Preparing for surgery
Risk assessment, medical optimisation and collaborative planning for elective or urgent surgery.
Older adult and perioperative care
Older adult and perioperative care in Wollongong
Coordinated physician, geriatric, orthopaedic, nursing and rehabilitation care for older adults preparing for treatment or managing frailty, cognition, falls, medication and recovery.
A medical referral is generally required. The appropriate route may also be identified by a surgeon, GP, hospital team or the patient services team.
Medical optimisationHealth conditions, medication, frailty and risk can be reviewed before elective or urgent treatment.
Whole-person planningCognition, falls, bone health, function, family support and discharge needs are considered together.
Recovery connectedOrthopaedics, nursing, physiotherapy, exercise and nutrition can remain connected around the patient.
How the pathway can work
Medical and musculoskeletal care planned together.
Older adults may need support before surgery, after a fracture or when several health and functional issues affect recovery. The pathway connects the relevant medical and rehabilitation roles around practical outcomes.
A practical example
An older adult preparing for hip or knee surgery may benefit from medication review, frailty and cognition assessment, nutrition, exercise preparation and discharge planning. These steps can be coordinated with the orthopaedic and nursing teams before treatment and through recovery.
Geriatrics and perioperative medicine
Comprehensive assessment, medical optimisation, medication review, cognition, frailty and care planning.
Explore the service →Orthopaedic team
The relevant surgeon remains connected to diagnosis, treatment decisions and the operative pathway where required.
Meet the specialists →Nursing and follow-up
Clinical preparation, wound care, instructions, escalation and post-operative review support safer recovery.
Explore nursing care →Rehabilitation and nutrition
Physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics can support strength, mobility, confidence and recovery needs.
Book allied health →Medical expertise within a connected pathway
Dr Sheila Rahman
Dr Rahman is a consultant physician and geriatrician with a particular interest in medical optimisation around surgery, comprehensive geriatric assessment, cognition, medication, falls, bone health and rehabilitation.
View Dr Rahman and the wider team →When this pathway may help
Practical support before, during and after musculoskeletal care.
Frailty and reduced reserve
Assessment and planning when strength, endurance, health complexity or vulnerability may affect treatment and recovery.
Medication review
Review of medicines, interactions, side effects and safe prescribing around treatment and recovery.
Cognition and memory
Assessment where memory, decision-making, delirium risk or suspected cognitive decline affects care.
Falls and fracture prevention
Falls review, bone health and secondary fracture-prevention strategies connected with rehabilitation.
Recovery after fracture or illness
Medical and functional planning to support reconditioning, mobility and safer return home.
Complex discharge planning
Coordination with family, hospital and community teams where support needs are more complex.
Maintaining independence
A plan centred on function, confidence, participation and the goals that matter to the patient and family.
One coordinated plan
Prepare, treat and recover with the right support.
1
Understand medical and functional risk
Health conditions, medicines, cognition, frailty, mobility and support needs are considered together.
2
Optimise what can be improved
Medication, nutrition, strength, planning and medical issues are addressed before treatment where possible.
3
Coordinate the treatment period
The physician, surgeon, nursing and hospital teams share relevant planning and escalation needs.
4
Support recovery and independence
Rehabilitation, follow-up and family or community supports are aligned with a safe recovery plan.
Your next step
Discuss the most appropriate referral pathway.
The patient services team can help patients, families and referrers identify the correct next step.