FLIPPING ASSUMPTIONS AND REVISIONING PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES

As we approach a fully capitated healthcare environment, total revisioning and restructuring of hospitals as a whole, and perioperative services in particular, will be necessary to maintain the financial viability of our healthcare institutions. Nurse executives will be in pivotal roles in leading and influencing these hospital initiatives. The authors present a vision of the new hospital and discuss methods of responding to change within the healthcare environment, with an emphasis on perioperative services. An analysis of the findings of an operating room survey conducted with nurse executives is included in the discussion.