Do pre-op medical clearances by primary care physicians for outpatient elective surgeries decrease post-op admissions and improve patient outcomes?

Abstract

Purpose: Long gone are the days of inpatient pre-operative admissions. Outpatient elective surgeries have increased in number and the focus has shifted to prepare the patient on an outpatient basis. Internal medicine practices are relied upon to provide medical clearance which is causing a lack in pre-operative visits. Therefore, patients are coming in the day of surgery without a medical clearance or proper history & physical which may potentially put them at risk preoperatively and/or post operatively.