The coach program - a "joint" approach to patient education and support

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Health Care Management
• Patient Support Systems

Background:

• International decline in hospital lengths of stay for orthopaedic procedures.
• Patients experience stress, anxiety, and reduced support post-discharge after joint replacement.
• Need for innovative strategies to manage shorter hospitalizations and improve patient transition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Coach Program, integrating patient support persons into the healthcare team.
• To decrease patient anxiety and increase confidence during the transition from hospital to home.
• To enhance patient coping mechanisms and streamline discharge planning for orthopaedic procedures.

Main Methods:

• Formal integration of a patient-identified primary support person into the healthcare team.
• Implementation of the Coach Program focused on family-centered care and resource maximization.
• Pilot self-reported patient survey to gather initial feedback.

Main Results:

• Anecdotal feedback from patients and staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
• The program aims to decrease patient anxiety and enhance coping.
• The program facilitates a smoother discharge planning process.

Conclusions:

• The Coach Program shows promise in supporting patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures with shorter hospital stays.
• Integrating support persons enhances patient-centered care and may alleviate post-discharge anxiety.
• Further research with broader patient populations and investigation into supporting patients with limited social support are warranted.