Why Better Surgical Outcomes Start Before the First Incision - with Dr Scott Russo

Send us Fan MailSurgery is rarely a single moment in theatre. The real make-or-break work happens in the quieter weeks beforehand, when patients are anxious, deconditioned, undernourished, or simply unsure what to do next. We sit down with Dr Scott Russo, founder of Recover Health and a long-time spine surgeon, to talk about surgical optimisation and why “getting ready” is not a nice-to-have but a clinical pathway that can change outcomes.We walk through the practical building blocks of prehabilitation: finding a patient’s why, training the mind with breath practice and visualisation, improving sleep and resilience, and making realistic nutrition upgrades that support healing. Scott shares a striking story of an elderly patient repeatedly cancelled for surgery who rebuilds mobility and confidence through a structured plan using pool therapy and simple home training. We also get specific about what to measure, from anxiety and depression screening to frailty tests, walk distance, and nutrition risk.Telehealth threads through the model as a way to expand access, especially for patients far from specialist care, while also raising important questions about older patients and digital barriers. If you lead a practice, manage a service line, or want to understand where surgical pathways leak value, this conversation connects clinical detail with operational reality.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more healthcare leaders can find it. What part of surgical preparation do you think the system ignores most?Guest BiographyDr. Scott Russo is the founder of Recover Health and a former orthopedic and spine surgeon with more than three decades of clinical experience. After performing over 9,000 surgeries and facing his own life-threatening illness, he developed a deep interest in how patients can be better prepared to recover from serious health events. Through Recover Health, Dr. Russo helps patients improve surgical readiness through mindset, nutrition, physical conditioning, and behavioral support, with the goal of reducing complications and improving long-term outcomes.LinksWebsite: www.recoverhealth.netLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-s-russo-61110253/ Subscribe on SubstackVoices in Health and Wellness is published on Substack, as part of The Diagnostician. Every episode lands there with written notes and reflections you won't find in the podcast feed. Free to subscribe.👉 https://thediagnostician.substack.com/s/voices-in-health-and-wellnessAbout the podcastVoices in Health and Wellness features conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential, with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.About Dr Andrew GreenlandUK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Trained in both conventional and root-cause approaches, Andrew helps people optimise health, performance, and longevity, with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.