Surgery represents a significant decision in healthcare, and the stakes are high: outcomes, recovery time, complication rates, and long-term quality of life hinge on decisions made before a patient enters the operating room. Yet, in the healthcare system, patients are often left to make these decisions with limited guidance and fragmented information.
This is where CHM’s Complete Surgical Care Solution (CSCS) coordinates a higher standard of care, which is why members like Jeremy and Amanda Wells from South Dakota found relief with CSCS in their time of need.
“They kept knocking doors down and made it happen … All we had to do was show up in person.” – Jeremy W.
The best surgical outcomes begin long before the procedure itself. From a physician’s standpoint, this is critical, and here’s why:
Not every surgical recommendation is inappropriate, but not every recommendation is optimal either. Ultimately, surgery success and patient recovery depend on access to subspecialty expertise, the quality of the provider practice, and treatment methods, which vary from practice to practice.
The key is that members need to be connected while decisions are still being made. Rather than only facilitating the payment of a surgery, CSCS introduces members to providers who are known for healthy, successful surgeries.
“The doctors and nurses at the surgical center were great. They gave me confidence. It was a great, positive experience.” – Jeremy W.
One of the greatest advantages of CSCS is that it fosters the physician-patient relationship.
Through CSCS provider recommendations, members are connected with experienced medical professionals who can:
- Clarify diagnoses and treatment options
- Form a second opinion when appropriate
- Ensure that recommended procedures align with best practices
This collaborative approach simplifies decision-making. It ensures that patients are moving forward with confidence—and a plan.
Well-informed patients tend to have better outcomes. They ask better questions, adhere more closely to care plans, and are more engaged in their recovery.
“Once CSCS got involved, I had such a relief. They took care of us. They helped us navigate it all.” – Jeremy W.
By facilitating a second opinion, CSCS-recommended providers help identify when surgery may not be the best next step.
There are many conditions where conservative management—physical therapy, medication, lifestyle modification—may be equally effective, especially in the early stages. Avoiding unnecessary surgery is not a delay in care; it’s often the best care.
When surgery is truly required, CSCS facilitates the scheduling and payment process to make sure members receive surgery in a timely manner.
“We were quoted around $94,000. CSCS found a hospital that did the surgery for $13,000 out the door.” – Jeremy W.
CSCS helps lower the cost of surgery by linking members to high-quality care that is also priced fairly.
Instead of members accepting the first (and perhaps only) estimate they’re given, CSCS connects them with vetted providers and facilities that review the plan of care and confirm the appropriate treatment—often at a significantly lower, more transparent price.
That means fewer unnecessary procedures, fewer surprises, and fewer costly complications or repeat surgeries. Members get the care they truly need, and CHM can steward shared resources well—helping more families when big medical events arise.
“We had no idea what we were doing, but the CSCS team behind us brought such a calmness.” – Amanda W.
In today’s healthcare environment, convenience often drives decisions—what’s nearby, quickly available, or already scheduled are the nominating factors. But the convenient option isn’t always the best option.
Research shows that surgical outcomes can vary significantly between providers. Complication rates, revision surgeries, and long-term success are not uniform. By facilitating members with high-performing surgeons and appropriate care settings, CSCS reduces unnecessary risk and improves the likelihood of success.
Complete Surgical Care Solution shifts the focus toward value: the right surgeon, at the right facility, performing the right procedure—without paying inflated prices for the same outcome.
And in surgery, getting it right the first time makes all the difference.
“It was God’s blessing, for sure.” – Amanda W.
References
Choosing Wisely Campaign (led by American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation). https://www.choosingwisely.org
Brownlee S, et al. “Evidence for Overuse of Medical Services Around the World.” The Lancet, 2017.
Birkmeyer JD, et al. “Surgeon Volume and Operative Mortality in the United States.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2003.
