From Home To Operation (FHTO)--a new surgical admission centre: does the comprehensive initialisation of a new...

FHTO - From Home To Operation is a same day admission -model developed at Finland Hyvinkää Hospital from as early as year 2000. In September 2006, a new FHTO centre was opened, through which surgical patients walk into the operation room. This article describes how an extensive FHTO process transition effects patients operation outcome.

The data was collected of all elective surgical patients between March and May in 2006 and in 2007, six months before and after the new FHTO centre was opened. Patient demographics and surgery outcome measurements were reported and analysed between the two study periods. One month postoperative follow-up was recorded.

Overall 1206 patients were included, 592 in 2006 and 614 in 2007. Before the extensive process change in 2006 54% of patients were admitted through old limited FHTO unit, and 46% through surgical ward. Six months after FHTO centre opening in 2007 same figures were 90,5% and 9,5% respectively. The baseline statistics differed statistically in kidney failure, that increased in 2007. Two deaths were recorded during postoperative follow-up each year.

FHTO process transition included different surgical specialities and did not have negative impact on surgery outcome. Preoperative process should be debated thoroughly in every public hospital. The preoperative process transition from preoperative hospital stay to same day admission through new centre can be accomplished without harming surgery outcome.