After that, patients visit outpatient physical therapy for another 3 to 4
weeks. "There needs to be a lot of follow-up with these patients, since
they aren't laying in a bed with a floor nurse checking on them several
times a day," says Dr. Berger.
In addition to physical therapy, Dr. Kohen says his center also works
with a home nursing program to ensure someone is there to help
patients first move around their home, monitor their vitals and admin-
ister any medications after leaving the center.
The experts also suggest you clearly indicate in your post-discharge
instructions whom patients should call if there are any problems —
although they say complications are rare. "All physicians and anesthe-
sia providers are also on 24-hour call, so patients can call me or anes-
thesia if there is a problem like excessive pain," says Dr. Kohen. "So
far, though, that hasn't happened." OSM
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E-mail kgapinski@outpatientsurgery.net.
