What Is Follow-Up Care?
Follow-up care is also known as post-operative care. Follow-up care is vital for patients that have undergone surgery. Follow-up care includes all the treatments, procedures, and appointments necessary to ensure the patient heals after surgery. A patient’s follow-up care varies based on the type of surgery and other factors.
Do I need to be in the hospital to receive follow-up care?
Follow-up care begins when the patient leaves the surgery room. After surgery, the patient is carted off to another room until the anesthesia wears off. The patient may receive pain medications and continue to be monitored by nursing staff. Once the patient is cleared to go home, the patient must continue with post-operative care. Follow-up care can be done at inpatient and outpatient facilities.
What types of follow-up care is available?
Pain management, physical therapy, nutritional plans, close monitoring by medical professionals, and counseling are all forms of follow-up care. For instance, a patient that has received a knee replacement will probably need pain medication and physical therapy to fully recover. These treatments would be part of the patient’s follow-up care plan.
What happens if a person doesn’t adhere to the follow-up care guidelines?
Each person’s follow-up care plan is created to meet specific needs. Patients should adhere to the follow-up plan to avoid any major complications during the recovery process. Without the proper care patients run the risk of excessive bleeding, infection, and severe pain. Wound care is especially important, and patients need to properly care for stiches and sutures.
Do I need to go to a rehabilitation center?
A post-operative rehabilitation center can be an inpatient or outpatient facility. Depending on the facility, the patient can stay there for an extended period or attend appointments as needed. Most rehab centers have a variety of medical professionals on-site like nurses, dietitians, psychologists, and occupational therapists. These professionals work with the patient’s doctor to create and carry out the follow-up care treatment plan.
What can I do to relax after surgery?
The ultimate goal of follow-up care is to help the patient heal and go back to living a regular life, but all the post-operative work can be exhausting. Surgery is a life-changing experience, and it can be hard to go back to normal. Therefore, patients should do things that relax the body and mind like watching a movie, reading a book, meditating, or getting a massage. Having downtime works wonders for the mind and helps the patient truly recover.
Should I talk to my doctor about follow-up care?
Patients undergoing surgery should discuss follow-up care with a physician. A physician will work with others to create a comprehensive treatment plan to deal with post-operative care. A physician can also adjust the plan to deal with any complications that arise.
