July 20, 2020 Gillian Griffith

Intubation At-A-Glance: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary & What to Expect

From “asymptomatic” to “ventilators”, COVID-19 has brought some new words into the daily vocabulary of Americans everywhere. One of the most common new additions to our lexicon? Intubation. Today, then, we wanted to offer up everything patients need to know about intubation—including what it is, why it might be necessary, and what you can expect […]

June 26, 2020 Gillian Griffith

Surgery for the Morbidly Obese: What to Know & How to Address Weight Loss Before Surgery

With almost three-quarters of men and 60 percent of women in the United States being obese or overweight, obesity is a prevalent issue in our society. If you or a loved one falls into this category, your doctor may have told you to hold off on surgery until you’ve lost weight. Obesity can often make […]

May 21, 2020 covid-19 | surgery Marissa Adams

Surgery for COVID-19 Patients: A Creative Method For Safe Procedures

The information in this post is accurate as of 5/20/20 We’ve been focusing hard on what preparing for, having, and recovering from surgery will be like now that it is clear that COVID-19 will have a long term presence in the global healthcare system. But what we haven’t been able to learn much about was […]

May 5, 2020 Marissa Adams

These States are Resuming Elective Surgeries After a Pause for COVID-19

The information in this post is accurate as of 5/5/20 Elective surgery is back on the schedule for over half of US States. As COVID-19 patients began flooding into hospitals in late March and early April, many states halted any non-emergency surgeries, largely because of a fear of supply and staff shortages. The US healthcare […]

May 5, 2020 alcohol | ERAS | exercise | mental health | nutrition | Smoking | surgery Jamie Fletcher

Surgery After COVID-19: Why It’s Time to Refocus on Preparation

At a Glance As the world begins to take the first steps into life after quarantine following the global pandemic, reports indicate that elective surgeries will begin to take place once again. Today, we discuss the ways in which patients and the general population alike can ensure that they stay healthy during a time when […]

April 3, 2020 ERAS | health | surgery Gillian Griffith

Postponed Surgery Due to COVID-19: Making The Most Of Your Extended Surgery-Preparation Period

In the midst of Coronavirus, it’s likely your elective surgery has been canceled or rescheduled. The news of a postponed surgery might feel like a major bummer (and we totally get that)—but there’s also an upside to consider: having your surgery postponed means more time to prepare. Today, then, we’re talking everything you can do […]

March 13, 2020 anxiety | mental health | recovery | stress | surgery Gillian Griffith

Surgery While Employed: 5 Things to Consider

Surgery itself is stressful—but having surgery while employed can be especially so. From preparing your workstation to setting realistic expectations for when you can return, there are plenty of things to plan for when it comes to getting back to work after surgery. Today, then, we’re breaking down 5 things employees should consider when they […]

March 5, 2020 anxiety | mental health | recovery Gillian Griffith

Emotions and Loss of Independence After Surgery

We often look at surgery as something to “get through” before we get on with our life—but the truth is so much of the work surrounding a healthy surgery experience takes place long after you’ve returned home from the hospital. If you or a loved one is getting ready to undergo a procedure that will […]

February 28, 2020 Jamie Fletcher

Your Low Carb Diet Could Hurt Your Recovery After Surgery

As high-fat, ultra-low-carb diets like Atkins or the Ketogenic diet grow in popularity, we’re getting a clearer picture of the long and short term health effects of this style of eating. While many individuals see positive weight loss results from following a low-carb lifestyle,  it’s important to evaluate the drawbacks. For example, certain populations, like […]

February 6, 2020 enhanced recovery | ERAS | pain | painkillers | pediatric surgery | pediatrics | recovery | surgery Gillian Griffith

Research At-a-Glance: The Benefit of an ERAS Protocol in Pediatric Surgeries

Did you know?  This study found that implementation of a pediatric enhanced recovery (ERAS) pathway decreases opioid utilization and shortens time to full feeding.  In other words… Pediatric patients who followed an ERAS® pathway before surgery didn’t need as many opioids and were ultimately able to begin eating again after surgery faster than patients who […]