Decision Aid & Testing Chart
Align expectations across your clinical teams
One reason preoperative testing is so common before low-risk surgery is miscommunication between clinical teams. Setting agreed upon expectations across providers for when preoperative tests are necessary can often reduce testing rates. To support such conversations, the RITE-Size partners developed and endorsed a preoperative testing decision aid and preoperative testing reference chart for low-risk surgeries, based on national standards. The decision aid and testing chart are intended to serve as examples of one institution’s recommendations with input from their surgery, anesthesiology, and preoperative clinic teams. Your hospital team is encouraged to review these documents with your local institution and adapt the guidelines and suggestions as your institution sees fit.
Primary Care Physician Package
Engaging physicians for optimal outcomes
Clearing a patient for surgery is a team effort with the shared goal of patient safety in mind. Over-ordering tests can often happen when providers aren’t on the same page with one another about which tests are necessary. RITE-Size has adopted a decision aid and testing recommendations based on national guidelines that will help expedite the preoperative process while preventing the potential drawbacks of unnecessary testing. Primary care providers are often one of the sources of preoperative testing orders. By distributing the RITE-Size PCP engagement packet – which includes a personalized letter, answers to frequently asked questions, and access to the decision aid – clinical teams can ensure there is strong communication and coordination in preparing patients for surgery.
Disclaimer: All recommendations on this page pertain to non-pregnant, adult patients undergoing low-risk procedures. They do not replace clinical judgment and are intended as guidance only. The criteria that were used to define low-risk surgery can be found here.
Analytics & Research.
Driving Change Through Data-Driven Approaches.
The RITE-Size partnership contributes to and leverages a variety of ongoing efforts to document, research, and inform stakeholders about preoperative testing in Michigan using claims-based data. The resulting analytics and research publications help inform the core team’s approach to de-implementation and the resources needed to help hospitals change their practices.
