Pre-Admission Unit (PAU)

The Pre-Admission Unit (PAU) prepares you for you elective surgery in advance of your hospital admission.

The PAU is staffed by nurses who will co-ordinate your care and provide education. You may need to have blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), or an X-ray. You may also need to consult with other health care professionals besides the nursing staff such as the anaesthesiologist, pharmacist, social worker, etc.

The length of your appointment will depend upon the type of surgery you are having and the condition of your health (e.g. some appointments may last several hours).

What to bring to your appointment?

We request that you please bring the following to your PAU appointment to help with your assessment and avoid delays:

1. All of your medications with the original bottles. Please include any vitamin or herbal supplements.
2. The name, address and phone number of your family physician.
3. The name, address and phone number of any additional medical specialists your are seeing such as cardiologists, nephrologists, respirologists, etc. Please request copies of any recent tests and a consult letter from the medical specialist(s) to present at your appointment. If you have any questions, please call the nurse co-ordinator at 416-586-4800 ext. 8824.
4. Please bring your provincial health card (O.H.I.P.) and Mount Sinai Hospital card. If you do not have a Mount Sinai card, please visit the Admitting Department, located on the main floor near the Murray St. entrance, prior to your PAU appointment.
5. If you have additional health insurance, please bring your policy information.
6. A completed pre-admission questionnaire and pre-operative health questionnaire and other documents your surgeon may have given you.
7. If you are not fluent or uncomfortable in english, please have a friend or family member join you to translate. We will be asking you questions about your health and providing you with information about your surgery and recovery.

Surgical Waiting Room

The Surgical Waiting Room is located on the Hospital main floor, Room 351, near the Murray St. entrance. This is where your family can wait while you are in surgery. When surgery is complete, a family member or friend can come and visit.

After your surgery, you will receive printed instructions regarding your care and, if needed, a prescription. Prescriptions may be filled at the Hospital Drug Store on the main floor.

You cannot drive home after surgery, and when you are ready for discharge, you must be accompanied home by a responsible adult.

You can return to normal activity and diet as soon as you feel up to it.