lengths of stay by 35% and discharges to nursing homes by 80%.
Would it have been difficult for Dr. Hungerford to dig deep into out-
comes data and make those changes on his own? "No," he says. "It
would have been impossible.
"We've improved the quality of care we deliver, decreased our costs
and increased our case volume and profitability," he continues. "We're
able to assess what's actually going on in the big picture instead of try-
ing to chase small problems one at a time. The partnership has been
really effective for us."
Orthopedic implant and instrument makers are getting into the con-
sulting business because, let's be honest, a facility that relies on their
advice is also more likely to use their products. But the company's
consulting services are separate entities that can be incredibly useful
resources if you're looking to launch a same-day joints program or
breathe new life into your existing one.
1. Save time and sweat
Building a total joints program from scratch is a daunting task made
easier when consultants provide proven patient care pathways that
you can reference and adapt as needed to fit your facility's specific
needs. Consulting companies also help you identify equipment needs,
what staffing levels are required and how staff should be trained.
"Most surgeons and administrators don't have experience with
building the many elements needed to run a successful joints pro-
gram, and one way they can learn about what it takes to implement a
program is to spend significant time and money visiting other facili-
ties," says C. Lowry Barnes, MD, of the department of orthopedics at
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. "But that's
time consuming and costly."
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