Your Guide To Implementing And Optimizing Protocols.

 

Building better pathways to better patient outcomes.

Improving the patient experience. Decreasing lengths of stay. Reducing costs of care and potential complications. That’s the power of an Enhanced Recovery program. Through evidence based clinical pathways it allows your operating room to operate in a safer, more effective manner and get your patients on the road to recovery faster.

 

Elevating outcomes. Benefiting bottom lines.

An effective Enhanced Recovery program benefits both your patient and organization. Here is a quick look at the kind of meaningful change these protocols can help you achieve.

 

BETTER OUTCOMES

• 2.2% Decrease in 30-day readmission rate
• 2.2 days Decrease in length of stay
• 3.8% Decrease in 90-day readmission rate
• 27% Decrease in narcotic use

 

BETTER BOTTOM LINES

• $27.4 million Cost savings over a 7-month period
• $1,518 Decrease in variable cost per case

The results above were the product of 57 pathways implemented across 15 service lines for a health system in Colorado. Throughout the years, we’ve done this for organizations across the country

 

The following are four lessons we’ve learned:

Lesson One: Five key milestones lead to one successful Enhanced Recovery protocols.

• Patient education
• Optimal pain control
• Fluid balance
• Early nutrition
• Early ambulation

Lesson Two: Your anesthesiology team is pivotal in the process.

Serving as a collaborative partner throughout the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative periods; implementation and compliance is largely dependent on your anesthesiology department’s ability to lead across the continuum of care.

Lesson Three: Navigating successful implementation takes a partner.

With all the work that goes on inside your walls – from maintaining operating margins and managing OR coverage, sometimes it’s best to look outside for an effective Enhanced Recovery program navigator. In 2018, USAP created an Enhanced Recovery committee and membership who made it their sole mission to support organizations in this endeavor.

Lesson Four: There are eight principles required for a successful program implementation.

Engagement	From anesthesia, surgeons, and nurses
Structure	Processes are implemented and supported by all
Identification	Early and often of the key stakeholders and patients
Formation	Building a collaborative committee
Education	Keeping the patient informed throughout
Awareness	Empowering nurses with protocol knowledge
Advancement	Through continuing education and shared results
Collaboration	Ensuring front-line staff feel heard and supported

 

Achieving optimal outcomes is possible.

At USAP, we don’t just think achieving successful Enhanced Recovery pathways in your facility is possible, we know it. Our organization consistently makes it a reality for organizations of all sizes to help you standardize care, lower costs, enhance clinician engagement and improve outcomes.

 

The catalyst for these specific results? It was USAP.

At USAP, we partner with healthcare systems throughout the country to put our insights, clinical expertise, and leading technology to work to implement an effective Enhanced Recovery program.

 

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