Techniques and Strategies to Optimize Efficiencies in the Office and Operating Room: Getting Through the Patient Backlog and Preserving Hospital Resources

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in elective hip and knee arthroplasty procedures due to mandated cessation of non-urgent surgeries.
• This disruption has resulted in a substantial backlog of patients requiring these essential joint replacement operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline strategies and techniques for optimizing efficiency within hip and knee arthroplasty practices.
• To address the challenges posed by the pandemic-induced backlog and improve patient care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of techniques for increasing surgical efficiency in arthroplasty.
• Discussion of perioperative strategies across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and outpatient offices.

Main Results:

• Identification of specific methods to enhance operative room throughput and reduce procedure times.
• Exploration of streamlined perioperative pathways to improve patient flow and resource utilization.

Conclusions:

• Implementing optimized surgical and perioperative strategies is crucial for managing the backlog of hip and knee arthroplasty patients.
• Enhanced efficiency in arthroplasty practices is essential for restoring timely patient access to care post-pandemic.