Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1384787
more established physicia ns like me are in our last decade of practice. We're making sure we have excellent talent on board, especially because the need for joint replacement is only increasing." REVOLUTIONIZING JOINT REPLACEMENT AT SPECIALISTS' ONE-DAY SURGERY CENTER A s t he push for pat ient s t o receive total joint replacements at outpatient facilities receives wider acceptance, SOS is prepared. "There's a trend where 50% of patients, maybe even 60%, may not go to a hospital for joint replacement care," says Kevin Kopko, MD, joint replacement surgeon at SOS. "This could happen within the next four or five years." A l r e a dy a he a d of t he c u r ve , t he Specia lists' One-Day Surger y Center offers total hip and knee replacements to qualifying patients on an outpatient basis. To date, success rates at the facility are equal to or better than national averages. The SOS research department reports that, of their outpatient surgery recipients, nine out of 10 patients who receive total hip or knee replacements report less pain and improved quality of life in as little as six weeks following their procedures. "We select patients who are low-risk for anesthesia complications, have fewer comorbidities, and are planning a discharge to their home after joint replacement," Dr. Kopko says. "We take our healthiest patients — roughly 20%–25% of surgery recipients — to the surgery center and provide the same level of care they would receive at the hospital, in an environment designed specifically for orthopedic care." "Some patients have no other health concer n s besides t hei r h ip or k nee arthritis," says Anthony Orio, MD, adult reconstruction surgeon at SOS. "For those patients, or patients with well-controlled comorbidities who are otherwise healthy, getting surgery at the center gives them the safest, most efficient way to receive a joint replacement, and it gets them back to where we believe is the most effective place for patients to recover — their own homes." A STANDARDIZED PATHWAY TO STELLAR RESULTS T he S p e ci a l i s t s ' O ne -D ay S u r ger y Center outpatient joint replacement program focuses on key elements such as a standardized clinical pathway. This includes essentia l components such as proper patient selection, preoperative patient a nd fa mi ly coach education, perioperative multidisciplinar y coor- dination, multi-modal pain management, and early and effective post discharge planning for the return to home. High- risk patients receive the same qua lity care within the hospita l, but for many patients, the convenience and comfort of the Specialists' One-Day Surgery Center is an attractive option. "A majority of hip and knee replace- ment patients go home the same day as their surgery," Dr. Kopko says. "That's because we've designed a facility and team centered around giving our patients com- prehensive orthopedic care. This includes a hands-on systematic approach to each patient's surgical process and recovery." The nurse navigators maintain communication with the surgery center to keep staff and providers abreast of patient needs and conditions. "We check office and triage notes, and if there are any red flags, we call patients to follow up with them to make sure nothing is missed," Walker says. "Then, we'll check physical therapy notes to make sure they're progressing." The goal is to make sure every patient they see is fully supported and cared for every step of the way. "After surgery, we're ensuring patients stick to the plan we collaboratively created," Brandt says. "We educate patients on pain management and encourage them to reach out if they have any concerns. We stay in contact throughout their road to recovery." Nurse Navigation Improves the Patient Journey Nurse navigators Sarah Brandt, RN, and Tammi Walker, RN, at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) begin their work as soon as a patient elects to have a procedure by collaborating with the patient and his or her providers to ensure high-quality, personalized and comprehensive care is delivered from start to finish and beyond. "The nurse navigators perform comprehensive assessments with each patient," Brandt says. "We make individualized care plans for them based on their goals after surgery and current health status, and we share those with the team at the outpatient surgery center." Before patients undergo surgery, one of the requirements is to participate in an education session. This session covers what to expect before and after surgery, including their stay at the surgery center. In addition to the educational video, the nurse navigators also educate patients on what medical equipment will need to be obtained and when to schedule physical therapy. If needed, nurse navigators also assist patients with coordinating after-discharge care needs. Nurse Navigators Sarah Brandt, RN, and Tammi Walker, RN M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A l N E W Y O R K ■ 2 0 21 0 7