Statistics on Surgery in the United States

Over 50 million surgeries take place in the United States each year – that’s over 15 percent of the population or about 1 in 7 people. Approximately 23 million of those surgeries are considered ambulatory surgeries, also known as “outpatient” or “same-day” surgeries, meaning patients do not need to stay overnight after the procedure. Whether a surgery requires a lengthy hospital stay or just an afternoon, every patient leaves the hospital with a specific set of discharge instructions that they must follow to maintain a healthy recovery schedule.

Female nurse pushing woman in wheelchair in hospital setting

Why Are Patients Discharged If They Are Not Completely Healed?

According to John’s Hopkins Medicine, “hospital care is for people who need a high level of medical attention. It is also expensive, and often uncomfortable. Being in the hospital also exposes you to the possibility of infection, particularly if you have a weak immune system. Once a person is getting better and does not need a high level of care, a hospital stay is not needed. When the person is discharged, this makes a bed available to another person who needs a high level of care.” (John’s Hopkins)

What Do You Do If You Still Need Help After Discharge?

As the John’s Hopkins article points out, patients are often discharged to open beds for others who need it. This can save the discharged patient money and help them get back to a more comfortable environment for healing. But just because you’ve left the hospital, doesn’t mean you don’t need help during your recovery process. We recommend getting an extra set of hands to help you around the house. In-home, nonmedical caregivers are an affordable, reliable option to help with tasks like:

  • Medication reminders
  • Physical therapy exercises
  • Running errands
  • Food preparation
  • Home maintenance

If you’re planning a surgery and are interested learning more about how a nonmedical, in-home caregiver can help your recovery, check out a few of our resources below:

Ways to Improve Your Post-Op Surgical Recovery

Having surgery is never an easy experience, but there are things you can do to improve your recovery period and minimize its impact on your life. We sat down with our team of caregivers to uncover the best tips and tricks for better recovery after surgery. Join us as we review the best plan for post-operative care!

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The Role of In-Home Care for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Recovering from the effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) can feel incredibly overwhelming, and at times, hopeless. But with some proper coordination, there’s no reason why anyone recovering can’t lead a fulfilled life.

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In-Home Care is a Key Factor in Successful Recovery from Surgery

We often discuss the important role in-home care plays for helping aging adults maintain independence and healthy habits, but it is also incredibly valuable for surgery recovery. There are many types of invasive surgeries that require extended recovery periods and temporary lifestyle changes to ensure an effective healing process. These surgeries can span everywhere from knee surgery and hip replacement all the way to bypass surgery.

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If you would like help planning for surgery recovery, reach out to your local ameriCARE. Together, we can create a specialized plan, just for you!