Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Outpatient total joint arthroplasty (OTJA) presents a safe and cost-effective option for selected patients.
• Increasing pressure exists to reduce healthcare costs per episode of care in arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the essential steps and challenges in establishing successful outpatient arthroplasty programs.
• To identify value-based strategies for optimizing patient recovery after OTJA.

Main Methods:

• Review of digital techniques for patient selection and data collection.
• Analysis of operating room efficiency systems.
• Summary of methods to build and maintain value in outpatient joint replacement.

Main Results:

• Techniques for selecting appropriate patients for outpatient pathways have been identified.
• Concerns exist regarding increased medical complication risks for outpatient arthroplasty patients.
• Value-based strategies are crucial for optimizing recovery and cost savings.

Conclusions:

• Establishing OTJA programs necessitates robust patient selection and recovery optimization.
• Digital tools and efficient systems are key to successful implementation.
• Maintaining value within bundled payment models is critical for long-term success.