During which phase of case management is the incision made?

The incision is made during the intraoperative phase of case management. This phase refers to the period when the patient is actually undergoing surgery. It encompasses all activities that take place from the moment the patient is brought into the operating room until they are stabilized and moved to the recovery area.

This phase includes administering anesthesia, making the surgical incision, performing the actual surgical procedure, and managing any immediate needs that arise during the surgery. It is distinguished from the preoperative phase, where preparations for surgery occur, such as patient assessments and education, and the postoperative phase, which involves recovery and monitoring after surgery. The rehabilitation phase focuses on recovery and improving function after the surgery has been completed, which occurs well after the incision has been made.

Thus, the correct understanding of when the incision is made within these phases points directly to the intraoperative stage.