els, coordinate the
actions of the entire
team and ensure they
have the resources to
do their jobs effec-
tively.
Dr. Haas points out
that anesthesia
providers should be
adept at placing
regional blocks to help
manage post-op pain.
"We use an adductor canal block for the front of the knee, an IPACK
block for the back of the joint and an additional periarticular injection
to numb the entire area," says Dr. Haas. His patients also receive a
spinal or epidural anesthetic.
• In-house rehab. The quality of care that patients receive in the
weeks and months after surgery and the amount of work they put into
their rehab regimens are essential to ensuring they achieve the out-
comes they expect. Interestingly, this is another area in which the
coronavirus is likely to play a role moving forward as limiting in-per-
son care becomes more of a focus for providers and patients alike.
Digital platforms now allow patients to follow prescribed physical
therapy programs at their convenience and from the comfort of their
homes. The platforms guide patients through personalized exercise
routines, record the results of rehab sessions and send them to
providers, who monitor the progress of patients and schedule virtual
meetings to discuss the next steps of their recovery.
HSS launched a telehealth physical therapy program before the pan-
demic hit and used it for select patients. The facility has since expanded
J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 4 7
ROAD TO RECOVERY Patients must be mentally ready and physically prepared to
complete rigorous rehab regimens soon after their bandages are removed.
