A Model for Delivery of Orthopaedic Perioperative Education via Telehealth

With orthopaedic surgery, there is a risk of poor outcomes such as pain, decreased mobility, and decreased function, particularly if patients do not receive adequate preoperative and postoperative orthopaedic education. Healthcare education delivered via telehealth can be individualized to the patient's specific situation and health literacy level and is accessible, convenient, and timely for patients and providers. The purpose of this article is to combine two models of best practice, the EDUCATE model of patient education and Bashshur's Taxonomy of Telehealth, to describe a framework for improving delivery of preoperative and postoperative orthopaedic education. This innovative model presents a patient-centered approach to orthopaedic education that can increase patient comprehension and retention and address health literacy, through consideration of three dimensions essential for effective telehealth programs: functionality, application, and technology. Applications of the model are presented.