Patient-pleas-
ing care
To improve efficien-
cies and reduce the
cost of care, assign
a point person to
guide patients
throughout the
episode of care or
implement a tech-
nology that does the
job for you. The
importance of care
navigators in this process is huge, according to Mr. Uba, who's
embraced digital platforms that help his team interact with patients.
Traditionally, patients attend a pre-op education class 5 to 6 weeks
before surgery and receive a big booklet filled with countless
instructions about preparing for surgery and recovery. By the time
the week of surgery arrives, they've forgotten most of what they
learned.
"We take that book, chunk it up, and deliver that information elec-
tronically via text, emails or instant messaging — however the patient
wants to receive it," says Mr. Uba. "Patients receive information
throughout the episode of care at the times they need it."
Bundled care can simplify the finances of surgery for patients. "Our
local payers have determined that if the patient has a copay plan,
they'll only charge them the outpatient copay — say, $250 — for the
entire episode of care," says Mr. Uba.
Patients, therefore, don't have co-pays for physical therapy because
Excelsior pays the providers who deliver the other components of care.
A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 7
• BUNDLED UP Andrew Stoeckl, MD, and his team at Excelsior Orthopedics manage all
of the services in an episode of care, giving them greater control over outcomes.
Excelsior
Orthopedics
