An Innovative Patient-Centered Total Joint Replacement Program

Total joint replacement surgery is among the most commonly performed inpatient procedures in the United States. More than 1,000,000 hip and knee replacements are performed each year, and, with the aging of our population, that number is expected to grow quickly. Despite the general success of such replacements, approximately 20 percent of recipients of well-done replacements are unsatisfied with their surgery, and unmet patient expectations for the procedure are typically an important cause of such dissatisfaction. In fact, one study found that the most important contributing factor to dissatisfaction following total knee arthroplasty was not meeting patients’ expectations. Furthermore, rates of replacement surgery continue to vary across geographic regions and by race, and these differences cannot be explained solely by differences in the prevalence of hip and knee disease. Research suggests the decision to proceed with joint replacement surgery may at times be more reliant on provider preferences than on objective criteria and patient preferences. A large 2014 study showed that when validated appropriateness criteria were applied to actual cases of knee replacement surgery, over one third of those procedures done in the U.S. were inappropriate. To address the issue of surgical appropriateness and to ensure that patients and surgeons engage in shared decision making that explicitly acknowledges patient goals and preferences, Blue Shield of California has developed an innov...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Costs and Spending Health Professionals Innovations in Care Delivery Insurance and Coverage Organization and Delivery Quality hip and knee replacements patient-centered care Physicians safety net and value surgeons surgery Source Type: blogs