Day surgery models – also known as same-day surgery models – admit and discharge the patient the same day they have surgery. Discharge suitability should be assessed on criteria and if the patient is clinically stable post-operatively.
The benefits of day surgery models for well-selected patients include:
- supporting patient engagement in their care decisions and empowering them in their own recovery by facilitating their return to a familiar environment
- reducing risks of hospital-acquired complications
- promoting early mobilisation and faster return to baseline performance in activities of daily living.
Day surgery models also optimise use of health system resources, including:
- decreasing hospital length of stay
- improving patient flow (service wide)
- minimising hospital-initiated postponements secondary to bed blockages
- increasing theatre utilisation
- reducing surgical waitlists.
Key principles
Safer Care recommends following the key principles below for safe introduction and expansion of day surgery models. The key principles within this toolkit serve as a template for health services to use to guide safe implementation of day surgery models of care.
Key principles for safe introduction and expansion of day surgery models
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the New South Wales Agency for Clinical and Queensland for their previous work on day surgery models of care, which served as a foundation for this toolkit.
We also extend our thanks to the Safer Care Victoria (SCV) Perioperative Learning Health staff (LHN) and advisory group members for their invaluable contributions, and the creators of the resources featured in this toolkit. Their efforts have been instrumental in making this toolkit possible.
Reviewed 31 October 2023