Patient-Initiated Telephone Calls Before and After Introduction of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol for Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

Abstract

Importance An evaluation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) effect on perioperative patient phone calls. Objective The aim of this study was to compare perioperative patient phone calls before and after implementation of ERAS. Study Design This is a retrospective chart review of women who underwent surgery by urogynecologists where ERAS was implemented. Patients who underwent surgery were identified before the implementation and compared with the same time period after implementation. Perioperative phone calls were reviewed and categorized by reason for call. Differences between the 2 groups were compared with a Student t test if normally distributed or with a Mann-Whitney U test if not. Categorical outcomes were reported with a percentage and compared with a χ 2 test with an α level of 0.05. Results We reviewed 387 records. There was no difference in the percentage of patient calls before and after implementation of ERAS (preoperatively: 19.8% vs 25.1% [P = 0.21], postoperatively: 64.1% vs 61.5% [P = 0.61]). Questions about chronic home medications were the most common reasons for calling before surgery (pre-ERAS: 16 [42.1%]; post-ERAS: 12 [28.6%]). Questions related to medications, pain, and bowels were the top reasons people called postoperatively. These remained the top 3 in the post-ERAS time period; however, bowel-related questions switched with medications for the top reason. Conclusions Despite patient education being an essential component of ERAS with written and verbal instructions provided, our study found no difference in preoperative or postoperative calls with the implementation. By focusing on common concerns, we may be able to improve the patients experience and reduce office phone calls.