Founder of Pre-Op Solutions Katie Reph Shines a Light on Pre-Op Care

Photo Credit: Adrian Etheridge

At the intersection of entrepreneurship and healthcare, where ambition meets action, one name shines bright: Katie Reph. A dynamic force in the local healthcare industry, Reph embodies tenacity and innovation. That’s because she has big aspirations for transforming pre-surgery care and aging in place in Western North Carolina. 

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Reph has spent the last decade in the South, between Savannah, Georgia, and Asheville, North Carolina. She comes from a family of women before her who worked as healthcare workers, caregivers, and healers, so she believes, “this is just what I was meant to do, find ways to help heal others.” After graduating from South University of Savannah as a L-PTA, Reph began her career in skilled rehab and home health physical therapy. It was years of caring for patients post-surgery, and witnessing their pain and home challenges, that sparked an idea that would transform surgical recovery in Western North Carolina. 

Reph founded Pre-Op Solutions, which works to improve the pre-operative experience by providing home safety evaluations and assisting in the preparation process ahead of a major surgery. “Improving post-operative outcomes truly starts with Pre-Op Solutions,” says Reph. 

In North Carolina, 32% of residents say they have fair or no understanding of the procedure and subsequent rehabilitation process before their surgery, and 95% of respondents reported feelings of anxiety, worry, fear, or, in some cases, depression, according to a recent study, The State of Surgical Care: Patient Experiences Pre- and Post-operation in North Carolina, 2024. This study captured data about the experiences of North Carolina residents who underwent surgery within the past five years.  Only a fraction of those who were surveyed had access to services of, or like, Pre-Op Solutions. However, 96% of respondents reported the in-home pre- op visit helped them feel more prepared for their surgery and recovery. Perhaps most notably, 70% surveyed reported an in-home pre-op visit reduced their recovery time. “The data shows how truly impactful pre-operative care can be in getting people back to their lives and the things they love quicker and with increased ease and comfort,” says Reph. 

In 2024, Reph also became CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) certified, giving her even further knowledge into the complexities of home safety and aging in place, and more experience in strategies for home modifications. “I look at Pre-Op Solutions as an incredibly impactful service for surgical care, and I am also very well versed in the impacts of health related changes and aging in place for older adults,” she explains. “My experience also allows me to be helpful for these members of my community, and helps to make aging in place more accessible for more people.” Outside of her business, Reph is also very active in the Western North Carolina community. She is on the Board of Directors for Aging Projects Inc., an advisor for Buncombe County of the WNC Falls Coalition, and a member of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

But what she’s really getting known for in the healthcare community is making connections. Reph founded and leads a local Healthcare & Wellness Workers networking group that meets monthly and features speakers from the area. “I believe that we can truly better connect our healthcare community by improving the relationships outside of our own settings,” Reph says. “I have treated many patients who have asked me to help them find someone for acupuncture, or recommend a specialist, or a therapist, and previously, their guess would have been as good as mine. Now we are developing an entire network of referral sources. And we get to learn about how other people use their skills and talents to heal people. I believe this is giving all of us in the Western North Carolina healthcare community an opportunity to be able to help the whole person, not just one part of them.” 

Pre-Op Solutions is Reph’s first entrepreneurial venture, and she’s thriving as a founder. “It has been such an amazing experience. I have learned so much about business, and honestly myself, in this process,” Reph explains. “Sure, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about marketing, branding, bookkeeping, and so much more, but arguably the most important thing I have learned is how important my time is. I always ask, ‘Is this getting me closer to my ultimate goal?’ It has been a helpful way for me to decide what is the best use of my time, and what is not. It has given me more power in my ability to say ‘no.’” 

Reph is even busy outside of work. A marathoner, you’ll find Reph running the trails down by the river, hiking or out in nature with her dogs, traveling, volunteering, spending time with loved ones, or filling her life and calendar with time with close friends. “I show up, every day, as myself,” she says. “And at the root of all of my efforts is a desire to leave this world in a better place than I found it, whether that be through the work I do or the people I meet along the way.” 

For more information on Pre-Op Solutions, visit their website: https://pre-opsolutions.com

To contact Reph directly, email or call her at 

Email: kaitlin.reph@pre-opsolutions.com, Office Phone: 828-398-8680