Is outpatient ambulatory arthroplasty right for me?
For many years, inpatient surgery was the standard of care for joint replacement surgeries. However, with advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and post-operative care, outpatient ambulatory arthroplasty has become an increasingly popular option for patients. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of outpatient arthroplasty over inpatient arthroplasty.
1.Faster Recovery Time:
Outpatient arthroplasty can provide a faster recovery time than inpatient surgery. Since patients achieve their discharge goals within a few hours of the completion of their surgery, they are discharged on the same day as their surgery. They can begin their recovery process in the comfort of their own home, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, patients begin physical therapy sooner, which helps speed up recovery.
2. Lower Cost:
Outpatient arthroplasty is typically less expensive than inpatient surgery, often by as much as 40%. This is because patients don't need to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time.
Healthcare costs are then reduced for insurance companies and are a significant plus for patients, too, since lowering costs decreases patients' out-of-pocket expenses for the procedure.
3. Reduced Risk of Infection:
Outpatient arthroplasty is performed in an ambulatory surgery center or outpatient facility, which has a lower risk of infection than a hospital due to the decreased amount of human traffic in the facility from patient visitors and non-clinical personnel. This can help reduce the risk of complications, thereby improving patient outcomes.
4. High Patient Satisfaction:
Patients who undergo outpatient arthroplasty often report high levels of satisfaction with the process. This is because patients can recover in the comfort of their own homes and return to their normal activities sooner than with inpatient surgery. Additionally, outpatient surgery centers and ambulatory surgery centers often offer a more personalized process and less intimidating environment than hospitals.
5. Better Pain Management:
For Outpatient arthroplasty to succeed, advanced multi-modality pain management processes had to be developed; these processes opened the door for outpatient arthroplasty. Advanced pain management techniques, such as peri-articular blocks, (i.e., blocks around the joint) and regional blocks (i.e., those involving the limb and spinal blocks), are utilized more systematically in outpatient than inpatient arthroplasty. These techniques are often used in tandem with oral, intravenous, and inhalation anesthesia agents to not only deliver an optimal anesthetic experience but to ensure safe and efficient reversal so that the patient can reach their discharge goals and safely be discharged home.
6. Customized Care:
Outpatient arthroplasty centers often offer customized care plans and individualized attention for patients. This can help ensure that patients receive the care and attention they need to recover fully and quickly.
In summary, outpatient arthroplasty offers several significant benefits over inpatient surgery, including lower costs, reduced risk of infection, convenience, high patient satisfaction, and customized care. If you're considering joint replacement surgery, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both outpatient and inpatient options with one of our surgeons at the UNOVA Hip and Knee Center to determine the best fit for your unique needs and situation.
