Until the early 2000s, the management of patients undergoing surgery followed highly standardized procedures. Medical and surgical considerations primarily focused on technical aspects. Various stakeholders worked independently without a global coordination, resulting in complex and time-consuming procedures.Two models of patients’ management have changed these practices: outpatient surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Outpatient surgery, initially developed in the United States, has become the standard of care in France despite shy beginnings. It emphasizes patient-centered organization to optimize hospital stay duration. ERAS, initiated in Denmark in the 1990s, aims to accelerate postoperative recovery by optimizing medical practices before, during, and after surgery.These two approaches converge towards optimizing patient’ pathways and perioperative medicine. Anesthesiologists play a critical role in this coordination, thanks to their expertise in managing recovery of vital functions. Pathway optimization has a positive economic impact by reducing length of stay and hospital costs while improving clinical outcomes.In conclusion, management of surgical patients are evolving towards a patient-centered approach, based on the coordination of all the healthcare providers. Beyond ERAS and ambulatory surgery, this transition is essential to guarantee the best possible care for patients.