Take Control of Your Surgery: Why Proper Preparation Can Change Everything

July 21, 2025 | by Val Barschaw

These are the two questions I ask every patient and caregiver I meet who's facing major elective surgery.

«Do you want to get better?»
«Will you let me help you with a proven pathway to assist you?»

Your answers will determine everything about your surgical experience and outcomes.

What 35 Years of Hospital Experience Taught Me

I'm the author of the book, "Surviving the Hospital: Six Secrets Every Patient Should Know," and my expertise comes from 35 years of real-world experience as both caregiver and Independent Patient Advocate. For ten years, I cared for my husband while he awaited a heart transplant, followed by 25 years of his post-transplant care. During those ten years of waiting, we experienced repeated hospitalizations for life-sustaining procedures—each one critical to keeping him alive until that transplant call came.

Here's what I learned: while we had a decade to prepare for the actual transplant (something most patients will never have), we discovered that when it comes to any major surgery, you must be prepared the moment you walk through those hospital doors. The difference between being prepared and unprepared isn't just comfort—it's outcomes.

...we discovered that when it comes to any major surgery, you must be prepared the moment you walk through those hospital doors. The difference between being prepared and unprepared isn't just comfort—it's outcomes.

The Research Proves Preparation Changes Everything

Recent medical research confirms what I witnessed firsthand over three decades:

Proper preoperative education reduces patient anxiety by 57% (from 60% to 26% of patients experiencing fear)¹
Simple breathing exercises reduce pulmonary complications by 46%²
Smoking cessation programs reduce wound infections by 72%²
Basic preparation interventions reduce hospital stays by nearly 2 days on average ²

Yet despite this overwhelming evidence, most patients remain unaware that preparation can genuinely change their outcomes—often with just minor, easily accomplished adjustments.

The Mindset That Changes Everything

Here's what I observe: many people would rather complain about their upcoming surgery 80-90% of the time and act very little of the time. Research shows that hospitalization demonstrably increases depression, anxiety, and negatively affects patients' abilities to cope and adjust.³

But what if we shifted that perspective? Instead of seeing surgery as something happening TO you, what if you recognized it as an opportunity to achieve a healthier outcome—one where you are the last line of defense for your own best possible result?

You are worthy of the best possible outcome, and you must be prepared to help enable that outcome.

Your 5-Step Preparation Pathway

Based on my experience and proven research, here are the most important steps to take 2-4 weeks before your major elective surgery:

Step 1: Prepare a notebook to house all relevant information, questions, and answers. Be curious and write things down.
Step 2: Create a thorough and complete medication list —including over-the-counter items, as they too can impact other medications. Include any food considerations that must be known.
Step 3: Prepare your «go bag» with cleaning wipes (germs are everywhere and you can't see them) and comfort items like earplugs, a sleeping mask, and chapstick.
Step 4: Verify all paperwork is in order, including documents like your Will and Directive to Physicians.
Step 5: Have a backup person in the know —someone who understands your situation and can step in if needed.

What This Preparation Actually Does

When you take these steps, something remarkable happens: the medical team's response becomes one of respect. They appreciate your commitment to your own care. Having your paperwork in order; being able to clean areas you want clean; having comfort items within reach; and having an Independent Patient Advocate who can take written notes, communicate with the providers, and more —all of this allows you to turn your attention toward healing instead of scrambling.

You become a prepared partner in your own care, not a passive recipient of whatever happens to you.

You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone

The truth is, proper preparation for major elective surgery can feel overwhelming when you're already anxious about the procedure itself. That's where Independent Patient Advocates step in. We work for you—not the hospital, facility, or insurance company. We help bridge the gap between the chaos of medical systems and your need for clarity, preparation, and advocacy.

Whether you're the patient or the caregiver, know this: you don't have to figure this out alone.

Your Next Step Starts Now

If you're facing major elective surgery, don't wait. Contact an Independent Patient Advocate who can help you implement these preparation strategies and ensure you're truly ready for the best possible outcome.

Remember: you are worthy of excellent care, and you have more control over your surgical experience than you realize. The question isn't whether preparation works—the research proves it does. The question is whether you're ready to take action.

As someone who has walked this road for 35 years, I'm here to tell you: when you're prepared, when you're advocating for yourself, when you're working as a partner with your medical team—that's when healing truly begins.

You've got this. And you don't have to do it alone!

Val Barschaw developed her patient advocacy expertise during her husband Bill's successful heart transplant journey and twenty-five years of post-transplant care. Her professional background, combined with this extensive medical experience, gives her unique insight into how informed patients achieve consistently better outcomes. Based in Cle Elum, Washington, she helps others transform their healthcare experiences through strategic knowledge and preparation.

References:

¹ Ali, Z., Ahsan, Z., Liaqat, N., & Din, I. U. (2024). Bridging the gap: evaluation of preoperative patients' education by comparing expectations and real-perioperative surgical experiences: a mixed-methods descriptive cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 964. doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11388-z

² Perry, R., Herbert, G., Atkinson, C., England, C., Northstone, K., Baos, S.,… & Pufulete, M. (2021). Pre-admission interventions (prehabilitation) to improve outcome after major elective surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 11(9), e050806. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050806

³ Alzahrani, N. (2021). The effect of hospitalization on patients' emotional and psychological well-being among adult patients: An integrative review. Applied Nursing Research, 61, 151488. doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151488