evolving multimodal
pain control tech-
niques and a renewed
focus on driving down
healthcare costs.
Outpatient total
joints are setting the
bar for cost-effective,
quality care. The cost
of total joint replace-
ments done as outpa-
tient is about 50% less
than procedures per-
formed in inpatient
facilities ($26,000 versus $13,500), and patients' out-of-pocket expense
is about half as much on average in the outpatient setting ($2,700 ver-
sus $5,200). With such a significant cost difference, it's no wonder
same-day total joints are taking off. The procedures also have tremen-
dous future growth potential; demand for knee replacements is
expected to increase by nearly 700% by 2030 and hip replacement vol-
ume should jump by 200% over the same period.
Total joints aren't the only cases filling outpatient ORs. Ambulatory
spine surgery is a huge growth opportunity as more of these proce-
dures are performed in freestanding facilities. Laparoscopic hysterec-
tomy is another procedure that's on the move as new instrumentation,
enhanced intraoperative protocols and better pain management prac-
tices have patients ready for discharge within 12 hours of surgery.
We've already witnessed a seismic shift in where complex cases are
performed. Now's the time to prepare your facility for the next
groundswell of demand for cost-effective and efficient surgery that's
1 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8
• EXPERT OPINION Dr. Kain spoke about what the future of outpatient surgery
might look like in the coming years and the latest in reimbursement trends at OR
Excellence 2017 in Las Vegas.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR