PERI-OPERATIVE MEDICINE, REIMAGINED

Optimising Care.
Enhancing Recovery.

Surgical risk rarely begins in theatre — it begins before your patient is even booked. OptiSurge brings specialist anaesthesiology, surgery and critical care together as one dedicated team, from pre-operative optimisation through to ICU care.

I'm a Patient — Prepare for Surgery I'm a Surgeon — Refer a Patient

WHY OPTISURGE

The gap that puts patients at risk isn't in theatre. It's everywhere around it.

In many hospitals, pre-operative optimisation and critical care sit with separate teams who first meet the patient — and each other — on the morning of surgery. Risk factors go unoptimised, handovers are rushed, and if complications arise, the ICU team managing them is often seeing the case for the very first time.

Pre-Operative Optimisation

Thorough risk assessment and medical optimisation before your patient ever reaches theatre.

Visit Pre-Op Optimisation

Post-Operative ICU Care

Specialist critical care support from the moment your patient leaves theatre, through recovery and the ICU stay.

Visit ICU Care

Improved Outcomes

Continuity of care that reduces complications, shortens ICU stays, and drives faster, safer recovery.

Meet the Team

THE OPTISURGE DIFFERENCE

One dedicated team, from the first consultation to full recovery.

OptiSurge brings specialist anaesthesiology, general surgery and critical care expertise together as a single pre- and post-operative service, working alongside your surgical and theatre team rather than apart from it. The same clinicians who optimise your patient before surgery care for them in ICU afterwards — driving fewer complications, shorter ICU stays, and faster, safer recoveries.

We care for every patient as we would our own family. It's the standard behind everything we do — and the reason our founders built this model in the first place.

Read Our Story

ICU Lead

Prof Nadiya Ahmed

Founding Partner

Pre-Op Lead · ICU Associate Dr Andrea Jacobs

Dr Andrea Jacobs

Founding Partner

FOR PATIENTS

Getting ready for surgery?

See exactly what happens at your pre-operative visit, how to prepare for theatre, and complete your intake forms online before you arrive.

Go to Pre-Op Optimisation

FOR SURGEONS

Referring a patient?

Refer into our pre-operative optimisation clinic ahead of a planned procedure, or refer directly into our ICU service for critical care support.

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We care for every patient as we would our own family — from the first consultation to full recovery.

The OptiSurge Team

ABOUT OPTISURGE

A dedicated peri-operative team, built around one patient at a time.

OptiSurge was welcomed into the hospital's clinical team as a new, dedicated pre-operative optimisation and ICU service — bringing specialist anaesthesiology and critical care expertise to support surgeons and physicians before and after surgery.

OUR STORY

Built from a gap our founders kept seeing.

OptiSurge began with two specialists who, from opposite ends of the same operating list, kept noticing the same problem: patients arriving under-optimised, and post-operative complications landing with an ICU team seeing the case for the first time.

Dr Andrea Jacobs had already proven a better way — building an ERAS-based pre-operative optimisation service for a private surgical practice at N1 City Hospital that cut cancellations and reduced ICU and hospital stays. Prof Nadiya Ahmed brought a critical care leadership record spanning some of South Africa's busiest surgical ICUs. Together, they built OptiSurge to make that model available to every surgeon who wants it.

OUR PROMISE

Optimising Care. Enhancing Recovery.

We care for every patient as we would our own family — from the first consultation to full recovery.

HOW WE'RE ORGANISED

Two tracks. One team.

PRE-OP OPTIMISATION

Led by Dr Andrea Jacobs

Dr Jacobs leads OptiSurge's pre-operative optimisation clinic, applying the same ERAS-based approach she built and proved at N1 City Hospital.

ICU CARE

Led by Prof Nadiya Ahmed

Prof Ahmed leads OptiSurge's ICU service, supported by Associates Dr Ryan Davids, Dr Chanel Changfoot and Dr Andrea Jacobs on the critical care roster.

Meet the Team

Two founding partners and two associates — spanning anaesthesiology, general surgery, trauma and critical care — working as one team from your patient's first consultation through to full recovery.

ICU Lead

Prof Nadiya Ahmed

Founding Partner — General Surgeon & Intensive Care Specialist

MBChB · FCS (SA) · MMed (Surgery) · Cert. Critical Care Surgery (SA) · Associate Professor, UFS

From Clinical Head of the Surgical ICU to Head of the Department of Critical Care at Universitas Academic Hospital and UFS, she now sits on Mediclinic's executive leadership team, remaining hands-on in clinical practice.

Nationally and internationally recognised for her critical care expertise, with an extensive record of publications and congress presentations.

Pre-Op Lead · ICU Associate

Dr Andrea Jacobs

Founding Partner — Specialist Anaesthesiologist

MBChB · MMed (Anaesthesiology) · Fellow, College of Anaesthesiology · MBA (Healthcare Leadership)

Trained at Tygerberg Hospital, including as a Surgical ICU consultant, Dr Jacobs built a dedicated ERAS-based pre-operative optimisation service for a private surgical practice — cutting cancellations, reducing ICU and hospital stays, and personally following patients through their post-operative recovery.

She holds an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and also supports OptiSurge's ICU roster as an Associate.

ICU Associate

Dr Ryan Davids

Associate — Anaesthesiologist, Intensivist & Bioethicist

MBChB · Fellowship, College of Anaesthesia · MMed (Anaesthesiology & Critical Care) · MPhil (Bioethics)

A Senior Lecturer at Stellenbosch University, Dr Davids chairs the research division of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care and heads the Surgical ICU at Tygerberg Hospital, with ties to the Medical Research Council and United Nations.

ICU Associate

Dr Chanel Changfoot

Associate — General & Trauma Surgeon, Surgical Critical Care Specialist

MBChB (Distinction) · MMed (General Surgery) · FCS (SA) · MSc Critical Care, University of Edinburgh

Dr Changfoot practises in the Tygerberg Hospital Surgical ICU and as a Trauma Surgeon at Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital — a Director-status ATLS instructor bringing hands-on trauma and ICU leadership to OptiSurge's on-call roster.

Ready to work with us?

Refer a patient, or get in touch to find out more about partnering with OptiSurge.

PRE-OPERATIVE OPTIMISATION

Walking into theatre as prepared as possible.

Our pre-operative optimisation clinic identifies and manages risk factors before your surgery — so there are fewer surprises on the day, and a smoother recovery afterwards.

Complete Your Pre-Op Forms I'm a Surgeon — Refer a Patient

Clinic Lead

Dr Andrea Jacobs

Founding Partner — Specialist Anaesthesiologist

Dr Jacobs leads the pre-operative optimisation clinic personally — identifying and managing risk factors early so patients arrive at theatre better prepared. The result: fewer late cancellations, smoother anaesthesia, and a faster, safer recovery.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Your pre-operative visit, step by step

Comprehensive Health Review

A full review of your medical history, current medications, allergies and any existing conditions.

Risk Screening

Targeted assessment of factors that could affect your surgery or recovery — from cardiac risk to nutrition.

Optimisation Plan

A personalised plan to manage any risk factors identified, in the time available before your procedure.

Coordination With Your Team

We liaise directly with your surgeon so everyone arrives at theatre day with the same picture.

FOR PATIENTS

Let's prepare you for theatre

A few general things to have ready ahead of your surgery. Your clinician will confirm the specific instructions that apply to you and your procedure at your pre-operative visit.

Medication & medical history list

Bring a full list of current medications, dosages, allergies and past surgeries or anaesthetic reactions.

Fasting instructions

We'll confirm exactly when to stop eating and drinking before your procedure — follow the instructions given at your visit.

Chronic conditions

Tell us about diabetes, heart or lung conditions, sleep apnoea or anything else that's part of your day-to-day health.

Transport & support at home

Arrange a lift home and someone to be with you for the first day or two after your procedure.

Smoking & alcohol

Cutting down or stopping before surgery genuinely helps recovery — ask us about support if you'd like it.

Pack for your stay

Comfortable clothes, toiletries, and any devices you rely on daily (CPAP, hearing aids, glasses).

FOR PATIENTS

Your pre-op paperwork

Two short forms to complete ahead of your visit — registration takes about 6–8 minutes, and your medical history takes about 5.

STEP 1

New Patient Registration

Your details, medical aid and next of kin — so we can identify you and confirm cover.

Start Registration

STEP 2

Pre-Clinic Medical History

Helps your anaesthetist prepare properly for your procedure — takes about 5 minutes.

Complete Medical History

FOR SURGEONS

Referring a patient to Pre-Op Optimisation

Refer any patient ahead of a planned procedure — particularly those with comorbidities, a complex history, or higher anaesthetic risk. We'll coordinate directly with your rooms.

Pre-Op Optimisation Referral

For referring surgeons and physicians.

Referral received.

We'll be in touch with your rooms shortly to schedule the patient's pre-operative visit.

OPTISURGE

OPTIMISING CARE · ENHANCING RECOVERY

New Patient Registration

Please complete every section marked with an asterisk (*). This takes about 6–8 minutes, and your details are sent securely to our practice on submission.

Pre-operative optimisation · ICU care · Improving outcomes

OptiSurge · Optimising Care. Enhancing Recovery. · This form transmits your information directly to the practice.

OPTISURGE

OPTIMISING CARE · ENHANCING RECOVERY

Pre-Clinic Medical History

Please complete this before your pre-operative visit. It helps your anaesthetist prepare properly for your procedure, and takes about 5 minutes.

Pre-operative optimisation · ICU care · Improving outcomes

OptiSurge · Optimising Care. Enhancing Recovery. · This form transmits your information directly to the practice.

CRITICAL CARE

Expert care when your patient needs it most.

Our ICU service brings specialist critical care expertise to post-operative patients — continuous monitoring, rapid response, and a team that already knows the case.

Refer a Patient to ICU

WHAT IS CRITICAL CARE?

A higher level of monitoring and support, for as long as it's needed.

An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialised hospital ward for patients who need closer monitoring or extra support with breathing, circulation or other organ function than a general ward can provide.

After some operations — particularly longer procedures, higher-risk patients, or where complications arise — a period in ICU allows a specialist team to watch closely and respond immediately if anything changes, rather than waiting for problems to become emergencies.

Continuous Monitoring

Vital signs watched around the clock by specialist ICU nursing and medical staff.

Organ Support

Help with breathing, circulation or other organ function, if and when it's needed.

One Multidisciplinary Team

The same clinicians who optimised your patient before surgery, following through in ICU.

FOR FAMILIES

What to expect during an ICU stay

We know this is a stressful time. Here's a general guide to how care unfolds — your care team will walk you through what's specific to your family member.

Admission

Settling in & first assessment

Your family member is connected to monitoring, assessed by the ICU team, and a care plan is started. We'll update you as soon as we're able to.

Daily Care

Rounds & multidisciplinary review

The team reviews progress daily, adjusting the plan as needed — the same clinicians staying involved throughout the stay.

Communication

Regular updates

We aim to keep you informed at key points and are always willing to talk through questions or concerns.

Step-Down

Recovery & discharge planning

As your family member improves, we plan the move back to a general ward — and stay involved in that transition.

LOOKING AHEAD

After ICU: Recovery & Follow-Up

Recovery after intensive care is usually gradual. Most patients move to a high-care or general ward before going home — some need further rehabilitation, follow-up appointments, or additional support along the way.

ICU

Close monitoring and organ support while your condition is at its most critical.

High Care / Step-Down

Support is gradually reduced as you stabilise, with the same team staying involved.

General Ward

Focus shifts to mobility, nutrition and getting you ready for a safe discharge home.

What's common in the weeks after an ICU stay

It's common to experience some or all of the following as you recover — and worth knowing in advance that none of it is unusual:

Feeling physically weak or tiring more easily than usual

Difficulty sleeping, or vivid dreams

Gaps in memory around your stay, or feeling emotionally low

Changes in appetite, taste, or mood

If any of this feels overwhelming, or you'd simply like to talk it through, our team can help coordinate the right follow-up and support.

Questions about recovery?

We're here after ICU too.

Whether it's a follow-up appointment, a referral for rehabilitation, or just a question — reach out any time and our team will help coordinate what's next.

OPTISURGE

OPTIMISING CARE · ENHANCING RECOVERY

ICU Referral Form

For doctors referring a patient for ICU admission or review. Please complete every section marked with an asterisk (*). Our team reviews clinical severity internally on receipt, so there's nothing further to score here.

Pre-operative optimisation · ICU care · Improving outcomes

Referral Details

Who is referring, where the patient is, and the key identifiers.

For urgent referrals, please call 073 115 8439 in addition to submitting this form.

Date of Referral *

Doctor *

Doctor Contact Number *

Speciality *

Hospital *

Ward / Room (optional)

Patient Full Name *

Patient Age *

ID Number *

Medical Scheme (optional)

Membership / Pre-authorisation No. (optional)

Date of Hospital Admission *

Date of Surgery (if applicable)

Diagnosis *

Patient History

Background that shapes the clinical picture.

Past Medical History

Past Surgical History

Current Medication

Current Intended Surgery IF APPLICABLE

Planned Procedure

Planned Date

Current Medical Condition / Hospital Stay Summary

Clinical Examination

System-by-system findings.

Cardiovascular (CVS)

HR *

BP / MAP *

Inotropes / Vasopressor (if applicable — name, dose/concentration and rate)

Clinical

Respiratory

FiO2 / SpO2

PEEP (if ventilated)

Reason for Ventilation (if applicable)

ETT — Size and Position Checked (if applicable)

ICD, Reason and Position Checked (if applicable)

Clinical

GIT

Abdomen (exam findings)

Drains

NGT (and drainage if ileus)

Stomas

Ortho

Clinical

CNS

Eyes (E)

Verbal (V)

Motor (M)

Clinical

Analgesia

Sedation (if applicable)

Glasgow Coma Scale reference

Eye opening	Score
No eye opening	1
To pain	2
To speech	3
Spontaneously	4

Best verbal response	Score
None	1
Incomprehensible sounds	2
Inappropriate words	3
Patient confused	4
Patient oriented	5

Best motor response	Score
None	1
Extensor response to painful stimulus	2
Flexion to painful stimulus	3
Withdraws from painful stimulus	4
Localizes to pain stimulus	5
Obeys commands	6

Renal

ARF (KDIGO/AKIN)

CRF (renal sizes)

Urine Output (last 24h)

Urea (baseline and latest)

Creatinine (baseline and latest)

Dialysis Details (if applicable)

Immunology & Sepsis

Sepsis

Source of Sepsis

WCC no. and trend

CRP no. and trend

Cultures Sent

Antibiotics (previous and current)

Special Investigation Results

Enter values and findings directly.

Blood Work

WCC

Platelets

Urea

Creatinine

ALT

CRP

INR

ABG

Other (any other bloods or results)

Radiology

CXR / AXR

CT / MRI

ECG / Echo

Concerns & Follow-up

Anything on your radar for this patient's ICU stay.

Any Concerns or Things We Should Look Out For *

Future Information We Should Be Aware Of (optional)

On submit, this referral is logged in our system and a PDF copy is emailed to our team for review. You'll see a confirmation message here once it's received.

Referral received.

Our ICU team has been notified. For urgent cases, please also call us directly to confirm.

OptiSurge · Optimising Care. Enhancing Recovery. · This form transmits referral information directly to our team.

GET IN TOUCH

We'd love to hear from you.

Whether you're a patient with a question or a surgeon looking to refer, our team is on hand.

CONTACT DETAILS

OptiSurge, Mediclinic Cape Town

Phone

073 115 8439

Email

info@optisurge.co.za

Address

Mediclinic, 21 Hof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Get Directions →

For Urgent ICU Referrals

Please call us directly on 073 115 8439 in addition to submitting a referral form.

Pre-Op Optimisation Referral ICU Referral

Send a Message

General enquiries — we'll respond as soon as we can.

Message sent.

Thanks for reaching out — we'll be in touch shortly.

Optimising Care.Enhancing Recovery.

The gap that puts patients at risk isn't in theatre. It's everywhere around it.

Pre-Operative Optimisation

Post-Operative ICU Care

Improved Outcomes

One dedicated team, from the first consultation to full recovery.

Getting ready for surgery?

Referring a patient?

A dedicated peri-operative team, built around one patient at a time.

Built from a gap our founders kept seeing.

Two tracks. One team.

Led by Dr Andrea Jacobs

Led by Prof Nadiya Ahmed

Meet the Team

Ready to work with us?

Walking into theatre as prepared as possible.

Your pre-operative visit, step by step

Comprehensive Health Review

Risk Screening

Optimisation Plan

Coordination With Your Team

Let's prepare you for theatre

Medication & medical history list

Fasting instructions

Chronic conditions

Transport & support at home

Smoking & alcohol

Pack for your stay

Your pre-op paperwork

New Patient Registration

Pre-Clinic Medical History

Referring a patient to Pre-Op Optimisation

Pre-Op Optimisation Referral

Referral received.

New Patient Registration

Main Member Information

Patient Information

Next of Kin

Confirmation & Consent

Terms of Service

Confidentiality, POPIA, Information Sharing and Holding

Registration Details

Thank you — your registration is complete.

Pre-Clinic Medical History

Your Details

Has the Patient Had Any of the Following?

Medication

Functional Status & Anything Else

Thank you — we've received your medical history.

Expert care when your patient needs it most.

A higher level of monitoring and support, for as long as it's needed.

Continuous Monitoring

Organ Support

One Multidisciplinary Team

What to expect during an ICU stay

Settling in & first assessment

Rounds & multidisciplinary review

Regular updates

Recovery & discharge planning

After ICU: Recovery & Follow-Up

ICU

High Care / Step-Down

General Ward

What's common in the weeks after an ICU stay

ICU Referral Form

Referral Details

Patient History

Clinical Examination

Special Investigation Results

Concerns & Follow-up

Referral received.

We'd love to hear from you.

OptiSurge, Mediclinic Cape Town

Phone

Email

Address

For Urgent ICU Referrals

Send a Message

Message sent.

Optimising Care.
Enhancing Recovery.