Hurdles to the Development of the “Surgical Home” in the Low-Resource World

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This chapter assesses the current state of practice of anesthesia in a low-resourced hospital and the hurdles envisaged in the development of perioperative surgical home, PSH, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, KATH in Ghana.

Recent Findings

In the PSH model, the patient's experience of care is coordinated by a Director of Perioperative Services, additional Surgical Home Leadership, and supportive personnel, which constitute an interdisciplinary team. KATH is yet to establish working structures that provide a solid foundation that would make implementation of this model possible. Foundational tenets of the PSH being operating room (OR) managers or directors, interdisciplinary teamwork, well-oriented and motivated staff, appreciation of the key roles of the anesthetist by both patients and surgeons among others are either not well established or nonexistent currently at KATH.

Summary

While KATH has the basic infrastructure and personnel compared to other low-resourced countries for delivery of safe anesthesia, there exist several important limitations to the successful establishment of the PSH practice. Besides having to operate currently on limited funding, the necessary interdepartmental cohesion and acceptance of the anesthetist to lead any such model present an important hurdle to be surmounted.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2HHS1a3