The perioperative care journey has seven stages underpinned by primary care. Not all patients will go through every stage. Patients' needs are determined by local assessment of medical and social factors.
Primary care
Primary care providers are involved in a patient’s perioperative journey from referral to postoperative support.
Pre-procedure preparation
The review process and triage pathways that a patient follows before a surgery or procedure and what to do on the day of surgery.
Risk assessment
Perioperative risk assessment tools that can be used to consider both patient risk factors and surgical risks to determine the best course of action.
Optimisation
Perioperative optimisation strategies include prehabilitation programs, enhanced recovery after surgery models and high-risk clinics.
Day of surgery
Requirements for the day of surgery, including patient assessments, nursing procedures and the use of surgical safety or preoperative checklists.
Safe recovery
Manage and respond to clinical deterioration, pain, complications and other patient needs postoperatively.
Discharge instructions
Details to be included in discharge instructions and discharge summaries for patients and primary care providers.