title: Using preoperative assessment and patient instruction to improve patient safety.
abstract: Rates of patient transfers, cancellations, and patient visits to the emergency department after discharge are quality metrics for ambulatory surgery centers. To improve these metrics, it is imperative to establish best practices for conducting preoperative assessments, including identifying key patient conditions (ie, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, reactive airway disease, obesity). To guide appropriate patient selection, practitioners should review the patient's allergies and sensitivities, alcohol use, medications, and medical history. To help ensure good patient outcomes, it is imperative to provide complete preoperative instructions (eg, NPO guidelines, medications, what to bring, cancellation instructions) and discharge instructions (eg, postoperative medications, appropriate activity restrictions, diet, surgical and anesthetic side effects, special circumstances [eg, regional blocks], symptoms of possible complications, treatment and tests, access to postdischarge follow-up care). Generally, the routine outpatient surgical patient is discharged home; however, there are circumstances that occasionally necessitate transfer or admission to a higher level of care. For transfers, ambulatory surgery centers should adhere to applicable federal and state guidelines and should have a clear policy in place to guide transfers.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000601:surgery
keywords: ASC; ambulatory surgery center; discharge instructions; patient assessment; patient education; patient safety