Management approaches for improved patient outcomes

Joint replacement surgery generally provides greater mobility and decreases discomfort for patients whose pain cannot be managed with medications or physical therapy. Optimal patient outcomes are closely related to the management approaches, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, used to address well-being in the patient undergoing total joint replacement. Areas that commonly impact well-being in the patient undergoing total joint replacement include nutrition, pain, deep-vein thrombosis, infection, and anemia. Adequate assessment of these areas can help to determine appropriate approaches that will result in improved patient outcomes in patients undergoing total joint replacement. Effective patient education encourages patients undergoing total joint replacement to become actively involved in their health care, which promotes improved patient outcomes. Nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches are available that help optimize patient recovery and rehabilitation, as well as the use of health care resources, which will result in improved patient outcomes. Health-related QOL is an important patient outcome in all patients and particularly those undergoing total joint replacement. Assessment of postoperative vigor may optimize patient rehabilitation and use of health system resources. Assessment provides the nurse with a better understanding of the specific patient and what therapy outcomes areas are important to that patient, which allows for individualized therapy and thus improvement in patient outcomes.