Geisinger launches program meant to 'redesign' surgical experience

Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System is launching a program to "redesign" the surgical experience aimed at improving the healing process following surgery while ultimately tackling one of the major sources of opioid addiction: postsurgical care. Officials said they Proven Recovery program rethinks the surgical experience by pushing patients to be healthier before surgery, which leads to fewer complications. Since a pilot of the program began in June 2017, the health system said it drove an 18% decrease in opioid usage across the system. At the same time, neurosurgery and colon surgery patients saw their hospital stays cut in half, saving more than $1.5 million.