A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 1 1
every patient, there's a
large segment of the
population for whom
it's the perfect choice.
In fact, I recently did an
outpatient total joint on
an octogenarian. We
tend to underestimate
patients, even those in
their 80s. And this new
approach aligns perfectly with where health care — with its increasing empha-
sis on costs — is heading. Most total-joint patients don't need overnight stays. In
fact, of the dozen or so patients I've talked to who've had one joint done in a
hospital and another done in an ASC, without exception, they've preferred the
ASC experience.
The patient and the patient's family need to be part of the team. Well before
the day of surgery, we provide a detailed booklet and DVD that explain the
entire process. Our nursing staff continually educates patients and families,
making sure expectations are clear and ensuring the support structure will be in
place once the patient gets home.
Complications are rare, but naturally you have to be on call and prepared if
they occur. All contingencies need to be established well before the surgery,
including where to send patients if they require stays longer than allowable by
your local laws. That's happened fewer than 5 times in 3 years at our facility.
On the day of surgery
The first patient arrives at 5:30 a.m. and is escorted to pre-op at 6 a.m. The first
cut happens at 7 a.m. You can't be in a rush, but you can be efficient, and you
have to have the expectation that you're going to get everything done in a timely
z EASY CHOICE Almost all patients
are outpatient candidates, and those
who've had one joint done in a hospi-
tal and another done in an ASC over-
whelmingly prefer the ASC experience.
Mount
Carmel
Health
System