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Services & Clinics
About us News
Hospital map Parking Visitor information Transport Amenities Admission Hospital rooms Nearby accommodation Outpatient appointments Getting ready to leave Health checks Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Concerns for your care Disability support and services Interpreters and cultural support Social work department Spiritual care Volunteer support Freedom of information Overseas patients Patient privacy Paying your bill Preparing for surgery Private patients Rights and responsibilities

PreHab, short for prehabilitation, helps you prepare for surgery. Use these tips and resources to help you get ready for surgery.

Getting healthy

The healthier you are going into surgery, the stronger you will be coming out.

One in five people have complications from surgery that affect their health and recovery.

You can reduce these risks by getting as healthy as possible before surgery. We call this prehabilitation, or prehab for short.

Activity and exercise

Being physically prepared for surgery sets you up for a better outcome.

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Anaemia and low iron

3 in 10 people having elective surgery have low iron or anaemia and have high risk of needing blood transfusion.

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Alcohol, drugs and medication management

Reducing your use of alcohol, opioids and recreational drugs at least four weeks before surgery is advised for your safety.

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Diabetes management

Getting support to assist you in managing your diabetes before surgery can help prevent complications.

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Emotional wellbeing

Facing surgery can be a worrying time. The lead up to surgery is a good opportunity to address your concerns.

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Equipment and community services

It is important to be prepared and have any equipment and supports organised prior to returning home.

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Frailty

Older people can become frail while waiting for surgery. Frailty can lead to falls, injuries and delayed recovery.

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Pain management

Ensuring your pain is well controlled prior to surgery will assist in improving your recovery.​​

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Nutrition and weight optimisation

Optimising your weight prior to surgery will reduce your risk of surgical complications.​​

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Quitting smoking

Smoking increases your risk of problems after surgery. Quitting even one month before reduces your risk.

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FAQs

Find answers to the most common questions here.

Hear from project lead Professor Jane Andrews why prehabilitation can benefit you before undergoing surgery.

PreHab, short for prehabilitation, helps you to get ready for surgery.

Being well prepared and as healthy as you can before surgery is important. This is because it helps you to have safer, more effective surgery and to recover more quickly.

Anyone waiting for surgery can benefit from PreHab.

Making sure your health is as good as it can be before surgery will help you have a better outcome.

PreHab can start as soon as you find out that you might need surgery. This could be after your GP refers you to a surgeon or more suddenly after a new medical diagnosis.

Starting early will give you time to make positive changes to your health (e.g., weight loss or getting stronger).

Even if your surgery is soon, there are still benefits in starting now!

This page has information about which health professionals to contact for each PreHab health area.

If you are unsure where to start, we encourage you to see your GP.

The PreHab areas you work on depend on your health and what risk factors you have. A risk factor is something that makes you more likely to have a problem during or after surgery.

Above, you'll find examples of health conditions that you can improve to make your surgery and recovery safer (e.g., quitting smoking and losing weight). It is best to focus on things that are relevant to you. 

You do not need a referral. Health professionals created this page to support and guide you on your PreHab journey.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital have a digital program called My PreHab Program for patients waiting for some surgeries.

If you are waiting for a surgery that has this program, the hospital will send you information via a text message. 

"

Getting ready for surgery with PreHab means you are in good health when you have surgery.

This will help you have better outcomes and recover quicker.

It will also benefit your overall health after surgery!

Professor Jane Andrews - CAHLN PreHab project lead
"

My PreHab Program

People referred for certain planned operations at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals may be invited to participate in My PreHab Program.

My PreHab Program is a digital initiative to support consumers preparing for potential surgery by helping self-screen for modifiable risk factors and access tailored health information.

If eligible, you will receive a text message from SA Health with a link to create an account with Personify Care (the platform host).

Following the recommendations from My PreHab Program will help you get better outcomes. For example, results from the joint replacement pathway show a shorter stay in hospital and markedly reduced (50% less) postoperative complications.

In some cases, maximising non-operative strategies like exercise, weight loss and smoking cessation, can prevent the need for some surgery altogether.

For support with My PreHab recommendations, speak to your GP.

If you have an account, use the link below to login.

Accessing My PreHab Program

The development of CALHN PreHab

CALHN PreHab started its journey in 2019 to support patients with quality, evidence-based information on preparing for surgery.

Led by Professor Jane Andrews and a passionate team of multi-disciplinary staff, they developed the framework for a digitally enabled program, including a website and hospital-specific digital pathways using a South Australian based company, Personify Care. The initiative was co-designed with consumers and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

Thank you to the many staff, consumers and content experts who contributed to this initiative. With special thanks to:

  • The Hospital Research Foundation Group
  • Adelaide Primary Healthcare Network
  • Health Translation SA
  • CALHN Allied Health Departments
  • CALHN Surgical Departments.

Publications

This page was last updated 20 February, 2025

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Freedom of information

Learn about The Freedom of Information Act 1991, including how it applies to you and accessing your medical records and data.

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Overseas patients

Information for overseas residents requiring medical assistance at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

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Patient privacy

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Paying your bill

Information for patients who may be required to pay a bill at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

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