FMC’s Surgical Services Implement New Pre-Operative Testing Process

GREENFIELD — Franklin Medical Center’s Surgical Services Department recently implemented a new pre-operative process that will help improve patient safety and reduce last-minute surgery cancellations through better communication among all the caregivers involved in a patient’s surgery.

The process, which was implemented in December, is based on completing pre-operative testing well in advance of surgery to allow time for the patient’s physicians to thoroughly review results prior to the surgery date, and to order additional testing if necessary.

Keith Knight, interim director of FMC’s Surgical Services Department, explained, “when a patient had pre-operative testing done the day before surgery, we would sometimes learn about a health issue that would necessitate postponing surgery until a complete medical history and physician’s clearance could be obtained.

“Surgery cancellations are not good from a patient standpoint,” he continued. “Patients have to be psychologically, emotionally and physically prepared for the event. It’s traumatic to have to cancel and go through that mental and emotional preparation all over again.”

With the new process, pre-operative testing, which could involve X-rays, EKGs, blood work, and a medical history, will generally occur at least a week in advance of scheduled surgery. If anything out of the ordinary surfaces, the primary care physician, surgeon and anesthesiologist can work together to make sure that the patient’s safety during surgery will not be compromised.

“For instance, additional tests might be ordered,” Knight explained, “or a different method of anesthesia might be discussed, depending on the patient’s situation. Our goal is to ensure that we have safe, quality surgery and that we don’t have cancellations on the day of surgery.”

Because the success of the new process depends largely on strengthening the line of communications between the primary care physicians and surgeons in preparation for a scheduled surgery, the team involved with implementing the new pre-operative testing process was interdisciplinary. Facilitated by Jeff King, AuD, from FMC’s Rehabilitation Department, the team included nursing staff from Surgical Services as well as medical staff members Adam Blacksin, MD, for the Department of Medicine; Stephen Fox, MD, for Surgery; Henry Godeck, MD, for Anesthesia; and Ann McIntosh, MD, for Medical Staff Administration.

“We wanted to be certain that whatever was designed would make sense from the standpoint of everyone involved in the patient’s care and treatment,” Knight continued. Only two months into the new system, Knight reported, “We have seen positive results already, with better communication among the physicians involved; and we hope that will continue to strengthen.”

Knight concluded, “You can’t have too much information. The more information the better – for safety and for quality. The more we can front-load – get as much necessary patient information ahead of time as possible — then the day of surgery goes a lot smoother and is less stress-producing for both the patient and the surgical team. It’s all about quality; it’s about safety, and it’s about service.”