Why Doctors are Partnering With Recovery Centers to Help Improve Patients’ Post-Op Care
Post-op care is an essential but often undervalued aspect of medical treatment. Recovery centers are meeting this need by providing a safe place for patients to rest and recover. To further improve the quality of care at these facilities, more and more doctors are partnering with recovery centers to ensure that the proper medical protocols are in place at all times.
The Importance of Post-Op Care
Following surgery, the first 72 hours are especially critical. The full recovery period after a procedure can span days or even weeks beyond the initial surgery. If a patient undergoes an outpatient surgery, they can expect to be released from the hospital or clinic in as little as one hour following treatment. Even invasive orthopedic surgeries can result in hospital stays of one day or less. When considering recovery time, this can create a significant treatment gap between procedure and full-recovery.
Many patients return to their families for at-home care, but this kind of observation can have severe limitations. For instance, caregiving can be a taxing process for family members, and the average layperson doesn’t have the expertise or tools necessary to manage medical complications.
Telemedicine technologies give patients the option to reach out to their doctor if they feel discomfort or have concerns, but response times can be slow and patients aren’t always able to distinguish between general post-op discomfort and a legitimate medical concern.
If complications arise, this lack of medical oversight can hinder the recovery process and even put the patient at risk. For this reason, more patients are turning to recovery centers for safe post-operative care. These facilities allow patients to maintain their independence while still having access to round-the-clock nursing care as needed.
“Undergoing surgery can be stressful and the recovery process is not always an easy one, physically or emotionally,” said Isabella Kortez, CEO of Pearl Wellness. “It’s important that patients are able to heal under the best circumstances possible, which is exactly what recovery centers were created for — to promote healing with a tranquil atmosphere and access to medical attention and amazing amenities.”
Specialized recovery care nurses are experienced with post-op patients and committed to following the recovery procedures set forth by the doctor. These nurses typically specialize in:
- Administering the proper medications on schedule
- Monitoring the patient’s vital signs and recovery progress
- Ensuring a comfortable and safe recovery environment for the patient
- Providing mobility assistance when required
- Administering IV therapy
- Overseeing dressing changes
- Answering patient questions regarding symptoms, care, discomfort, and other concerns
- Addressing any immediate symptoms or sources of discomfort
- Requesting immediate medical care in the event of an emergency
Depending on the type of facility and the type of surgery, the recovery center might also provide physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other rehabilitation services.
The Need for a Partnership
While nursing professionals provide an invaluable service in these facilities, their capabilities are limited. If a patient does encounter an emergency related to their treatment, they won’t always have access to the same doctor who performed the surgery. There may be a delay in seeing any doctor at all.
Noticing this gap in medical coverage, more hospitals are recognizing the need for greater oversight during recovery. As a result, doctors are partnering with these facilities to improve post-operative care, ensure greater oversight, and promote better long-term results for patients.
A partnership with surgeons better enables the recovery facility to:
- Arrange for transportation to and from the hospital
- Streamline communication with the physician in the event of an emergency
- Arrange for follow-up doctor visits during the recovery period
- Provide optimal instructions and protocols to the nursing staff
- Ensure maximum peace of mind and a safe recovery period for all patients
Research Reaffirms the Benefits
Recovery centers are gaining popularity with doctors because these facilities improve patient outcomes. According to DJ Hill, CEO of Compass Surgical Partners, recovery centers “offer a bridge from post-op to home recovery and allow the care team to have more time with the patient. This, in turn, better prepares patients for the two- to three-month home recovery period following the procedure.”
In addition, research reaffirms the benefits of post-op care in a recovery facility. A recent retrospective Medicare cohort study found that patients who returned home after surgery were 5.6% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital than patients who were discharged to a recovery facility.
How Doctors Are Getting Involved
Some hospitals and hospital networks, like St. David’s HealthCare, are implementing their own post-surgery programs to oversee patient recovery using a multi-step process. In other cases, doctors are partnering with existing recovery facilities to ensure optimal care for their patients. By maintaining these partnerships, doctors are able to recommend post-op procedures to their patients and help with all of the necessary arrangements and oversight.
If you are a doctor and would like to learn more about these partnerships, just research recovery facilities in your area. Most facility websites have a page exclusive to doctors, complete with comprehensive care information and contact details. If the facility meets your standards of care, it may also become a valuable referral source. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to provide your patients with a safe and reliable path to long-term recovery.
