Digitisation in healthcare shouldn’t simply mirror existing perioperative care workflows in electronic form. When we digitise surgical procedures and perioperative medicine, we have the opportunity to design for a better experience, not just a digital one. That means rethinking how communication, coordination, and patient care are delivered across every stage of the surgical journey. This article outlines how many health services operate today and what an optimised, digital-first approach can look like, from consent to recovery, so patients, healthcare professionals, and hospitals all benefit.
At a glance
- Treat consent as a continuous, informed process, not a one-off signature.
- Use digital tools to prepare patients earlier, identify risk, and intervene sooner.
- Make recovery transparent and shared, with daily goals patients can see and track.
- Deliver structured follow-up and clear handover to community care to avoid bounce-backs.
Consent: From a rushed ‘moment’ to an informed journey
Consent is the first real contact patients and their families have with the perioperative care pathway. It’s the moment when expectations about the surgical procedure, risks, recovery, and likely outcomes are set, often in a time-poor environment across complex health services and with varying levels of health literacy. When consent is treated as a genuine part of perioperative medicine rather than a one-off form, it becomes an opportunity for healthcare providers to improve access to clear guidance, support better decision-making, and lay the foundations for safer, higher-quality surgical care.
| Today | Optimised |
| In many settings, consent is treated as a one-time administrative requirement, often obtained during a rushed consultation or even on the day of surgery. Patients may receive information that is dense, jargon-heavy, not tailored to their level of health literacy or even in their preferred language. The opportunity to ask follow-up questions is limited, and consent rarely evolves as the patient’s understanding grows. |
In a digital model, consent becomes a continuous, informed process. Patients receive accessible, tailored information in formats that suit them – written, visual, in-language, or interactive. They can revisit content, ask questions through secure channels, and demonstrate understanding over time. Clinicians can see when and how patients engage, ensuring consent is meaningful and informed. |
When consent is digitised and embedded as a continuous element of perioperative care, it does more than serve as an administrative record that the procedure conversation occurred; it also creates a richer picture of each patient’s needs before any procedure is undertaken.
Information captured at this stage, from clinical risks to social challenges, carers, families and referral pathways can then be shared across departments and providers, supporting more coordinated service delivery and better use of limited resources.
This higher level of visibility gives hospitals and health services a stronger platform to implement perioperative principles and objectives in the next phase: proactively preparing patients for surgery in a structured way, rather than reacting on the day of admission.
Preoperative period: From fragmented logistics to proactive readiness
The preoperative phase is where perioperative care principles should translate into practical preparation, but for many patients, this part of the surgical pathway still feels disjointed. Variations in access to information, inconsistent communication across hospitals and limited visibility for healthcare providers can all affect patient progress, safety and expected outcomes.
When this stage is supported with digital tools grounded in perioperative medicine, health services gain the ability to identify risks earlier, guide patients through each procedure with clearer structure and improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery before surgery even begins.
| Today | Optimised |
| The lead-up to surgery is often confusing and fragmented. Education materials may be inconsistent or entirely paper-based. Patients may not know who to contact with questions, and their logistical or personal needs, such as transport or home support, are rarely captured systematically. Discharge planning often begins far too late, and there is little structure to support patients in optimising their health before surgery. | Digitisation enables a more proactive, coordinated approach. Patients access multimodal education (e.g. video, translated materials), manage appointments and preparation tasks digitally, and can easily reach their care team. Prehabilitation, such as smoking cessation, nutrition, or fitness, can be built into the pathway. Clinicians gain visibility into patient readiness through dashboards, allowing early intervention if a patient is at risk. Critical logistical and psychosocial data can be collected early, and vulnerable patients can be identified and supported from the outset. |
A digital approach allows patients to view their care plan, understand daily goals, and track recovery progress. They’re engaged as active participants, supported in making shared decisions with the clinical team. Communication is consistent, coordinated, and documented, reducing duplication and confusion. Psychosocial support services can be flagged and offered as part of standard care, not just as a reactive measure.
In-hospital recovery: From confusing care to shared plans
The in-hospital phase is where patients experience the most hands-on aspects of perioperative care. Many still feel unsure about their daily goals, who is involved in their procedure and how their recovery is expected to progress. Care often spans several departments, which makes a seamless transmission of information, essential. By applying perioperative medicine principles in a digital environment, hospitals can coordinate care more consistently, improve service delivery and use resources more efficiently during this part of the surgical journey.
| Today | Optimised |
|
Once admitted, patients may feel disconnected from their own care. It’s often unclear who is responsible for decisions, and care plans are rarely explained in a way patients can follow. Communication may be inconsistent across shifts or specialties, and psychosocial needs are often overlooked unless they are specifically raised. |
A digital approach allows patients to view their care plan, understand daily goals, and track recovery progress. They’re engaged as active participants, supported in making shared decisions with the clinical team. Communication is consistent, coordinated, and documented, reducing duplication and confusion. Psychosocial support services can be flagged and offered as part of standard care, not just as a reactive measure. |
Better coordination in hospital also improves what happens next. When guidance, documentation and reporting are captured digitally, the care team can support safer discharge and more predictable recovery at home. This helps clinicians maintain continuity across the health service, reduces duplication and supports better outcomes for different patient populations. It also prepares patients for the next stage of perioperative care, where follow-up and rehabilitation become the focus.
What changes when you digitise with purpose?
This integrated model aligns with modern healthcare system priorities. Improvement, reduction of readmissions, and development of sustainable perioperative solutions that empower healthcare professionals and enhance service availability.
| Today | Optimised |
| × Paper forms, mailed letters, and phone tag | ✓ Digital communication and real-time updates |
| × Consent is rushed, often misunderstood | ✓ Consent is informed, ongoing, and patient-centred |
| × Patients don’t know what’s next | ✓ Clear, personalised roadmaps across the journey |
| × Readiness is invisible until surgery day | ✓ Clinicians can monitor and intervene early |
| × Follow-up is inconsistent or reactive | ✓ Structured, proactive recovery support |
| × Vulnerable patients fall through the cracks | ✓ Systems identify and support those at risk |
Post & Perioperative Care: designed for people, not just processes
Digitising perioperative care is more than moving forms online. It’s a chance to redesign the experience so patients feel informed, supported, and safe, while clinicians can see risk early and act sooner. The goal is to deliver integrated care and achieve better outcomes across the entire surgical care pathway. Aim for fewer cancellations and readmissions, and patients who feel prepared, not scared. This is how a purposeful perioperative solution transforms practice, strengthens the healthcare system, and delivers measurable service development benefits.
