PREVENTING POSTOPERATIVE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS - HOW PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS CAN HELP

Primary care physicians have a unique role in the prevention of serious surgical complications in their patients. They have three important perioperative tasks: (1) to identify the presence and severity of medical conditions that put patients at risk for perioperative complications; (2) to reduce risk as much as possible in the allotted time; and (3) to communicate risk reduction and perioperative care issues to die other healthcare providers involved in the patient's care.