Preoperative History and Physical Update Visits: Minimal Impact on Operative Management

Researchers evaluated the impact of preoperative history and physical update visits on 8,683 patients across different surgical specialties in 2019. They found that the majority of documented changes were in histories, with minimal impact on physical exams and operative plans. 99.2% of visits were suitable for telehealth, suggesting a potential alternative to in-person visits. The study highlights the substantial time and travel burden these visits impose on patients, calling for reconsideration of current regulatory requirements.