Perioperative medicine is emerging as a system-wide strategy for better surgical outcomes

Perioperative medicine is emerging as a transformative, integrated, system-wide approach to patient care before, during and after surgery – reducing complication rates and hospital days, delivering better health outcomes and improving health system performance, according to a special article in the Online First edition of Anesthesiologythe peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Perioperative medicine describes a more organized and coordinated process for surgery, with multiple specialties working together to increase efficiency and improve patient safety. It envisions surgical care as a collaborative approach between surgeons, anesthesiologists, primary care physicians, nurses and other specialists – all working together to manage complex patients at every step of the surgical journey.”

Maxime Cannesson, MD, President, Center for Perioperative Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiologists

Cannesson is also a member of the writing task force.

Perioperative medicine includes surgical review and risk assessment, steps to optimize the patient’s condition before surgery, comprehensive care in the operating room and during recovery, and providing ongoing patient care and monitoring.

Emphasizing teamwork, leadership, communication and well-being, the perioperative medical approach prioritizes quality of life, function and experience – not just technical success.

“For patients and families, this translates into earlier, more meaningful preparation for surgery, fewer cancellations and delays, clearer communication among the healthcare team, and reduced complications—all of which directly impact recovery, cost, and peace of mind,” said Thomas R. Vetter, MD, corresponding author of the journal article and a member of the ASA’s Center for Perioperative Medicine. “By preparing patients to be healthier before surgery, perioperative medicine provides an opportunity to improve long-term health.”

The special article provides updates and field consensus from the 2024 and 2025 Perioperative Medicine Stakeholder Summits hosted by the ASA Center for Perioperative Medicine (CPMed). The article incorporates real-world perspectives from a range of professionals involved in surgical care, both from the national and international medical community.

The special article situates perioperative medicine within the ongoing pressures of the health care system, including workforce shortages, staff burnout, and accountability for patient outcomes. It highlights how perioperative medicine is a practical solution to emerging episode-based and value-based payment models, such as the Cents for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Transformational Episode Accountability Model (TEAM).

Evaluating the economic impact of perioperative medicine interventions will be a critical step in implementing value-based surgical care. “Health systems will benefit from improved processes of care and better patient-reported outcomes,” Dr. Kaneson said. “These improvements make perioperative medicine a system-level investment: an institutional function that requires governance, metrics and financial alignment.”

Based on their discussions, participants at the CPMed Perioperative Medicine Summit developed a “progressive roadmap” to define the future of perioperative care over the next decade. Successful efforts will require the alignment of four integrated pillars: clinical care, education, research, and leadership. “Progress in one area alone will not be enough,” Dr Kaneson said. “Sustained improvement will require the simultaneous development of workforce training, standardized outcomes research, and effective leadership structures to support multidisciplinary teams.”