutes	30  - 60  minutes*
Risk Assessment & ASA Classification	15-30 minutes	1-5 minutes
Diagnostic Tests	1 hour-5 days (scheduling may be required)	1-3 days (packets mailed same day)
Pre-surgery Instructions	10-20 minutes	1-5 minutes
TOTAL Patient Time Commitment	70 - 145 minutes	45-90 minutes

*In virtual settings, the patient typically spends the full appointment time directly with the physician, as prep steps are completed in advance.

Manual vs Automated Steps

Automated steps, such as those performed during virtual pre-op assessments, reduce the appointment time significantly. The below chart shows how much of the appointment is automated and how much is manual when comparing traditional offices to virtual pre-op.

Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
80% manual / 20% automated	30% manual / 70% automated

Time for Scheduling

Prior to a pre-op assessment, the patient must contact to schedule the consultation. The chart below compares traditional offices and virtual pre-op. While traditional offices may take up to two weeks to schedule an assessment, virtual appointments can happen on the same day.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Initial Contact to Appointment Scheduled	3-14 days	Same day - 3 days
Time to Reschedule if Changes Needed	2-7 days	Same day - 24 hours
Peak Hour Processing Capabilities	1-2 per hour	3-5 per hour

Pre-Assessment Preparation Time

Part of a pre-op assessment is gathering medical records and securing pre-authorization for insurance. This can take anywhere from 2 days to a few weeks for traditional offices. It is typically handled in 1-3 days with a virtual pre-op.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Gathering Medical Records	2-7 days	1-3 days
Completing Insurance Pre-Authorization	24-96 hours	12-48 hours
Previous Surgical/Anesthesia Records Retrieval	48-120 hours	12-48 hours

Communication & Follow-up Time

Following a pre-op assessment and before final clearance for surgery, the medical team will assess all labs and tests, allow for patient questions, and process insurance. These tasks only take a few hours total, but can be significantly reduced in a virtual pre-op setting.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Assessment Results/Clearance	24-72 hours	4-24 hours
Response Time for Patient Questions	4-24 hours	1-4 hours
Insurance Authorization Processing Time	24-96 hours	12-24 hours

System Processing Time

Part of a pre-op assessment includes certain processes by the medical team. These include processing of electronic records, integration with the hospital system, medication reviews, and generation of instructions for the patient. For virtual pre-op assessments, these tasks take just a few minutes. However, in traditional offices, the processes may require additional time.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Electronic Records Processing	30-60 minutes	5-15 minutes
Hospital System Integration	2-24 hours	15 minutes - 2 hours
Medication Review Processing	10-20 minutes	3-8 minutes
Instruction Packet Generation	15-30 minutes	2-5 minutes

Patient Journey Time

In order for patients to attend a pre-op assessment, they may need to secure caregiving services, drive to the appointment, and ultimately miss a large part of their day. Virtual pre-ops have no travel time and will require a commitment of up to 60 minutes. An in-person appointment at a traditional office can take up to 4 hours.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Travel Time Per Appointment	30-90 minutes	0
Family/Caregiver Time Commitment	2-4 hours	30-60 minutes
Work Time Missed	2-4 hours	30-60 minutes
Time to Reschedule	2-7 days	Same day - 24 hours

Post Assessment Coordination Time

After a pre-op assessment, the medical team will coordinate with surgeons and other medical professionals to consult on the patient’s readiness for surgery and to prepare necessary pre-op procedures. While this is generally done quickly, it can take longer through traditional offices.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Coordination with Specialty Consultants	48-160 hours	24-72 hours
Pre-surgery Procedure Scheduling (i.e., EKG, Chest X-ray)	24-120 hours	12-72 hours
Pre-operative Medication Adjustment	12-48 hours	4-24 hours
Pharmacy Coordination	4-24 hours	2-12 hours

Virtual Pre-Op Assessments

Your time is important, especially before surgery. MyPreOp speeds things up with fully virtual pre-op assessments that take half the time as in-person appointments, helping you get cleared and scheduled faster.

Call today at (424) 224-9151 to schedule your pre-op assessment. For faster service, schedule your initial pre-op consultation through our online calendar or by emailing us at contact@mypreop.org.