How to Create an Exceptional Hand Surgery Patient Experience with WALANT

Area of Science:

• Surgical techniques
• Patient experience
• Anesthesia

Background:

• Wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) hand surgery is increasingly common.
• Patient satisfaction and patient experience are distinct but related concepts.
• A positive patient experience is linked to improved surgical outcomes and surgeon well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical strategies for surgeons to enhance the patient experience during WALANT hand surgery.
• To differentiate between patient satisfaction and patient experience in this context.
• To highlight the benefits of superior patient experience for both patients and surgeons.

Main Methods:

• The article outlines practical tips categorized into preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases.
• It emphasizes actionable advice for surgeons to implement.
• No specific patient data or clinical trials were presented; it's a guideline-based article.

Main Results:

• Implementing the presented tips can lead to a superior patient experience.
• Enhanced patient experience is associated with better clinical outcomes.
• Improved patient experience contributes to reduced postoperative complications.
• Surgeons benefit from increased patient loyalty, professional fulfillment, and a better quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Focusing on the patient experience in WALANT hand surgery yields significant benefits.
• Surgeons can proactively improve patient experience through practical, phase-specific interventions.
• Committing to an enhanced patient experience fosters better outcomes, loyalty, and professional satisfaction.