NSLHD develops new pre-op physiotherapy program to cut complications At Royal North Shore Hospital, a new education package has been created to help information. We hope this helps patients feel more confident about their recovery,” she said.
reduce lung complications after surgery. Research indicates that pre-operative physiotherapy can cut these complications by 50 per cent for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. A recent co-design workshop brought together NSLHD consumer advisors and a range of clinicians—including physiotherapists, anaesthetists, nurse educators, and research officers. NSLHD Consumer Advisor Sarah Barter said it was hoped the new education package would be provided to patients through virtual care physiotherapy services. “It was great to work with such a diverse team to create useful, patient-friendly
The team plans to study the impact of this virtual pre-operative physiotherapy program. This study will look at how well the program reduces lung complications, how it affects clinician workload, and its impact on hospital stay lengths. Dr. Louise Hansell said our idea came from research showing that preoperative physiotherapy can significantly reduce respiratory complications. “With limited time for in-person care, we’re testing how our virtual service can effectively support patients,” she said.
The team behind the program
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 17| 6 SEPTEMBER 2024
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