Patient experiences after hospitalizations for elective surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Limited understanding of patient perspectives on postdischarge care quality after elective surgery.
• Unclear patient-reported causes of rehospitalization following elective surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient-reported quality of postdischarge care.
• To identify patient-perceived causes of rehospitalization after elective surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational cohort study design.
• Survey administered to 400 patients undergoing elective surgery.
• 30-day follow-up questionnaire with a 94% completion rate.

Main Results:

• 13% of patients experienced unplanned rehospitalizations, with half occurring within 10 days of discharge.
• Postoperative complications were the most common reason for rehospitalization, per patient reports and clinical data.
• Poor perceived care coordination was linked to increased rehospitalization risk.

Conclusions:

• Patients identify surgical complications as the primary driver of rehospitalizations post-elective surgery.
• Enhancing discharge processes and coordinated management of complications at regional hospitals is recommended.
• Improving care quality for elective surgery patients requires focus on the transition from referral centers.