Preoperative preparation. Value, perspective, and practice in patient care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Operations Research
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Preanesthesia preparation requires continuous innovation and process improvement.
• Centralized preanesthesia clinics like UNC Health System's PreCare have demonstrated success with specific metrics.
• Expanding healthcare systems necessitate adaptable preparation strategies, including telemedicine and online processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies for improving preanesthesia preparation processes.
• To evaluate the utility of animated simulation modeling (ASM) in optimizing clinic operations.
• To address challenges in expanding preanesthesia services and ensuring patient privacy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized animated simulation modeling (ASM) tool, MedModel, for process and space planning.
• Employed classic planning techniques including time-motion studies, Delphi techniques, customer satisfaction surveys, benchmarking, and financial analysis.
• Analyzed operational challenges and applied lessons from general clinic management to preanesthesia settings.

Main Results:

• ASM identified ideal space-time-personnel scenarios and potential problems before resource allocation.
• ASM facilitated comparison of real-time data with reference scenarios, aiding strategic vision refinement.
• The study highlighted the importance of integrating ASM with other planning methods for total quality management.

Conclusions:

• Animated simulation modeling is a valuable tool for enhancing preanesthesia clinic efficiency and strategic planning.
• Adapting lessons from other clinic settings and addressing technological advancements are crucial for future preanesthesia preparation.
• Efficient preanesthesia care delivery supports ethical patient care obligations and requires robust information management.