Training for a Faster Recovery from Surgery (Part-1)

Health insurance is a highly contentious subject that generates a great deal of heated debate on both sides. The insurance options and the issue of deductibles do cause often a great deal of confusion among those who want to buy or renew their policies. Consulting with an insurance professional is the best way to get the coverage you need, at a price you can afford. They have the expertise to evaluate objectively your health needs and then work out the coverage that is best for you.

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Even with health insurance, surgery can leave a big hole in your pocket, because of the deductibles and direct costs.  If the procedure is not an emergency and you have time to prepare for it, there are things you can do to reduce the eventual financial burden. This is relevant at any age, but the older you are, the more important it is.

Benefits of preparing for surgery

Preparing for surgery means toning up your body; it will help reduce your recovery time and the duration of your stay in hospital. Both these factors will bring down the overall costs and the amount you will have to shell out from your own savings.

Preparing for surgery is akin to training for a sporting event for an optimal performance. Unfortunately, few if any, believe that training for surgery helps. No two people are alike and the way they prepare for surgery depends on age, overall health, the nature of the surgery and other factors. No preparation/training should be done without the surgeon’s approval.

Training for surgery is not just a concept: clinical research has long been done at the University of Michigan. Patients were encouraged to exercise, practice breathing techniques and follow controlled diet charts. Preliminary results show that patients in the experimental group saved well over $2,000 in hospital costs, when compared to those patients who did not train for surgery.

Similarly, impressive results are available in a similar research program on seniors at Duke University Medical Center. Elderly patients who did not prepare for abdominal surgery spent an average of six days in hospital, while those who did spent just four days. About 62% of the former needed home health care after leaving hospital, while only 51% of the latter required such care.

The University of California, San Francisco, has a regular Surgery Wellness Program for senior citizens who are slated for surgery. The objective is to reduce the recovery time as much as possible. The program includes interaction with dieticians, physical trainers and occupational therapists.

According to the Chair of the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Task Force, “Preparation is as important if not more important than the surgery itself.” This is a new and expanding field of medicine; unfortunately, not all hospitals have the facilities to help patients in this area.

Training for surgery is more than just reducing the amount of hospitalization expenses you will have to pay yourself; it is as well about recovering faster with greater comfort. However, there are a few things that anyone (with medical approval) can do to prepare for surgery. The second part of this blog will say more about this possibility.