Comprehensive Colorectal Surgery Patient Flow Protocol

1. Pre-Visit Protocol

Initial Contact

• Schedule new patient appointments within 2 weeks of referral
• Collect relevant medical records and imaging
• Send patient intake forms electronically
• Provide bowel prep instructions if needed

Documentation Requirements

• Complete medical history
• Prior surgical records
• Recent colonoscopy reports
• Relevant imaging studies (CT, MRI)
• Current medication list

2. Check-in Process

Front Desk

• Verify insurance and demographics
• Collect copayments
• Update medical history
• Obtain signed consent forms

Clinical Intake

• Vital signs
• Weight and BMI
• Pain assessment
• Medication reconciliation

3. Clinical Assessment

Nursing Assessment

• Chief complaint review
• Symptom documentation
• Quality metrics recording
• Patient education needs assessment

Physician Examination

• Focused physical examination
• Digital rectal examination when indicated
• Review of imaging/labs
• Treatment plan development

4. Surgical Planning

Pre-operative Phase

• Surgical consent process
• Pre-op testing orders
• Anesthesia consultation
• Schedule surgery date

Patient Education

• Provide surgical preparation instructions
• Review post-operative care expectations
• Distribute educational materials
• Schedule pre-op classes if applicable

5. Post-Visit Protocol

Documentation

• Complete operative scheduling forms
• Update EMR
• Generate patient instructions
• Send referral letters

Follow-up

• Schedule post-op appointments
• Coordinate with other providers
• Arrange home health services if needed
• Process medical equipment orders

6. Quality Metrics

Track and Document

• Patient wait times
• Same-day surgery cancellations
• Patient satisfaction scores
• Clinical outcomes data

7. Special Considerations

Urgent Cases

• Expedited scheduling protocol
• Emergency contact procedures
• After-hours workflow

Complex Cases

• Multi-specialty coordination
• Extended appointment scheduling
• Additional resource allocation