Procedural Events as a Gateway to Whole-Person Care: A Missed Opportunity in Healthcare

In modern healthcare, procedural events such as surgeries are often viewed as isolated interventions—highly technical, time-limited experiences (increasingly optimized for as little time as possible and efficiency to drive financial impact) that address an immediate medical need. However, these moments of clinical intervention represent a unique and largely untapped opportunity to influence long-term patient health and well-being.

When a patient undergoes a significant procedure, they are at a critical juncture, both physically and mentally, making them particularly receptive to behavioral changes that could improve their overall health trajectory. Yet, traditional healthcare models often fail to capitalize on this moment of heightened receptivity, missing a valuable chance to provide whole-person care. This is what we're building with the Upgraid distributed remote care model for surgery -- outcomes focused to drive good results from the procedure but also whole person and long-term focused to introduce behaviors and lifestyle changes that will stay with the patient into good health.

We would all like prevention to happen before the diagnosis of illness, but we are where we are. Our society is mired in chronic disease and acute interventions and procedural events like surgeries are rising. Why not think about a post event prevention model as part of the overall solution set to dig us out of the mess we're in.

The Window of Opportunity: Why Procedural Events Matter

Patients facing surgery or other major procedures experience a natural period of reflection and vulnerability. They are keenly aware of their health status and often express a heightened motivation to make lifestyle changes to avoid future complications. I've seen this firsthand with family members who weren't giving particularly great attention to their diet and health until an illness requiring surgery caused a major transformation in them. This state of receptivity presents an ideal moment to introduce interventions that go beyond immediate surgical outcomes and focus on long-term well-being.

From preoperative preparation to postoperative recovery, patients are already engaging with healthcare professionals more intensively than usual. This structured interaction offers an unparalleled chance to integrate comprehensive, patient-centered strategies that support whole-person care—addressing not just the physical ailment but also the social, emotional, and behavioral factors that contribute to overall health. The challenge, of course, is that procedural environments, the staffing models and the business model simply aren't designed to provide high touch consultative care focused on the whole person. No matter how well intentioned the surgeon and his/her staff, the time pressures for efficiency are considerable.

Whole-Person Care: A Holistic Approach to Long-Term Health

Whole-person care acknowledges that health outcomes are influenced by far more than medical procedures alone - a biopsychosocial model of healing and wellbeing, which I harp on regularly. It incorporates strategies that address mental health, nutrition, physical activity, social determinants of health, and even spiritual well-being (yes, the "mushy term" we don't like to use in the world of the hard data and science of modern medicine). By embedding whole-person care into the surgical pathway, we can create lasting behavior change that supports long-term health improvements.

Key components of a whole-person care approach within the procedural event framework include:

1. Behavioral Coaching and Mental Health Support – Many patients experience anxiety, stress and depression before and after surgery. Providing access to behavioral health support can help patients develop resilience, stress management techniques, and motivation for lifestyle modifications.
2. Nutritional Optimization – Preoperative and postoperative nutrition can significantly influence recovery, healing, and long-term wellness. Guidance on anti-inflammatory diets, protein intake for muscle maintenance, and sustainable eating habits and long-term evidence-based maintenance supplements can be seamlessly integrated into surgical care.
3. Physical Activity and Rehabilitation – Movement is medicine, especially after a procedure (the timing of movement and the intensity is debatable). Healthcare teams can introduce long-term exercise strategies tailored to the patient's condition and lifestyle. If patient Jones has been largely sedentary all her life and now has an arthritic knee, maybe now's the time to coach her on slowly introducing more movement into her lifestyle. She will be more receptive to the change than at any other point in her life.
4. Social and Emotional Support Systems – Patients with strong social networks tend to have better health outcomes. Social support from care givers during the entire episode of care and identifying resources such as community programs, peer support groups, or digital health tools can empower patients to sustain healthy behaviors post-surgery. This can have a profound impact on the patients sense of being cared for and their motivation to make changes.
5. Chronic Disease Management and Preventive Care – A surgical event is often related to an underlying condition, such as obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. Using the perioperative period to introduce education and preventive care strategies can help mitigate disease progression and reduce the likelihood of future medical interventions.

The Cost of Inaction: What Happens When We Miss This Opportunity?

When we fail to leverage procedural events as opportunities for whole-person care, we perpetuate a cycle of reactive healthcare rather than proactive wellness. Patients return home post-surgery with little guidance on maintaining their health beyond wound care and medication adherence. Without strategic intervention, preventable readmissions, chronic disease progression, and poor quality of life become all too common.

Moreover, the financial burden of preventable complications is substantial. Hospitals and healthcare systems stand to benefit from improved patient outcomes, reduced readmissions, and lower long-term healthcare costs by incorporating whole-person care strategies into procedural care pathways.

A Call to Action: Integrating Whole-Person Care into Procedural Pathways

To fully capitalize on the unique opportunity that procedural events provide, healthcare systems must adopt an integrative approach that makes whole person care a standard component of surgical and procedural care. This can be achieved through:

• Multidisciplinary Collaboration – Surgeons, primary care physicians, mental health professionals, dietitians, physical therapists, and social workers should work together to provide comprehensive patient support.
• Patient-Centered Digital Health Solutions – Wearable technology, telehealth coaching, and mobile apps can help patients track progress and maintain engagement in their health journey post-procedure.
• Insurance and Policy Changes – Healthcare reimbursement models should incentivize holistic care approaches that extend beyond the immediate surgical episode. We're currently building the data to unequivocally demonstrate to payers that this approach improves outcomes and reduces both immediate and long-term healthcare costs.
• Provider Training and Education – Healthcare professionals should be equipped with the skills and knowledge to incorporate whole-person care principles into their standard practice.

Enter Upgraid

Major surgical and procedural events should not be viewed merely as isolated interventions but as pivotal moments for health transformation. Patients are uniquely receptive during these periods, making it an opportune time to introduce meaningful, long-term behavior change. By shifting our focus to whole-person care within the surgical pathway, we can enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and create a more sustainable, patient-centered healthcare system. It’s time to stop missing this opportunity and start using every procedural event as a catalyst for lifelong health and well-being.

Upgraid™ by Mend is an advanced perioperative care program designed to enhance patient outcomes before and after surgery and position the patient for good long-term health success. By integrating clinically proven nutraceuticals, personalized nutrition plans, and continuous health monitoring, Upgraid™ aims to optimize recovery, manage inflammation, and accelerate the return to daily activities. Additionally, Upgraid™ utilizes connected health devices to monitor vital data, ensuring patients remain on track for optimal surgical outcomes. This comprehensive approach not only benefits patients but also alleviates the burden on healthcare staff by reducing in-hospital demands, allowing them to focus on critical care services.

So, is this a viable model and is more whole person-centered care possible in an acute care model? See the results below. Learn more about Upgraid here: Home - Upgraid by mend