Prehabilitation is a multidisciplinary strengthening program that helps to improve a patient’s strength before surgery and recovery time post-operative. The program includes evaluation, education, nutrition, exercise and stress management. Our clinic has expanded prehab to a multi-modal holistic approach to treat the muscle mass loss, which is common in sedentary and ill patients. Studies have shown the best time for these interventions are in the preoperative period before surgery.

Why Prehabilitation at Ochsner Health?

At Ochsner Health, our team works together to create an individualized plan to not only cure our patient’s disease but to improve their functional recovery. Patients are typically sent to the Prehab program at a minimum of 4 weeks before their surgery. The components of the program include:

• Nutrition, and referral to a registered dietitian, if needed
• Activity evaluation, and a physical therapist referral to create an individualized plan
• Stress management and assessments, such as breathing techniques and mindfulness
• Sleep evaluation
• Health optimizations, such as smoking cessation and the reduction or elimination of use of drugs/noxious substances.
• Disease specific education

Our team treats a wide variety of patients, which include upper GI cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic and esophageal cancer, head and neck, and chemotherapy patients. The goal of the program is to:

• Decrease inflammation
• Increase ability to build muscle
• Increase muscle strength
• Reduce stress through proven activities that reduce anxiety and depression
• Empower patients to regain some control of their condition

Referring Physicians

Patient referrals and transfers are critically important, and we want to make it easy for referring providers and their staff. Clinic Concierge is our clinic referral line for physicians, provides fast and easy access for referring patients for clinic appointments. Referring physicians can call Clinic Concierge or place orders electronically using Ochsner Provider Connect or call 1-855-312-4190