PFCC from a Patient Perspective

THe PFCC Experience

A Real World Example: PFCC for Total Joint Replacement (TJR)

The PFCC process starts in the office. When you select a surgery date, a pre-operative office visit is scheduled. This initial visit, occurring approximately three weeks before surgery, is organized as a one-stop testing and education to set the stage for hospitalization. The streamlined visit allows you to complete needed testing and education in about two hours. The visit also provides an opportunity to meet other patients and families who will be having surgery at the same time, as well as staff, reducing delays on the day of surgery.

You also meet with a social worker to discuss discharge to home and develop a home care plan together. At the same time, a post-operative, follow-up visit is scheduled with the physician, lessening anxiety about how and when you will receive follow-up. A coach is chosen at this time. The coach is your family member or friend who will help you in the recovery phase and provides a single point of contact and communication between health care providers, patients, and other family members.

On the day of surgery, the physician meets with you and your coach and marks the site of surgery. You also meet the anesthesiologist and learn more about special anesthesia techniques and post-operative pain management options, helping to set your expectations and explain multi-modal pain management protocols, integration of pre, intra-, and post-operative care, the relation between pain and nausea treatment, and a commitment to low cost pain management.