The Dimer Health Difference: Improving the Patient Experience of Postoperative Pain
What’s in a name? A lot, actually.
A "dimer" is an entity composed of 2 linked units. At Dimer Health, our name is at the core of our mission: we are the missing link in the chain of the "post-acute clinical care continuum" – the link between the discharging facility and the home. For Dimer Health, it’s more than that. We’re able to capture unique clinical insights, make recommendations, and provide physician-level clinical care. We bridge the gaps between patient voice and provider practice, antiquated health systems and novel approaches, and ultimately between patient suffering and healing.
A lofty mission, indeed, but we are thrilled to share that after only 3 months of operations, we identified a preventable cause of postoperative pain by having this focus on the post-acute window. Here’s our first example of how Dimer Health is revolutionizing healthcare in real time.
The Dimer Health Difference: Improving the Patient Experience of Postoperative Pain
Recently, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Benjamin Taylor, a skilled genitourinary surgeon at Garden State Urology in partnership with Dimer Health, whose insights are changing the postoperative/discharge patient experience. Dimer Health has been working with a large cohort of surgical patients (including Dr. Taylor’s practice) and noticed a commonality amongst patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic surgeries regarding their post-operative pain, communicated this back to Dr. Taylor, and a small change in practice profoundly impacted the patient experience.
During a laparoscopic or robotic surgery, surgeons inflate the abdomen with CO2 to keep the belly wall out of the way while surgery is being performed. Although most CO2 is drained after the surgery, some CO2 stays trapped inside. A staggering 80% of patients experience pain due to residual CO2 causing pressure on the diaphragm wall, irritation to the phrenic nerve, and referred pain to the shoulder. While patients receive ample pre surgical education, many robotic and laparoscopic procedures are same-day, meaning patients are discharged home after the procedure is over without an overnight stay in the hospital. As such, there is a gap in clinical oversight and insight to the patient experience in the period immediately after discharge from the hospital. Furthermore, the first 72 hours after discharge is the most critical time in the patient journey, during which patients are at their most vulnerable and post acute care interventions can impact outcomes.
Dimer Health noticed that some patients experience such severe pain secondary to retained CO2 that they returned to the hospital and subsequently underwent testing, monitoring, imaging, and in some cases readmission only to find that the pain was due to the retained gas, an avoidable experience and expense. Upon analyzing patient recovery patterns, Dimer Health was able to share their observations and work closely with their surgical partners to find alternate methods for managing postoperative pain due to retained CO2 from 80% to nearly 0%! For example, Dr. Taylor highlighted the transformative impact of lower gas pressure in reducing postoperative pain, a topic often overlooked in conventional practices. As he pointed out, "Lowering inflation pressure from 15mmHg to 6 mmHg during robotic surgeries significantly decreased referred pain and the subsequent use of narcotics."
A simple change in surgical practice has had a dramatic impact on post-operative pain, leading to a reduction in call-back to both surgical and Dimer offices, office revisits, imaging studies, and ER and inpatient readmissions. Dimer Health prioritizes a tailored approach that enhances communication and education post-surgery to directly address patient concerns. Dr. Taylor emphasizes that "Dimer Health’s approach mitigates patient anxiety and empowers patients in their recovery journey." Our focus on this transition of care period affords us the ability to identify small modifications in practice that can yield remarkable outcomes, ensuring smoother recoveries, improved patient experience, and a reduced burden on the healthcare system.
Dimer Health differentiates itself in a healthcare industry that implements change at a glacial pace. With Dimer Health’s support, patient recovery isn’t just managed, it’s redefined!
