Discharged patients from a major medical institution were surveyed to ascertain their pre operative post operative learning needs and experiences. The hypothesis was that most patients would benefit from a standardized treatment plan to incorporate preoperative counselling, in patient education, home health visits and post operative care at 2 4 and 6 week periods. Some of the results showed that 75% patients described their home health visits as a vital aspect of their learning needs. 30% did not remember their hospital education, 80% thought a preoperative counselling session would be helpful.