Perioperative Consulting and Process Assessment

Many hospitals and healthcare systems have opportunities to better prepare patients before surgery, which improves overall clinical quality, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Our team of perioperative anesthesia consultants assesses current Preadmission Testing processes and clinical protocols to advise on process improvement and implementation of technology platforms during the perioperative consulting process. This is all designed to facilitate PAT documentation, capture comorbidities, and reduce day-of-surgery delays and cancellations.

As more procedures move to out-of-operating room locations, hospitals are challenged to ensure they perform as effectively as their main operating room. EHC’s perioperative improvement consultants will conduct a thorough evaluation explicitly focused on current and desired NORA locations (Cath Lab, EP Lab, Endo, IR, etc.). Our team will then assist with implementing recommendations to align and transform NORA service lines.

Operating Room governance and leadership can substantially impact the overall functioning of your OR. Our perioperative consulting team works alongside hospital and perioperative leadership to create or redesign existing OR Governance committees capable of creating lasting positive change within surgical departments.

Surgeons and their surgical teams depend on up-to-date Preference Cards that detail correct equipment, supplies, medications, and patient positioning devices to ensure a safe and efficient surgical experience. Enhance Healthcare’s perioperative consulting can help revise and organize your preference cards, optimize workflow, and provide your team with a methodology to effectively manage and update this vital component of a well-managed operating room.

Challenges in the Sterile Processing department (SPD) often drive frustrated surgeons to the C-Suite and away from your operating rooms. If your OR is suffering from bioburden, immediate use of trays, flashing, and holes in wrappers, these issues may become potentially adverse events. Our team is equipped to assess the current state of your SPD and develop an improvement plan to increase operational efficiency.

Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers are increasingly aware of the dramatic results obtainable through the implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathways. Evidence-based clinical pathways are integrated into a coordinated care approach with consistent processes and an emphasis on patient-focused care. This methodology has been shown to optimize surgical outcomes, eliminate unnecessary costs, and improve postoperative pain scores. Our perioperative anesthesia consultants partner with your hospital to develop and implement a results-oriented ERAS program across a single or multiple surgical service lines.

Perioperative assessments and perioperative consulting conclude with a final report to leadership designed to describe current performance and identify actionable opportunities for improvement. Since each engagement is customized to meet client requirements, every final report addresses these client-specific issues. This report typically includes a utilization analysis with benchmarking, block time analysis, staffing efficiency options, recommendations regarding performance metrics, and satisfaction survey summaries. Findings from process assessments and mapping will also be presented. Based on the results, EHC will outline key opportunities for improvement and prioritize the next steps.

Many groups and facilities require the implementation of prioritized recommendations from the initial assessment during perioperative consulting. These requirements are unique to each situation, but perioperative subject matter expertise is necessary to maximize results. Our implementation support services address various needs customized to the client. These services include scheduling optimization, staffed location redesign, OR process improvement,  preadmission testing redesign, optimization of preference cards, and sterile processing. To ensure the sustainability of improvement efforts, the EHC team can also assist with redesign of OR governance, dashboard development, implementation of ERAS, and documentation of updated processes.