cal centers, which could happen as early as this month when CMS
unveils the final 2018 outpatient payment rule.
If you'd like to capitalize on this opportunity and add total joints to
your facility, you don't have to go it alone. Many of the leading ortho-
pedic implant companies offer programs to support your facility
through the transition. We talked to 5 of them and distilled how they
can help you.
1. Educate your surgeons and staff
Starting the process of implementing outpatient total joints at your
facility begins with educating yourself and your staff on the nuts and
bolts, but where do you begin? How to choose a good candidate for
outpatient surgery — one who has no significant comorbidities like
sleep apnea or diabetes — and how to consult with the patient and
family before and after the surgery are some basic lessons you need
to learn, says William Wilder, director of outpatient marketing for
DePuy Synthes.
DePuy's free program, called Outpatient Pathways, "provides the
playbook to help surgeons, nurses and ASC administrators," says Mr.
Wilder. The program, led by a pioneer faculty, is broken down into 3
chapters: How to Get Started, Operational Checklist and Patient
Checklist.
DePuy, which has trained more than 1,200 healthcare professionals
since 2014, offers a variety of learning opportunities. You can take a
national course on outpatient total joint surgeries or speak one-on-one
on the phone with surgeons who have conducted several outpatient
joint surgeries already. "Surgeons want to learn from their peers," says
Mr. Wilder.
Smith & Nephew takes a similar approach. Its Short Stay Total
Joint Program offers "technologies and education to assist with
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