Does Patient Experience After a Total Knee Arthroplasty Predict Readmission?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• The link between patient satisfaction and outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains understudied.
• Patient experience is increasingly recognized as a critical component of healthcare quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if patient satisfaction scores, measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, predict 30-day or 90-day readmissions after TKA.
• To identify specific dimensions of patient care associated with readmission risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of HCAHPS survey scores from TKA patients (January-September 2016).
• Collection of demographic, readmission, health status, and patient-reported outcome data.
• Statistical analysis using chi-squared tests, Student's t-tests, and multivariable regression to assess the association between HCAHPS scores and readmissions, adjusting for risk factors.

Main Results:

• Patients readmitted within 30 days reported lower satisfaction with physician communication, discharge information, and transition of care.
• Patients readmitted within 90 days reported lower satisfaction with physician communication, medication information, and hospital environment quietness.

Conclusions:

• Lower patient satisfaction scores in key areas predict readmissions following TKA.
• Improving patient communication, discharge processes, medication management, and hospital environment may reduce TKA readmissions.