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New Initiative Aims to Optimize Patient Health Prior to Surgery
Oct 24, 2016

(ST. JOSEPH) – Being fully prepared for surgery can help reduce potential complications and improve recovery after a procedure. Through a new Presurgery Planning initiative offered at Lakeland, a patient’s current health situation will be evaluated prior to surgery to identify areas that could potentially affect the success and safety of the procedure, such as mental health, physical activity, nutrition, and hygiene, among others. Patients will then receive one-on-one education and individualized materials specific to their needs to help them reach their healthiest self, prior to surgery. 

Lourich Burton, MSN, ACNP, will see moderate to high risk patients alongside Sally Birger, MSN, ANP. Burton graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Graduate College of Nursing, at Wayne State University, where she received her acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) credentials. Prior to Lakeland, she worked on the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery team at St. Josephs Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Birger completed the dual Cardiovascular Health & Disease Management Clinical Nurse Specialist & Adult Nurse Practitioner program at Loyola University Chicago-Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, where she earned a Master of Science in Nursing. With over 40 years of healthcare experience, she has been extensively published and is a contributing author on more than a dozen articles and clinical abstracts.

Presurgery Planning is located at the Center for Outpatient Services, St. Joseph and will begin seeing patients this month. All Presurgery Planning patients must be referred by a surgeon. For more information call (269) 408-4268