The Flexible Care Pathway: An Alternative Paradigm for Post-Operative Care.

"Declarations Ethics approvalA Notice of Determination form stating that the project did not meet the federal definition of research was obtained after review by the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) Institutional Review Board. Consent to participateA Notice of Determination form stating that the project did not meet the federal definition of research was obtained after review by the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) Institutional Review Board. Patients were aware they were participating in a Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement activity to improve health care delivery. Consent for publicationA Notice of Determination form stating that the project did not meet the federal definition of research was obtained after review by the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) Institutional Review Board. Patients were aware they were participating in a Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement activity to improve health care delivery. Conflicts of interests/Competing interestsThe authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Conflicts of interests/Competing interests The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose."

"Funding No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript."