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Perioperative medicine training resources: U1: Perioperative assessment

There are six (6) units of study, which define the POM specialty knowledge and skills. Each unit has been subdivided into a series of key themes and modules comprised of recommended guidelines, readings, texts and videos.

Unit of study 1: Preoperative assessment - Index


  1. Preoperative assessment
    1. Preoperative assessment
      1. Social assessment
      2. Promotion of physical and mental wellbeing
      3. Patient culture and diversity
      4. Considerations for effective communication
      5. Models of preoperative medicine
      6. Assessment of frailty
      7. Assessment of cognitive state
      8.  Pain history and examination
    2. Preoperative investigations   
      1. Preoperative investigations - Part 1
      2. Preoperative investigations - Part 2
      3. Functional capacity assessment
    3. Perioperative risk    
      1. Determining risk stratification and risk stratification models
    4. Communication
      1. Communication
    5. Measures of perioperative clinical effectiveness and ethics
      1. Quality management processes
      2. Quality measures
      3. Principles underpinning cultural safety and competent care
      4. Ethics - Part 1
      5. Ethics - Part 2
  2. Preoperative planning
  3. Optimisation
  4. Intraoperative impacts on patient outcomes 
  5. Postoperative assessment and management
  6. Discharge planning and rehabilitation 

ANZCA professional documents


Recommended professional documents are listed below. The full suite of ANZCA professional documents can be accessed via the college page.

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Suggested texts

The college acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging.

The college acknowledges and respects Māori as the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa and is committed to upholding the principles of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi, fostering the college’s relationship with Māori, supporting Māori fellows and trainees, and striving to improve the health of Māori.

The college recognises the special relationship between the Pacific peoples of New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, and is committed to supporting those fellows and trainees of ANZCA, and improving the health of Pacific peoples.