Synergism in Perioperative Services

This article presents an analysis of the concept of synergism in perioperative services. Perioperative services can account for a hospital's highest expenditures and net income or loss, and leaders must understand how to maximize outcomes by creating value above expectations. Using Walker and Avant's methodology, I examined the use of synergism in the literature across multiple databases. The concept has been used in business, information technology, psychology, engineering, and theology. In health care, it is used to explain the effects of combined medications, teamwork, biological systems, patient care, cleaning effectiveness, and health promotion partnerships. I identified two attributes: an emergent property and increased positivity. Optimized outcomes, increased patient and employee satisfaction, and high net revenue are evidence of perioperative synergism. Synergism in this context is dependent on team cohesion, communication, workplace adaptability, and the tactical allocation of resources to ensure unimpeded flow of the patient through the system.