because of their commitment, dedication and hard work, but the
facility also received some major help along the way from a con-
sulting program offered through an orthopedic equipment vendor.
As the outpatient joints market continues to surge, an increasing
number of the major players in the implant and instrument space
are offering consulting help to facilities that need assistance
launching or streamlining their programs. A vendor-run consulting
program can serve as an invaluable resource if you're looking to
launch, retool or even rebrand your facility's total joints program.
From the ground up
OSI's consulting program was instrumental in helping the facility
launch a total joints program from scratch. It was a 9-month process
involving 5 on-site consultant visits (and some late-night meetings) as
well as constant phone and email communication. The consultant was
a physical therapist, which helped ease some of the initial concerns
OSI staff had about getting practical, hands-on advice through the pro-
gram. "It was extremely meaningful to know that there was another
clinical person working with me on this, that is wasn't just a salesper-
son," says Sarah Roberts, RN, the total joints orthopedic coordinator
for OSI.
The facility got a lot out of the program, including a standardization
of the physicians' selection criteria and protocols, and a patient-track-
ing and customizable education template for OSI to build a standard-
ized program around. That first part is key to the success of any total
joints program because if you want to operate efficiently, there's a cer-
tain level of standardization your surgeons will need to agree to. Let's
be honest, that can be challenging. That's where the consultant really
showed her worth.
"The reason our program works is because the surgeons, who come
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