An innovative method first tested on surgery patients at the University of Michigan in 2017, showed signs of reduction in medical costs related to patient’s care, and cutting their length of stay in the hospital.
The method which is called ‘Prehabilitation’, uses the weeks before surgery to encourage patient to mor more, eat healthier, cut back on tobacco, breathe deeper, reduce stress, and focus on their goals for after the operation.
The study found that the patients who had undergone Prehab, were discharged one day earlier, and were more likely to go home rather than to a nursing home facility. Total costs for all care up to three months after the surgery were nearly $3,200 less on an average for those who went through Prehab.
Patients with the highest risk of complications after surgery were the focus of the study because they had a combination of underlying health conditions beyond the problem that required surgery.