TeamHealth launches PreOpGuide app to reduce unnecessary pre-operative testing, lessen surgical delays

TeamHealth, a leading provider of outsourced physician staffing solutions for hospitals, today announced the launch of PreOpGuide, a free mobile app for clinicians designed to reduce or eliminate unnecessary pre-operative testing, lessen surgical delays and cancellations, help ensure patients are properly prepared for surgery and reduce costs for both patients and hospitals.

"In a rapidly changing healthcare environment, our clinical community and hospital partners are looking for mobile solutions to help achieve greater efficiencies and improve patient care," said Miles Snowden, MD, chief medical officer for TeamHealth. "The launch of PreOpGuide demonstrates TeamHealth's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation to benefit our clinicians, our hospital partners and—ultimately—patients and families."

Designed by a group of TeamHealth anesthesiologists, PreOpGuide is a pre-operative anesthesia testing guide for medical professionals who order or administer pre-operative testing. Through a series of questions, the app collects information about a patient's surgical procedure and current medical condition. As clinicians answer the questions, PreOpGuide's algorithm provides information on the tests recommended prior to surgery. Clinicians can print and share results with other members of the surgical team directly from the app. PreOpGuide is based on current recommendations for pre-operative testing and is designed to be updated as necessary.

"Pre-operative testing—even for a single procedure—differs from patient to patient based on an individual's current health status, co-morbid conditions and more. If proper testing isn't administered, surgical delays and cancellations may occur," said Johann Santa-Eulalia, MD, Jonathan Slonin, MD, and Roy S. Winston, MD, TeamHealth anesthesiologists and co-creators of PreOpGuide. "Delays and unnecessary testing can result in preventable expenses for both the patient and hospital. PreOpGuide creates greater efficiency for hospitals and patients by offering a more consistent pre-operative testing process, keeping surgeries on schedule and saving hospitals and patients the time and expense of unnecessary tests."

Clinicians who benefit from the PreOpGuide include hospitalists, anesthesiologists, certified nurse anesthetists, general practitioners, surgeons, nurse practitioners, emergency medicine physicians and physician assistants.