Value of Real-Time Patient Reported Outcomes to Guide Recovery
For healthcare professionals, commitment to patient care doesn't end with the surgery or procedure. With patient recovery being one of the most crucial phases of the surgery journey, follow-up care plays an essential role in ensuring optimal recovery, preventing complications, and strengthening the patient-provider relationship.
A randomized trial found that at-home symptom monitoring with real-time feedback to clinicians after surgery led to a significant reduction in symptom threshold events (19% in the intervention group vs. 8% in the control group), demonstrating how real-time PROs (Patient Reported Outcomes) can directly improve symptom management and potentially prevent complications.
Streamlining this process with regular check-ins can ensure that you're getting the information from your patient that will help both you and them stay on top of their recovery and ahead of any potential issues or complications.
Identifying Early Complications and Monitoring Recovery Progress
Complications after surgery may not always be immediately apparent to patients, especially in the early stages of recovery. By reaching out to patients post-procedure, healthcare professionals can spot red flags before they become more serious allowing for swift intervention which can make all the difference in reducing the risk of severe complications or the need for additional surgeries.
Implementing regular check-ins that help to monitor pain levels, functional mobility, and wound healing over the course of the recovery process, and provide guidance to help tailor any modifications to medications or rehabilitation strategies, improving recovery times and enhancing outcomes.
Enhancing Patient Adherence to Post-Operative Instructions
Post-operative instructions are critical for a successful recovery---ranging from medication schedules to activity limitations. Unfortunately, patients may forget, misunderstand, or neglect certain aspects of their recovery plan once they are back at home. Add to that the prevalence of paper copies of everything, and handwritten amendments to the instructions, and patients can get confused on what they're supposed to do.
Check-ins offer the perfect moment to ensure they are following the recommended guidelines, alongside their discharge instructions. Providing an easy way for patients to reference what they're supposed to be doing, answer questions, and reinforce the importance of adherence can prevent infections, re-injury, or other complications.
Providing Support and Building a Strong Relationship
Surgery or medical procedures, even routine ones, can be mentally and emotionally taxing for patients, with many experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, or fear about their recovery. Check-ins offer an invaluable opportunity to provide reassurance, clarify instructions, and address concerns. Helping patients get their answers and simplifying the process for the office staff can make them more likely to adhere to their treatment plans and experience a smoother recovery process.
Patients who feel that their healthcare providers genuinely care about their recovery are more likely to trust them and foster a sense of commitment to the patient's long-term health, strengthening the patient-provider relationship and promoting a more collaborative care environment. Helping patients get their answers and simplifying the process for the office staff can make them more likely to adhere to their treatment plans and experience a smoother recovery process.
Improving Healthcare Efficiency and Meeting Standards
Proactive check-ins can reduce the need for emergency visits, readmissions, or unnecessary urgent care consultations by identifying potential concerns early on, reducing healthcare costs and the burden on hospital systems. Automatic check-ins ensure that patients don't need to rely on the emergency department for simple problems that could be addressed through regular follow-up, and allow doctors to monitor situations that may be concerning without causing undue alarm.
Regular check-ins are also often a part of the quality care standards required by accreditation bodies, and help ensure that providers comply with regulations while maintaining the highest level of patient care. These check-ins can also contribute to better patient satisfaction scores and positively affect the institution's reputation.
Conclusion: The Value of Post-Operative Check-ins
Surgery is only one part of the patient's overall health. Their recovery involves emotional, psychological, and social dimensions that require attention. A follow-up can give healthcare providers insight into how a patient is coping with the non-physical aspects of recovery. By taking a holistic approach, healthcare professionals can provide more comprehensive care, ensuring that patients are not only physically recovering but also thriving emotionally and mentally.