Pre-Surgical & Medical Readiness Evaluations

Helping you and your medical team prepare for the next step.

If your medical team has recommended a psychological evaluation before a procedure, we can help you understand what to expect. We assess psychological readiness, explore factors that may affect treatment or recovery, and provide recommendations relevant to your care.

Depending on the procedure, we may discuss your emotional well-being, mental health history, understanding of treatment, expectations, coping strategies, support system, and health-related behaviors. The evaluation is tailored to the specific referral question and your medical team’s requirements.

When appropriate and with your authorization, we can share a written report of the findings and recommendations with your referring medical provider.

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What Does a Pre-Surgical Evaluation Include?

The evaluation is individualized based on the procedure, referral requirements, and recommendations of the treating medical team. It may include:

Clinical Interview
A detailed discussion of your medical and mental health history, current functioning, reasons for pursuing the procedure, and relevant life circumstances.

Understanding & Expectations
Exploration of your understanding of the procedure, potential risks and benefits, recovery process, and expectations regarding outcomes.

Psychological & Emotional Functioning
Assessment of mood, anxiety, coping, stress, and other psychological factors that may be relevant to treatment and recovery.

Health Behaviors & Support
Discussion of health-related behaviors, ability to follow treatment recommendations, coping resources, and available social support.

Standardized Psychological Measures
Psychological questionnaires or other standardized measures may be used when appropriate to the procedure and referral question.

Recommendations & Written Report
Findings are integrated into a report that may include clinical impressions and recommendations for the referring medical provider.

Who May Need This Type of Evaluation?

A psychological evaluation may be requested or recommended as part of preparation for certain medical treatments or surgical procedures. The specific requirements vary depending on the procedure and referring medical provider.

Evaluations may be appropriate for individuals preparing for:

  • Bariatric or weight-loss surgery

  • Spinal cord stimulator procedures

  • Organ transplant procedures

  • Certain pain-management procedures

  • Other medical procedures requiring psychological clearance or readiness assessment

The evaluation is tailored to the specific procedure and referral requirements, with the goal of identifying psychological strengths, potential concerns, and recommendations that may support treatment and recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Some medical providers or programs require or recommend a psychological evaluation to better understand factors that may affect preparation, treatment adherence, recovery, and overall outcomes. Requirements vary depending on the procedure and medical provider.

  • The length of the evaluation varies depending on the procedure, referral requirements, clinical interview, and any psychological measures that may be needed.

  • If available, bring information from your referring medical provider regarding the procedure and any specific evaluation requirements. Relevant medical or mental health records may also be requested when appropriate.

  • Standardized psychological measures may be included depending on the type of procedure, referral requirements, and clinical considerations.

  • With appropriate authorization, a written report summarizing the evaluation findings and recommendations may be provided to the referring medical provider.

  • No. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide an objective assessment of psychological readiness and identify any recommendations or concerns relevant to the procedure. Findings are based on the information gathered during the evaluation.

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