GENEROUSLY ENDORSED BY

“As patients, we trust our healthcare team during one of the most vulnerable events in our lives: surgery. However, we know from personal experience, research, and media reports that surgery is not risk-free. Preventable incidents like wrong-site surgery and surgical site infections have profound effects on patients and families. Patrick’s book helps us understand the surgical process and equips us with knowledge, a fundamental tool to strengthen patient safety. Knowledge helps us prepare properly for surgery, ask the right questions, keep an eye out for risk, and speak up when we have concerns. It can even help us recover without setbacks. In Ready for My Surgery: Be Informed, Stay Safe, and Take Control During Your Journey Through Surgery, Patrick shows us both the big picture and a detailed dive into evidence when needed. As contributors, Patients for Patient Safety Canada would like to see it in the hands of all pre-surgical patients and their families so that everyone has a safe surgical experience.”

“Congratulations to Patrick Nellis for writing this book. It is extensive in its scope. It is a great resource and contains a wealth of information for anyone wishing to understand what transpires in the perioperative period.” 

“Although I am not a neophyte when it comes to undergoing surgeries, I still found your book to be a great source of information. I am sure that your book will help anyone who is facing an upcoming surgery to go into the OR feeling better informed and better prepared. Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience.”

“Patrick’s insights are a welcome change from the limited information most patients receive before they have surgery. It’s a wonderful book and will assist many patients in answering questions that are often misunderstood or not given much thought.”

Healthcare can be an intimidating environment from the side of the patient, with too many patients being afraid of asking questions and taking control of their experience. Patrick Nellis has written the perfect easy-to-read guide from an insider’s view.  He’s heard all the questions, and he clearly knows how to navigate the system in a healthy, empowering manner. As fellow healthcare professionals, we can assure you that he has done a brilliant job of decoding the experience, giving great tips on how to make the most of a surgical experience. We highly recommend this resource and can’t wait to see it literally change the experience for patients everywhere.

“What a fantastic book. It covers just about everything you’d ever want to know. My father had cardiac bypass surgery this last spring and I gave the book to him as a gift. He was an airline pilot for his entire career and is someone used to being well-informed and in control of his circumstances. This book helped him prepare for the surgery and that preparation helped him feel more in control during the entire process. Thanks Patrick, from both me and my Dad!”

“At the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, we know that every 1 minute and 18 seconds a person receiving care in hospital or in their home is unintentionally harmed by the health care system. Everyone has a role to play in keeping patients safe, including the patient and their family. Patrick Nellis’ book, “Ready for My Surgery” is an excellent resource to assist patients and their families to prepare for surgery, helping them understand what to expect and what they and those caring for them must do to provide a safe experience. I would highly recommend this book to anyone undergoing a surgical procedure. A clear, instructive and compelling read that will prepare you well for your surgical journey!”

On behalf of the RTSO Executive committee, we are proud to endorse Ready for My Surgery, by Patrick Nellis. The book is a key element of a new surgical patient engagement program, designed to support surgical patients through engagement, education and empowerment. As a Past-President of the RTSO, we are especially proud of your ongoing contribution towards excellent patient care through this book and throughout your career.

The following comments are from our RTSO Editor-in-Chief Shawna Macdonald: As a healthcare provider reviewing this book, I found it to provide enlightening insight into the patient journey.  It reminds clinicians that better outcomes are possible with patients who are actively involved in their health and stresses the importance of working and learning collaboratively. It reminds us that empathy and compassion play vital roles in the patient experience. 

Expertly written for patients, Ready for My Surgery informatively reviews various care aspects surrounding the surgical experience. The book and program ultimately empower patients to take control of their health through becoming informed and engaged members of their healthcare team.

“There is a growing understanding that patients themselves, as well as their families, constitute a vital component of how quality and safety in the healthcare system is achieved. What this means for patents is that how active a role they take within the healthcare they receive can often have a significant impact on how effective that care is. Ready for My Surgery supports patients to take control of their own care. Author Patrick J. Nellis leverages his substantial experience and expertise to empower people with knowledge about their surgery and offers them strategies to build inclusive partnerships with their healthcare providers. Nellis’ thoughtful and straightforward writing delivers insights that are sure to help improve the way many patients and families experience surgery.”

“Having surgery is just like embarking on a journey to a foreign country. Savvy travellers minimize misadventures by fully preparing for their trips. Ready for My Surgery is THE ultimate travel guide, including an essential packing list and useful (medical) language translator. Don’t plan a hospital procedure without it!”