Developing implementation strategies to adopt Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) guidelines.

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Surgical Care Improvement
• Neonatal Healthcare

Background:

• Effective implementation strategies for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS®) guidelines are crucial but under-documented, especially in complex settings.
• This study addresses the need for documented strategies by outlining the adoption process of a new neonatal ERAS® guideline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the process of adopting a novel neonatal ERAS® guideline.
• To identify key elements for successful implementation of ERAS® guidelines in complex clinical situations.

Main Methods:

• A multi-pronged, concurrent, and asynchronous implementation strategy was employed.
• Healthcare providers, parents, and multidisciplinary teams collaborated to develop care pathways, considering local context, facilitators, and barriers.
• An audit system was established for outcome recording and feedback.

Main Results:

• 32 healthcare providers from 9 disciplines and 5 specialties, along with 8 parents, participated.
• New care pathways and resources were developed.
• Key success factors identified include champions, multidisciplinary involvement, local context consideration, patient engagement, education, and an audit system.

Conclusions:

• A structured, multidisciplinary process grounded in implementation science principles was effective for developing an ERAS® guideline implementation strategy.
• The study provides a framework for initiating ERAS® guidelines in novel clinical contexts.