Health Professionals
The objectives of the initiative are to
1. Enhance the patient’s functional capacity to enable them to withstand the forthcoming surgery, with the aim of improving postoperative outcomes.
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2. Support patients post-surgery to identify and eliminate any barriers or challenges to their recovery.
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3. Support patients to maximise on their motivation and empower them to comply with the programme, to achieve beneficial results & attainment of the patient’s health goals.
I am keen to work alongside health professionals who are passionate about prehabilitation and exploring new approaches to improving the recovery of their patients. Currently the emphasis has been placed mainly on postoperative measures, such as delivery of rehabilitation and enhanced recovery programmes but there is shift occurring and I intend to be at the forefront.
Several weeks/months may elapse between the decision to proceed with surgery and the surgery itself, causing distress to the patient and possible complications in surgery. Nearly four in ten (37.16%) surgeons said they had to undertake more complex surgery due to a patient being on a waiting list for an extended period.
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An Integrative Surgery Nutrition Coach can support a patient when there are delays to their surgery and more importantly help them to redirect their focus to maintain their health & wellbeing. Providing early intervention for a patient will improve their quality of life and nutritional status; using a multimodal approach, encompassing preoperative physical exercise, nutritional support and stress/anxiety reduction is likely to lead to less complicated surgeries.
Outcome benefits expected are
Reduced length of stay in hospital
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Reduced readmission rates
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Reduced infection rates
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Better management of their blood sugar levels
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Reduction in weight (if required)
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Less postoperative pain
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Fewer postoperative complications
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Increased recovery time
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Faster wound healing
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Reduced distress and anxiety associated with diagnosis and surgery
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Reduced dependence on social care and swifter recovery
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Improved patient flow through the system. Beds will be free for those needing quick admission for emergency care or a planned operation, which in turn will have a positive impact on reducing crowding in A&E & less cancelled surgeries.
If you would like to play an integral role in your patient’s healing journey and change patient outcomes, then please refer your patients to work alongside an Integrative Surgery Nutrition Coach. I will work with them to adopt healthy behaviours geared towards a smoother swifter recovery.
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Your patients will feel more empowered, by taking control of some aspects of their treatment and this will contribute positively to their health and enhanced recovery.
I look forward to hearing from you at ria@healthbeyondsurgery.com