José Luis Gracia Martínez

March 25, 2024

Project Summary and Clinical Relevance

Title: Digital transformation of the preanesthetic consultation

This clinical innovation project aims to improve healthcare for surgical patients through a new integrated preanesthesia care pathway. It involves transforming the preanesthetic evaluation into a non-in-person, standardized, automated, digital, efficient, and sustainable process to reduce economic costs, human resources, systematize clinical decisions based on evidence, and improve the experience for professionals and patients.
Adhering to the "value-based healthcare" model, the project is based on three pillars: 1) standardization and automation of processes; 2) logistical optimization, creation of integrated practice units, and remote evaluation; and 3) implementation of a digital health toolkit.

Since the implementation of the new model, preanesthesia evaluation waiting times have decreased from an average of 8±24 to 3±10 days (p<0.001), and preventable same-day surgery cancellations have decreased from 52.44% to 37.8%. Laboratory tests, ECGs, and chest X-rays have decreased by 58.14%, 59.94%, and 95.58%, respectively (p<0.05). The project is estimated to save over $250,000/year/center. The patient experience has improved, with an NPS of 72.26 ± 8.71 in 2022 compared to 61.58 ± 9.19 in 2018 before the project implementation (p = 0.0079).