| | December 20208UTLOOK Healthcare Tech Starting on March 11, 2020, Palomar Health canceled all in-person community classes, including pre-operative education classes intended to prepare patients for surgery, due to the pandemic. Although these classes had shown significant benefits to patients, Palomar felt confident that it could rely on its Online CarePath to prepare patients and their caregivers for surgery. The Online CarePath played a critical role in keeping patients informed and engaged during the shutdown, as well as ensuring patients were ready for surgery as soon as their surgeon felt it was safe. Palomar Health is a California Healthcare District that operates two acute care hospitals in San Diego County, California. As a participant in several risk-bearing arrangements that aim to increase quality and decrease cost of care, Palomar offered free weekly two-hour in-person education classes to patients and their caregivers once they were scheduled for Total Joint or Spinal Fusion surgery. Pre-operative patient education is demonstrated to improve patient's post-operative pain and anxiety as well as reduce the length of stay for patients entering a surgical episode. However, it can be difficult for some patients to attend the in-person class, particularly for patients coming from out of the area and for patients who have difficulty ambulating outside the home. Patients who did attend the Total Joint or Spine Fusion class were provided a large amount of information in a two-hour period, testing the limits of their learning retention. In response to these barriers, Palomar initiated an online education tool, referred to as Online By Brian Cohen, MHA, Director of Orthopedic and Spine Services, Palomar HealthHow Palomar Health Took the Online Route to Prepare Patients and Caregivers for Surgeries in the Wake of the PandemicIn My Opinion
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