SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Utilization of Hospitalists to Improve Preadmission Testing in Ambulatory Surgery

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This project describes a novel way to improve preadmission testing (PAT) in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) by involving hospitalists in the evaluation process. As more surgeries move from inpatient hospitals to ASCs, careful preoperative assessment is increasingly important to ensure patients are treated in the safest and most appropriate setting.<br /><br />At the 16-bed ASC in the Northeastern United States, nurses use predefined criteria during PAT to identify high-risk patients based on medical history, medications, and other factors. When concerns arise about surgical appropriateness or the need for medical clearance, the nurse notifies an in-house hospitalist for further evaluation. The hospitalist then helps determine whether the patient can safely proceed in the ASC, needs additional testing or clearance, or should be referred to another setting. Hospitalists also communicate directly with surgeons about procedural safety and alternatives.<br /><br />Preliminary results suggest that adding hospitalists to the PAT workflow has increased the number of patients receiving care in the correct surgical setting. Expected benefits include fewer perioperative complications, fewer day-of-surgery cancellations, fewer emergency transfers to the hospital, greater nurse confidence in identifying high-risk patients, and better collaboration among hospitalists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists.<br /><br />Overall, integrating hospitalists into the PAT process appears to be a promising strategy to improve safety, optimize resource use, enhance patient experience, and support better surgical outcomes in the ambulatory surgery environment.

Asset Subtitle

Mohamed Bakr

Meta Tag

Author List Jessica White, Megan M. Allen, Mohamed Bakr, Vikram Bathula

Category Innovations

Concept Hospitalist Role

Concept Preoperative Testing

Concept Patient Safety

Concept Perioperative Decision-Making

Concept Perioperative Complications

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Envision

Presenting Author Mohamed Bakr

Track Perioperative

Keywords

preadmission testing

ambulatory surgery center

hospitalist evaluation

preoperative assessment

surgical safety

high-risk patients

medical clearance

perioperative complications

day-of-surgery cancellations

patient triage

Hospitalist Role

Preoperative Testing

Patient Safety

Perioperative Decision-Making

Perioperative Complications