recovery caregivers to coordinate care pathways with the physician
performing the surgery in advance of the surgery. This can take some
time to plan, but a sit-down consultation with the physician can build
the patient's recovery care on the physician's standing orders, proto-
cols and expectations for each post-surgical day. With this collabora-
tive approach, nurses and therapists can practically take the hospital
model of care into the patient's home.
• Pre-op assessment. For patients who will be doing their joint replace-
ment recoveries at home, pre-surgical education and preparation
should include an assessment of their living situation in order to deter-
mine the potential for successful or risk-laden outcomes. Home recov-
ery nurses who visit patients 2 weeks before surgery can scope out the
accessibility of the environment, particularly entryways, steps, and bed-
room and bathroom locations. They can identify potential barriers to
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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
z WALK THE WALK Visits from nurses as well as physical
therapists approximates the hospital post-op experience.
