The Perioperative Surgical Home in Pediatrics: Improve Patient Outcomes, Decrease Cancellations, Improve HealthCare Spending and Allocation of Resources during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Cancellations or delays in surgical care for pediatric patients that present to the operating room create a great obstacle for both the physician and the patient. Perioperative outpatient management begins prior to the patient entering the hospital for the day of surgery, and many organizations practice using the perioperative surgical home (PSH), incorporating enhanced recovery concepts. This paper describes changes in standard operating procedures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and proposes the expansion of PSH, as a means of improving perioperative quality of care in pediatric populations.