The one-hour workshop is given by nurses trained and certified by Huddleston, a psychotherapist and researcher. The program is offered through the anesthesia preoperative clinic. Patients are informed about it in the surgical clinics and during their preoperative phone call. Patients use the books and tapes at home to continue their preparation. On the day of surgery, those who have requested the service are noted on the surgery schedule.
Patients bring their tape and tape player so they can listen in the preoperative area.
They may be paired with a trained volunteer who can reinforce their healing statements. Many do it anyway. Patients are encouraged to listen to their tapes in the recovery unit and during recuperation at home. Since May, the hospital has received more letters than usual from patients, all positive. Along with Dr. Henney, Field and Shelley McKee, RNC, MN, CNOR, the perioperative educator, are developing a model to collect data on outcomes.