same types of cases
— repairs of frac-
tured wrists, fingers,
forearms, ankles and
feet — makes it possi-
ble to create care plans that lead to efficient, successful surgery.
Facility administrators and clinical leaders need to come together
to create a clinical care pathway for trauma cases, suggests Dr.
Romeo. "The care provided in the outpatient environment is very
predictable," he says. "When you do trauma cases routinely, you
know exactly how to prepare patients for surgery, the necessary
level of anesthesia, how much nursing care you need, special equip-
ment to have on hand and how to recover patients after surgery. All
that can be organized and planned out before trauma patients come
to the surgery center."
OSM
Email Ms. Gapinski at gapski13@gmail.com.
A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 7
Patients are in the OR by 7 a.m.
and on their way home by 11 a.m.
— Anthony A. Romeo, MD
