Preventing Surgical Delay and Cancellation with Patient-Centered Interventions.

Area of Science:

• Perioperative Medicine
• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Surgical delays and cancellations significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs.
• Causes include facility, equipment, and provider availability, alongside patient-related factors like readiness and health status.
• Limited research exists on patient-related causes, yet patient-centered interventions show promise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight patient-centered interventions that reduce surgical delays and cancellations.
• To provide perianesthesia and advanced practice nurses with strategies to improve efficiency.
• To encourage further research into causes and nursing roles in evidence-based practice.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on patient-centered interventions.
• Focus on preoperative clinics, screening, and focused patient education.
• Analysis of how these interventions impact surgical efficiency.

Main Results:

• Preoperative clinics, screening, and education are effective in reducing delays and cancellations.
• These interventions empower nurses to enhance operational efficiency.
• Evidence-based practice projects utilizing these methods are crucial.

Conclusions:

• Patient-centered interventions are vital for minimizing surgical delays and cancellations.
• Perianesthesia and advanced practice nurses are instrumental in implementing these strategies.
• Further research is needed to fully understand causes and optimize nursing roles.