Colleen: ERAS stands for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. It started as a care plan for bowel surgeries but is now moving into other surgical areas including liver, cystectomy, gynecology, vascular, breast reconstructions and more throughout the province.

Colleen: ERAS is a program that helps patients recover and return to regular daily activities sooner and minimizes the risk of serious complications. The program also promotes patient involvement in their care.

Colleen: We know that quitting smoking and healthy food beforehand can have a big impact after surgery, so seeking help to make these lifestyle changes is advised. Patients are encouraged to eat until eight hours before their surgery and to drink clear fluids such as juice until three hours before their surgery to prevent dehydration and a sugar low during surgery. Patients also prepare by reading the booklets and pamphlets they are given by the surgeon’s office and the pre-admission clinic and to ask questions to the nurses and doctors.

Colleen: Patients participate in their recovery by taking part in walking activities and other exercises, drinking provided protein drinks and providing feedback to their care team.

Colleen: The log book was designed to help patients track their daily goals. It helps them to know what to expect for each day and to encourage them in their role in the recovery journey.

Colleen: The team is made up of surgeons, anesthetists, dietitians, nurses, and data specialists. This team works together to ensure what is being done is in line with what evidence says is best and with what will be best for the individual patient and the patient’s priorities. We depend on each other and collaborate when we see that something can be improved.

Colleen: ERAS is a provincial initiative that is supported by the AHS Surgery Strategic Clinical Network. ERASAlberta promotes collaboration across the nine hospital sites and together looks at how surgical care can be optimized for Albertans. The team monitors the data to drive improvement for the entire system.

Colleen: We can provide more care, without compromising quality, for the same amount of money—which is good news. The program has resulted in improved patient outcomes, which has the added benefit of increasing access for Albertans to receive surgical care, because ERAS patients can recover faster and are not being readmitted for complications. This is also good news for our family, friends and neighbours who are waiting for this service.