Using Perioperative Care and GIRFT to Help Solve the Health Crisis

Description

The transcript captures a speech by Tim Briggs, focusing on the current challenges and improvements in healthcare systems, particularly regarding orthopedics. He discusses the importance of face-to-face interactions, even masked, and highlights the collaborative efforts of healthcare professionals in addressing health crises. Briggs reflects on the origins and achievements of the GIRFT program in orthopedics, noting significant reductions in patient stay lengths, complications, and litigation through improved practices. He emphasizes the need for efficient use of theatre time and resources to enhance surgical productivity and patient experience.



Briggs illustrates a case study of a Trust that improved its orthopedic surgeries by reorganizing its approach and achieving exemplary outcomes just before the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses the growing waiting lists exacerbated by the pandemic and proposes strategies to tackle these challenges, including utilizing data for better demand and capacity modeling.



The importance of high-volume elective pathways and effective patient care systems is underscored, along with the need for collaboration among medical staff, administrators, and the independent sector. He calls for a shift toward day-case surgeries as a default and urges hospitals to standardize procedures to improve efficiency and equity in patient care. Overall, the message is one of proactive engagement, data-driven solutions, and teamwork in healthcare to significantly enhance patient outcomes and address systemic challenges.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221543

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