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Pre-Operative Medical Clearance for Surgery

Before a planned surgery, your surgeon or anesthesiologist often asks for a medical clearance: an evaluation that confirms you are ready for the procedure and flags anything that could increase the risk. Dr. Marina Gafanovich performs pre-operative evaluations in her Upper East Side office and sends the results directly to your surgical team.

  • Board-certified internist
  • Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell
  • On the Upper East Side since 2008
  • Blood work & ECG in the office
Dr. Marina Gafanovich at her desk in the Upper East Side office, 1550 York Avenue

At a glance

  • When to come: usually 1–4 weeks before surgery. Check the deadline your surgeon’s office gave you.
  • Visit length: about 30–45 minutes
  • Bring: the clearance form or letter from your surgeon, surgery date and type, list of medications and supplements, recent test results
  • Results: clearance letter and test results sent to your surgeon within 2–3 business days
  • Insurance: pre-operative evaluations are usually covered by insurance

What's included

Evaluation

  • Review of your medical and surgical history, previous reactions to anesthesia and family history
  • Physical examination with focus on heart and lungs
  • Medication review: which medicines to stop before surgery (for example, blood thinners or certain diabetes medications) and when

Tests, based on your surgery and health

  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
  • Coagulation tests (PT/INR)
  • Blood type and screen, if needed
  • ECG, done in our office
  • Spirometry, if indicated
  • Urinalysis
  • Chest X-ray, if needed — arranged the same day at a nearby radiology facility, or one you prefer

Paperwork

A clearance letter with the findings and recommendations, plus copies of results, sent to your surgeon’s office. You receive a copy too.

How the process works

  1. Book early. Call as soon as your surgery is scheduled. Tell us the date and the surgeon’s deadline.
  2. Visit. Dr. Gafanovich reviews your history, examines you, does the ECG and draws blood the same day.
  3. Results. When results are ready, the doctor completes the clearance.
  4. We send it. The clearance goes to your surgeon’s office by fax or email. We call you if anything needs attention before surgery.

If a test shows a problem, such as high blood pressure or an abnormal ECG, we explain what it means and help you get it addressed, so your surgery can go ahead safely.

Who needs pre-op clearance

Many surgeons request clearance for adults having planned surgery under general or regional anesthesia, especially if you:

  • are over 50
  • have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, lung disease or kidney disease
  • take blood thinners or several daily medications
  • have had problems with anesthesia before

Why patients choose Dr. Gafanovich

Board-certified internist

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), with more than 20 years in practice.

Hospital affiliation

Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center.

A practice with history

Dr. Gafanovich has led this Upper East Side practice since 2008; the practice was founded in 1961.

Tests on site

ECG, spirometry, urinalysis and blood draw in the same office, often during the same visit.

Time to listen

Unhurried visits, and every result is explained.

Languages

English, Russian, Spanish

Insurance and payment

We accept many plans from Aetna, Cigna, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem), MultiPlan and Coresource. Self-pay patients are welcome. Call 212-249-6218 for self-pay pricing.

See our Insurance page for the full list of plans, or call 212-249-6218 and we’ll check your coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Most surgeons accept a clearance done within 30 days of surgery, but requirements vary. Check with your surgeon’s office.

Yes. If Dr. Gafanovich is your primary care doctor, she already knows your history. We also see new patients for pre-op clearance only.

It depends on the medicine and the procedure. Blood thinners, some diabetes and weight-loss medications, and certain supplements often need to be paused. The doctor will give you exact instructions. Don’t stop any medicine on your own.

Only if your age, health or type of surgery calls for it. If needed, we arrange it the same day nearby.

Call us. We’ll do our best to see you quickly and get results to your surgeon in time.

Related services

Medically reviewed by Dr. Marina Gafanovich, MD, board-certified internist · Last reviewed: September 21, 2026

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  • Book online in about a minute
  • Most major insurance plans accepted
  • English, Russian & Spanish spoken

My NYC Doctor — Dr. Marina Gafanovich, MD
1550 York Ave, Suite A
New York, NY 10028

Mon–Fri: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat–Sun: closed

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1550 York Ave, Suite A, Upper East Side · Mon–Fri 9 am – 5 pm