Average Time Between Pre-Op and Operation

We conducted a study to determine the average time between a pre-operative assessment and surgery. Through traditional methods, this time ranges from 10 to 14 days, depending on appointment availability, lab results, and potential delays.

In urgent or last-minute cases, defined as referrals received within 72 hours of surgery, some providers are able to return clearance in under 48 hours. Based on our data, this expedited timeline is most consistently achieved when assessments are conducted virtually or through hybrid workflows that decouple the in-person exam from diagnostic testing.

To understand what enables these differences in timing, we analyzed appointment scheduling patterns, diagnostic test delays, patient time burdens, and physician evaluation timelines across both traditional and virtual pre-op formats.

Pre-op Appointment Times

Scheduling and completing your pre-op appointment is part of the process, and can range in time from just a few days to a few weeks to complete. The longest wait for this stage of the surgery is receiving labs and test results (which can take anywhere from 3 to 10 days, or more).

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-Op
Schedule Pre-op Visit	3-5 days	Same day-1 day
Total Appointment Time	1-3 hours	30-60 minutes (virtual)
Doctor-Patient Interaction Time	10-20 minutes	30-60 minutes
Lab/Test Scheduling	3-7 days	Mailed same day
Receive Lab/Test Results	5-10 days	3-5 days
Average Turnaround Time	10-14 days	4-7 days

Average Pre-Op Wait Times By Type

A pre-op appointment will include a variety of assessments, depending on your specific surgery. These may include some or all of the following: medical history, patient evaluation, blood test, urinalysis, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, stress test, and echocardiogram. 

The results of each test play a factor in the length of time it takes between your pre-op assessment and your scheduled operation. The table below shows how long it may take for results to be returned based on the specific tests required.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Blood Test	2-3 days	1-2 days
Urinalysis	1-2 days	1-2 days
Electrocardiogram (EKG)	1-3 days	1-2 days
Chest X-ray	2-5 days	2-3 days
Stress Test	5-7 days	3-4 days
Echocardiogram	3-7 days	2-4 days
Physician Evaluation	5-10 days	24-48 hours (virtual consult)

Pre-Op Related Delays

Delays in pre-op assessments and lab results can increase the number of days between your pre-op appointment and your operation. On average, traditional offices see a 9.5% delay between pre-op and operation. A virtual pre-op slices that time in half, with an average of 3.5%.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Appointment Scheduling	5%	<1%
In-office Wait Times	3%	<1%
Missing or Delayed Lab Results	6%	<1%
Incomplete Patient History	4%	<1%
No-show or Late Pre-op Evaluation	3%-5%	<1%
Insurance or Administrative Paperwork Issues	3%-5%	<1%
Lack of Required Tests	10%-12%	2%-3%
Uncontrolled Conditions	20%-25%	3%-5%
Total Pre-op Related Delays	5%-14%	2%-5%

Patient Time Spent

There are external circumstances, such as drive time and wait times, that factor into the total time spent during a pre-op evaluation. Below is a table showing the amount of time you might spend at both traditional offices and with a virtual pre-op appointment.

	Traditional Offices	Virtual Pre-op
Travel Time (round-trip)	30 minutes - 2 hours	0
Waiting Room	15-45 minutes	0
Form Preparation	30 minutes - 1 hour	15-30 minutes
Evaluation	30-60 minutes	30-45 minutes
Lab Visit	30 minutes - 2 hours	15-30 minutes
Average Total Time Commitment	1.5-5.5 hours	45-60 minutes

Faster Pre-Op Services

We know your time is valuable when preparing for an upcoming surgery. At MyPreOp, we handle all pre-op assessments virtually and in half the time of traditional offices. This helps get you to your surgery faster. 

Schedule your initial pre-op consultation today through our online calendar, by calling us at (424) 224-9151, or by emailing us at contact@mypreop.org.