Evaluation and instruction by nurses is always required. The services of other professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists or respiratory technologists may also be necessary. Old charts must be obtained and appropriate investigations carried out. Finally, discharge planning must also be attended to. In order to provide access to the necessary personnel and facilities, the clinic is usually part of the hospital where the procedure is to be done.
Nursing staff coordinate the clinic with clerical help.
Patients are scheduled at times when ancillary staff, who are needed for their care, are present. The medical direction of the clinic should be accomplished by anaesthetists, since all patients must have a pre-anaesthesia evaluation before surgery and most of the questions and problems that arise in this evaluation can be resolved only by an anaesthetist. An anaesthetist should be present much of the time that the clinic is in operation, but may not interview all the patients. The pre-anaesthesia evaluation follows a protocol which specifies both the individuals who must meet the patient and the tasks which must be performed. The clinic coordinator makes sure that all the relevant data, including lab work, results of other investigations, old charts, questionnaires etc., are available.