Hernia management has evolved significantly over the years, moving away from a surgeon-centric model to a more comprehensive shared care approach. Shared care allows patients to benefit from specialist treatment while still receiving ongoing, comprehensive care from their general doctor, who manages their overall health beyond just the chronic condition.¹ This collaborative method brings together various healthcare professionals, each contributing their unique expertise to their patient’s care throughout the entire treatment journey.²
 

Meaningful patient involvement is essential to the success of the shared care approach, fostering collaboration, understanding, and trust throughout the treatment journey.

• Shared Decision-Making: Patients are encouraged to be active participants in treatment decisions. This patient-centered approach considers individual preferences, values, and concerns. Shared decision-making has been shown to lead to higher satisfaction rates and better adherence to treatment plans.³
• Preoperative Education: Comprehensive education about the surgical procedure, potential risks and benefits, and typical recovery timeline helps set realistic expectations. Patients who receive structured preoperative education reported less anxiety and better overall satisfaction with their care.⁴
• Postoperative Instructions: Standardized discharge recovery instructions reduce complication rates by offering clear, consistent instructions on wound care, pain management, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments.⁵
   

Effective hernia management requires a coordinated effort from multiple healthcare professionals, including but not limited to:

• Hernia Repair Surgeons: Specialists in all types of hernia repair from the traditional, open technique to minimally invasive surgery, like laparoscopic or robotic.⁶ If you are ready to contact a surgeon, you can find hernia surgeons near you with our Surgeon Finder.
• Physician Assistant and Certified Nurse Practitioners: Physician assistants train using the medical model which means they focus on the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease (i.e. hernia) that the patient has. Nurse practitioners train on the nursing model, which means they focus on the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient with the disease.^6,7
• Radiologist: A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions using imaging equipment.⁶
• Anesthesiologist: A medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia, the medical treatment that keeps you from feeling pain during procedures or surgery. Anesthesiologists take care of you before, during and after your surgery.⁶
• Pain Management Specialist: Pain management doctors focus on helping a person find relief from pain due to underlying conditions or long-term consequences of surgical procedures.⁸ If you are currently experiencing pain, please seek medical attention.
• Plastic Surgeons and/or Colorectal Surgeons: For larger hernia repairs or those in a difficult location, a plastic or colorectal surgeon may be involved. Plastic surgeons can use a variety of surgical techniques to help enhance appearance and improve function in affected areas. Colorectal surgeons treat conditions of the large intestine.⁶
   

When patients are actively involved in their healthcare decisions, the benefits can extend far beyond the exam room. Shared decision-making has been shown to lead to more informed, engaged patients and often results in improved outcomes and more efficient care. It can result in the following:

• Increased satisfaction with care.
• Improved knowledge about condition and treatment options.
• More realistic expectations about benefits and risks.
• Increased adherence to recommended plans.
• Decreased decision-related anxiety.
• Reduced potential for unnecessary procedures.
• Improved health outcomes in some cases.
   

Shared decision making begins with the patient at its center. By bringing together diverse healthcare professionals and actively involving patients in decision-making, this collaborative approach can help create a more streamlined healing journey. As healthcare, and hernia repair, continues to evolve, this approach shows how putting patients first creates a blueprint for compassionate and comprehensive care that respects each person's unique situation and goals.

To start your hernia repair journey, check out our Surgeon Finder to find a hernia surgeon near you.

The guidance provided in this article follows general rules that should be discussed with your doctor. This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not substitute for medical advice. If in doubt, always consult your doctor.