During their early efforts, though, the stellar surgical results would
occasionally fall on inconsistent outcomes after their patients were
discharged. The doctors determined that there were gaps in the post-
op care the patients received — sometimes they got good home care,
sometimes they didn't, sometimes they were compliant with post-op
rehabilitation schedules, sometimes not — and these gaps created
complications. Clearly their same-day joints service needed to incor-
porate a consistent post-op home recovery program.
Steps to success
A post-op checkup at home by a visiting nurse making the rounds has
long played a role in the orthopedic surgery process, as a follow-up to
the care received during an inpatient stay. Outpatient total joints,
however, benefit from a more coordinated, more collaborative home
recovery program than the standard nurse drop-in arrangements. A
program that addresses the following factors can help to deliver high-
quality outcomes.
• Ortho experience. Traditionally, home care agency nurses are jacks-
of-all-trades who deliver a wide range of general services. A specialty-
trained team can provide appropriate care, prioritize the interventions
and ultimately reduce the length of stay by making every visit count.
For same-day joint patients, it's better to send nurses who are trained
in and have experience with orthopedic care, and who can recognize
and handle specific musculoskeletal comorbidities such as
osteoarthritis. Supplementing their care routine with visits from physi-
cal and occupational therapists adds convenience and boosts compli-
ance.
• Coordinated care. It can't be expected that a nurse or therapist would
be able to visit a patient and administer high-quality care without
knowing anything about the case. That's why it's critical for home
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