January 11, 2021
Lowry Barnes, M.D. discusses what’s needed to thrive in outpatient total joint replacements in Becker’s ASC Review
Becker’s ASC Review asked 5 experts, including C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., Chair of the UAMS Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, to weigh in on outpatient total joint replacements.
Dr. Barnes, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement surgery at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences says that hip and knee surgeons are moving more to outpatient, same-day discharge hip and knee replacement. “As these procedures moved off the CMS inpatient-only list, more of these moved to observation status. Because of COVID and limitations on hospital beds, the natural progression to same-day discharge has occurred.” He also states that for surgeons, hospitals and surgery centers to be successful in this approach, patient selection and optimization prior to surgery is very important. “At significantly lower reimbursement for these surgeries, they must also be performed efficiently and at lower cost. Implant prices will continue to decrease significantly. Communication via software platforms or traditional telephone calls will become much more important also. It takes a real team approach to successfully establish an outpatient same-day discharge total joint program.”
Read the full article: Thriving in outpatient joint replacements: 5 expert insights